A Canadian accused of robbing a bank in Singapore is still in custody in Bangkok, seven months after entering Thailand, while local authorities decide whether he should be charged with failing to declare the large sum of money he was carrying.
David James Roach, 27, was accused of robbing the Holland Village branch of Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore of S$30,000 on July 7 last year. He allegedly handed the teller a note with his demands, then fled to Bangkok with the money on the same day.
Three days later, he was arrested at a backpacker hostel and has been locked up ever since. Singapore requested his extradition but Thai authorities said at the time that they were "not in a position to consider" the request pending the completion of other investigations.
Thailand and Singapore do not have an extradition treaty.
The investigations into Roach's alleged customs offence started in November and the police report was recently forwarded to Thai prosecutors, the Straits Times in Singapore reported this week.
Travellers carrying more than US$20,000 or the equivalent are required by law to report the sum to Customs when entering the country.
Roach was found with 700,000 baht (S$28,300) in cash, as well as a notebook detailing his escape plan, which included stopovers in Chiang Mai and Dubai.
Shin Min Daily News in Singapore reported that Roach, who has hired a lawyer, has been transferred from the immigration detention centre and is currently held in prison. His family has also flown to Bangkok from Canada.
Thai authorities cancelled Roach's right to stay in the country after Singapore issued a warrant for his arrest. As an immigration offender, he would be deported back to Canada if he cannot be extradited.
Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn, chief of the Immigration Police Bureau (IPB), said Roach would be returned to the immigration detention centre once the customs offence is dealt with.
"The immigration police will then follow instructions on whether to extradite him to Singapore or deport him back to Canada," he said.