PATTANI — Security officials arrested an auto broker in the southern province on Tuesday in relation to the bomb explosion at the Central Festival Samui mall on April 10.
Abdulroning Dueramae, 51, was detained at his house in Sabarang sub-district of Muang Pattani district.
He is suspected of buying vehicles from a used car dealer identified as Bang Yi or Bae Li in Pattani for use by the car bomb team that had attacked Koh Samui, a security source said.
Mr Abdulroning admitted that he knew Abdulrasa Dumeedae, the 52-year-old driver for La-ae tambon administrative organisation whose Mazda pickup truck was used in the car bombing on Koh Samui, the source said.
He also admitted to knowing Pattani teacher Sabidi Salaebing, 33. Mr Abdulrasa and Mr Sabidi have already been detained for interrogation in relation to the car bomb attack.
Mr Abdulrasa earlier told police that a group of people had robbed him of the pickup truck in Yala on March 31. However, witnesses said they saw him talking to two men at the "robbery" scene before reporting the loss of the truck to police.
Bang Yi, or Bae Li, recently left Thailand, supposedly on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, after selling three vehicles to the car bomb team, the source said.
