SURAT THANI: Two Pakistani men charged with stealing a 102,000-baht gold bracelet from a gold shop say they were drunk when the crime occurred, but police are sceptical.
Muhammao Bashis, 41, and Allah Basksh, 29, made the claim during a crime re-enactment staged by police on Saturday at the Mae Malee 7 gold shop on Na Muang Road in Muang district.
The duo were arrested on Khao San Road in Bangkok by Chana Songkhram police on Thursday, a day after the incident in Surat Thani.
Mr Muhammao, wearing a white T-shirt, and Mr Allah, wearing an orange single, entered the gold shop on Wednesday afternoon. They showed an interest in buying a gold ring worth 2,800 baht.
While discussing the price with a saleswoman, Mr Muhammao asked to see a 5-baht weight (75 gramme) gold bracelet worth 102,000 baht. His friend started talking with the saleswoman while Mr Muhammao took the bracelet and quickly concealed it under his wallet. He then took 2,800 baht from his wallet to pay for the ring to divert the attention of the saleswoman.
Security camera video showed the man in the white T-shirt covering the bracelet with his wallet.
After the crime re-enactment, the pair apologised to the shop's staff. They claimed they had no intention of committing a crime but were under the influence of alcohol at the time. However, police were not convinced.
Pol Maj Gen Apichart Boonsriroj, chief of Surat Thani police, said checks found that the suspects had entered Thailand on June 9. They rented a car in Pattaya before heading to Phuket and other southern provinces.
Police say the two men are also suspected of having stolen a diamond-studded Rado watch worth 61,200 baht from the Srithong shop in Hat Yai, and that they may be linked to thefts in other provinces.