SONGKHLA: The Na Thawi provincial court has approved arrest warrants for six suspects allegedly involved in a 49.6-million-baht gold shop heist in the district on Aug 24.
They were part of an insurgency group in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts in Songkhla. Four of the suspects were under arrest warrants in other cases, police said.
The four were Wae-useng Dueraheng, 33, of Nong Chik, Pattani; Saifuddin Hayiputeh, 31, of Khok Pho, Pattani; Rorsari Lamsoh, 29, of Saba Yoi, Songkhla; and Sorbri Lamsoh, 29, also of Saba Yoi.
The names of the other two suspects were withheld because they were believed to be new members and first-time offenders, police said.
All six are facing serious charges of committing terrorism spreading fear; committing terrorism by accumulating forces, arms and assets; illegal association; robbery; having and carrying arms without licences, and firing them in public places.
Deputy police chief Gen Srivara Ransibhramanakul went to the gold shop in Songkhla on Tuesday and talked to owner Samak Anuchorn, 56, who would reopen the shop soon.
Key evidence of the case was closed-circuit footage of the van the robbers used. It turned out to be the same vehicle used in another robbery in Nok Chik, Pattani province.
Other pieces of evidence included footage inside the shop and some forensic evidence and fingerprints on the van.
After the heist, the robbers fired shots to threaten the rider of a motorcycle to give it up so they could flee on it. Police had checked the shells and found the guns had been used to shoot a village assistant chief and two volunteers at a flea market in tambon Tha Muang, Thepha, Songkhla, on Nov 25.
Police believe there were six more suspects and are investigating.