Rewards totalling 20 million baht have been posted for information leading to the arrest of two men suspected of setting fire to the CentralWorld shopping complex on May 19, 2010, and a panel is being set up to administer payments, Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrachang said on Monday.
Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrachang, right, shows cash of 2 million baht received from Panthongtae Shinawatra as rewards for those having information leading to the arrest of two men suspected of setting fire to the CentralWorld shopping complex on May 19, 2010.
The metropolitan police chief was speaking after a meeting with senior police officers handling the CentralWorld fire case.
Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit said he had received the 20 million baht from Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of former prime minister Thaksin.
Thaksin earlier announced he and like-minded backers overseas would give a 10 million baht reward for information leading to the arrest of each arsonist in the CentralWorld fire set at the conclusion of the red-shirt protest in Ratchaprasong in May 2010.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau has since obtained court warrants for the arrest of two suspects whose images were earlier shown at a press conference. The 20 million baht from Mr Panthongtae is for information leading to the arrest of the two suspects, he said.
Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit said police were also looking for six other men wanted for questioning in connection with the arson at one of the capital's major downtown shopping complexes.
Those with the information can call two numbers - 02-3548226 and 02-3545990.
Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit said a committee was being set up to administer payment of the 20 million baht reward money, as required by a Finance Ministry regulation.