ROBBERY

Two men wanted in connection with the robbery of a cash delivery truck in Ayutthaya last month were arrested in separate swoops yesterday.

Veerachak ‘Fame’ Charoenchaiwat, 22, wearing a blue shirt, and Saifa ‘Pit’ Ketmut, 40, next to Veerachak, were arrested separately yesterday in connection with the robbery of a cash delivery truck in Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa-in district on Sept 17. The two men are accused of making off with 15.59 million baht before being caught. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

Saifa "Pit" Ketmut, 40, and Veerachak "Fame" Charoenchaiwat, 22, were caught by officers from the Police Region 1 Bureau.

Mr Saifa was arrested in a car park in Muang Thong Thani, in Nonthaburi, while Mr Veerachak was caught at a house in Muang district of Nong Khai.

The two suspects have been charged with illegal possession of firearms, attempted murder, shooting in a public area and falsifying documents.

Seized from them were 6.6 million baht in cash, 2 million baht worth of shares in Thanachart Securities, a 9mm Glock pistol, 30 bullets, four cash bags, a bullet-proof vest and three cars.

The suspects were allegedly involved in the robbery of a Bangkok Servex Co cash delivery truck in Bang Pa-in district of Ayutthaya on Sept 17.

The pair made off with 15.59 million baht in cash, police said.

Before the robbery, Mr Saifa allegedly drove a Nissan car to a car wash near Bangkok University's Rangsit campus. He left the vehicle there and received a ticket stub to collect the car later.

Mr Saifa allegedly then swapped the number on his ticket with that of another car, a white Honda Freed, which had also been left at the car wash.

The other accused, Mr Veerachak, then allegedly used the falsified document to claim the Honda, which was later used in the robbery.

After the robbery, the two men allegedly divided the stolen money, with Mr Saifa receiving 10 million baht and Mr Veerachak 5.59 million baht.

Mr Saifa allegedly confessed to plotting the robbery for a week before persuading Mr Veerachak, who is a friend of his son, to join him. He claimed he committed the robbery to clear a 2 million baht gambling debt. Police have also accused the pair of attempting to rob another cash truck in Ayutthaya on Sept 22.