Robbers seize nearly 200m yen in Bangkok hours after cash brought from Japan

[snoop1130]

Robbers seize nearly 200m yen in Bangkok hours after cash brought from Japan

By KORNKAMON AKSORNDECH 
THE NATION

 

 

A GROUP OF five hooded armed men robbed Bt197.96 million yen (about Bt60 million) in cash and a brand-new Ford pickup truck from a diamond merchant’s employees at a Bangkok condominium parking lot on Monday night.

 

Newly appointed city police chief Lt-General Charnthep Sesawet on Tuesday led police officers to inspect the robbery scene, while all city precinct superintendents were alerted to inform money-exchange shops in their jurisdictions to watch out for and alert police about anyone bringing 10,000 yen banknotes to exchange.

 

Gold and jewellery exporter Pattharit Taerattanachai, 34, filed a complaint at almost midnight on Monday stating that his employee Narongchai Sawadipol had been instructed to bring the cash in carry-on luggage and a backpack in a flight from Japan to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The money was declared to the Customs Department. 

 

Narongchai handed the bags to two other employees, Jirapat Pithakkitwattana and Kiatipong Peungyims, at the airport before he left with his girlfriend, while the two men went to Pattharit’s Ratchada Pavilion condominium in Soi Ratchadapisek 30. 

 

The two men driving two separate cars – the Ford pickup truck and a BMW sedan – reached the condominium’s fifth floor parking lot at 11.15pm. 

 

They were carrying the bags containing the money towards the building’s entrance when the five men carrying weapons assaulted them. 

 

The assailants covered the two men’s heads with sacks, tied their hands and feet, and left them behind a pillar before making off with the cash and the truck. 

 

Kiatipong, who was wounded in the attack, managed to untie himself and Jirapat and alerted Pattharit about the robbery. Kiatipong was sent to the hospital where he received 20 stitches to a head wound while Pattharit then filed a police complaint at the Paholyothin precinct.

 

The daring robbery took place only hours after Charnthep began working as city police chief on Monday.

 

He said he had assigned Pol Maj-General Sompong Chingdounf to lead the case investigation. 

 

The initial probe found that Pattharit had for about five years conducted a jewellery business, which involved the transfer of money in various foreign currencies into Thailand by plane, although usually up to 10 people would be present to safeguard the money. 

 

Police will question people formerly involved in money transfers, the details of which were supposed to be confidential and known only to group members. Police suspected the motive was simple theft but did not rule out a business conflict.

 

Police will also compare the robbery with another of an Indian businessman involved in a money exchange in 2012, when assailants got away with Bt50 million in the Bang Rak area, based on certain similar aspects.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/kingdomgrieves/30328371

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-3

[observer90210]

With such amounts, somebody will obviously squeak at some point...at it will reach some dishonest ears !

[oxo1947]

4 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

With such amounts, somebody will obviously squeak at some point...at it will reach some dishonest ears !

They didn't ..(if it is as police suspect--the same people )...on the 50 million in 2012.....

[dotpoom]

Stolen from a "Bangkok condominium parking lot on Monday night."

   Might have been a better idea to put it in a safe.

[thequietman]

38 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Narongchai handed the bags to two other employees, Jirapat Pithakkitwattana and Kiatipong Peungyims, at the airport before he left with his girlfriend, while the two men went to Pattharit’s Ratchada Pavilion condominium in Soi Ratchadapisek 30. 

So the bag man hands if off to 2 others and then the fun begins. Not too hard to work out who set this up but to prove it is an entirely different ball game. Bring the cops into it and hey! it's never gonna get solved. 

[over it]

Sounds like an insurance scam on the surface. I know a guy that moves large amounts of diamonds around the world. They are always insured and he uses Brinks and 8-12 off-duty cops. 

 

My money says the BIB did it. 

[worgeordie]

Maybe next time he will consider a Bank transfer.

regards worgeordie

[cardinalblue]

Fatal flaw - the stolen truck will lead them to who did the heist and the bkk job will all unravel....

 

lay low with cash but driving around with the truck or even pawning it will reveal the beginning of their ID - too greedy....

 

 

Edited October 3, 2017 by cardinalblue

[thaiguzzi]

Finally! A proper crime with proper crims! Kudos!

[anon789561]

49 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

Fatal flaw - the stolen truck will lead them to who did the heist and the bkk job will all unravel....

 

lay low with cash but driving around with the truck or even pawning it will reveal the beginning of their ID - too greedy....

 

 

what makes you think they didn't get rid of it. I doubt they'll find these guys. That cash has long gone. Difficult to prove anything, well organized inside job by the sounds of it

[HerbalEd]

3 hours ago, dotpoom said:

Stolen from a "Bangkok condominium parking lot on Monday night."

   Might have been a better idea to put it in a safe.

Did you actually read the article??

[chippendale]

2 hours ago, thequietman said:

So the bag man hands if off to 2 others and then the fun begins. Not too hard to work out who set this up but to prove it is an entirely different ball game. Bring the cops into it and hey! it's never gonna get solved. 

 

2 hours ago, over it said:

Sounds like an insurance scam on the surface. I know a guy that moves large amounts of diamonds around the world. They are always insured and he uses Brinks and 8-12 off-duty cops. 

 

My money says the BIB did it. 

 

CSI Thaivisa. Case solved.

[mark01]

Lesson to all travellers. Take TRAVELLERS CHEQUES.?

[bristolgeoff]

the money will be spread around if in foreign money.thai baht is not wanted.i think  alot of it will be changed in neighbour countries

[gk10002000]

Well, certainly many obvious leads to follow.  They declared the money.  So right away many Thai officials and workers know about it, not to mention others that just hang around the airport looking for such things.  Anybody see the movie "good fellows"?  They were constantly casing the airport for good stuff coming and going. 

[gk10002000]

If those large Yen notes are somewhat rare, I don't really know, it might be difficult to exchange the money.  But that assumes they do the exchange in Thailand and not other countries.

[steven100]

who did the paperwork at customs   .....   

[Mickmouse1]

You can go through with certain amount declared but such huge sum NO CHANCE..SOUNDS LIKE VERY CHEAP MOVIE??

[jippytum]

When you try and transfer a few million baht legally to another country with all the money laundering  safeguards in place

you have to 'jump through hoops' to complete any transaction and this guy brings in 60 million cash on regular occasions

and that's legal !!!! 

[UnkleMoooose]

50 million Yen!!?? Well they won't get far on $14.

[Maestro]

12 hours ago, Mickmouse1 said:

You can go through with certain amount declared but such huge sum NO CHANCE..SOUNDS LIKE VERY CHEAP MOVIE??

 

There is no limit to the amount of foreign cash that can be brought into Thailand as long as it is declared to customs.