Finnish Man Arrested On Robbery Charge

[george]

Finnish man arrested on robbery charge

PATTAYA: -- The police arrested a Finnish man at a guesthouse in Pattaya Tuesday on suspicion of robbing 1 million euro (Bt49.8 million) from an armoured truck in Finland's Turku city earlier this year.

The 37-year-old suspect, Juha Pekka, denied that he was involved in the February 17 robbery. Five other suspects were arrested by Finnish authorities after another robbery on October 31.

Working in cooperation with Interpol, Thai police apprehended Pekka after an investigation indicated he had been in Thailand since October 28. In addition to the Finnish arrest warrant, Pekka was also charged by Thai police for overstaying his tourist visa, metropolitan police deputy commissioner MajGeneral Wittaya Kosityasathit said.

At a press conference Tuesday, Pekka admitted he was wanted by the Finnish authorities but asserted his innocence, saying he only knew some of the robbery suspects.

-- The Nation 2007-11-27

[Jingthing]

No opinion on this case, but isn't it kind of odd that high profile crims would flee to such a high profile resort as Pattaya where it is obvious interpol is operating? With a million euro you could have a good time most anywhere. Somewhere nobody would be looking too hard. Like Bolivia.

[lazeeboy]

No opinion on this case, but isn't it kind of odd that high profile crims would flee to such a high profile resort as Pattaya where it is obvious interpol is operating? With a million euro you could have a good time most anywhere. Somewhere nobody would be looking too hard. Like Bolivia.

overstay as well ,but he's not guilty

[Pundi64]

Finnish man arrested on robbery charge

PATTAYA: -- The police arrested a Finnish man at a guesthouse in Pattaya Tuesday on suspicion of robbing 1 million euro (Bt49.8 million) from an armoured truck in Finland's Turku city earlier this year.

The 37-year-old suspect, Juha Pekka, denied that he was involved in the February 17 robbery. Five other suspects were arrested by Finnish authorities after another robbery on October 31.

Working in cooperation with Interpol, Thai police apprehended Pekka after an investigation indicated he had been in Thailand since October 28. In addition to the Finnish arrest warrant, Pekka was also charged by Thai police for overstaying his tourist visa, metropolitan police deputy commissioner MajGeneral Wittaya Kosityasathit said.

At a press conference Tuesday, Pekka admitted he was wanted by the Finnish authorities but asserted his innocence, saying he only knew some of the robbery suspects.

-- The Nation 2007-11-27

Why does Thailand always seem to be the place where scum collects?????????

[ercorn]

Finnish man arrested on robbery charge

PATTAYA: -- The police arrested a Finnish man at a guesthouse in Pattaya Tuesday on suspicion of robbing 1 million euro (Bt49.8 million) from an armoured truck in Finland's Turku city earlier this year.

The 37-year-old suspect, Juha Pekka, denied that he was involved in the February 17 robbery. Five other suspects were arrested by Finnish authorities after another robbery on October 31.

Working in cooperation with Interpol, Thai police apprehended Pekka after an investigation indicated he had been in Thailand since October 28. In addition to the Finnish arrest warrant, Pekka was also charged by Thai police for overstaying his tourist visa, metropolitan police deputy commissioner MajGeneral Wittaya Kosityasathit said.

At a press conference Tuesday, Pekka admitted he was wanted by the Finnish authorities but asserted his innocence, saying he only knew some of the robbery suspects.

-- The Nation 2007-11-27

Why does Thailand always seem to be the place where scum collects?????????

Cheap beer and bar girls??

[Scott]

With that kind of money, Pattaya seems like the logical place to go! Someone mentioned Boliva--really? He could probably hide in an iceberg in Greenland, but Pattaya seems like a nice place, if you have money!

[george]

Thai police, Interpol nab Finnish thief

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's 191 Special Branch Police and Interpol cooperated to arrest a Finnish robber who was on a Finnish police most-wanted list as part of a gang which robbed an armoured car of the 4GS Company in Finland earlier this year, according to a senior Thai police officer.

Juha Pekka, 37, and his accomplices held up a 4GS company armoured car at Turku, Finland, on February 17 and escaped with 1 million Euro (about Bt60 million), according to Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Pol. Maj-Gen. Witthaya Kosiyasathit.

The same gang attempted to heist another cash-laden armoured car of the same company on October 31, but failed and some of his accomplices were arrested by the Finnish authorities.

Mr. Pekka escaped, according to Finnish police, and entered Thailand where he took refuge in Pattaya, but Finland requested the cooperation from Interpol and the Royal Thai Police to arrest the transnational criminal.

Thailand's 191 Special Branch Police and Interpol, in a joint operation, arrested Mr. Pekka on Tuesday.

He admitted being part of the gang that robbed the armoured car, but said he did not want to do it again. Fearing arrest he fled to Thailand on October 28, and learned after entering Thailand for four days that the gang had failed in its succeeding robbery attempt, with some of the group being arrested.

Gen. Witthaya said Mr. Pekka had entered Thailand legally but overstayed in the kingdom and would be prosecuted for that before being extradited to Finland.

--TNA 2007-11-27

[timekeeper]

Another wanted criminal hiding out in Pattaya.

It is really living up to its reputation as the new 'Costa Del Crime'.

i lived on the 'Costa del Crime' for 3 years, Thailand is tame by comparison

[tropo]

Why does Thailand always seem to be the place where scum collects?????????

Lack of imagination?

[sriracha john]

Thai police, Interpol nab Finnish thief

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's 191 Special Branch Police and Interpol cooperated to arrest a Finnish robber who was on a Finnish police most-wanted list as part of a gang which robbed an armoured car of the 4GS Company in Finland earlier this year, according to a senior Thai police officer.

Juha Pekka, 37, and his accomplices held up a 4GS company armoured car at Turku, Finland, on February 17 and escaped with 1 million Euro (about Bt60 million), according to Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Pol. Maj-Gen. Witthaya Kosiyasathit.

The same gang attempted to heist another cash-laden armoured car of the same company on October 31, but failed and some of his accomplices were arrested by the Finnish authorities.

Mr. Pekka escaped, according to Finnish police, and entered Thailand where he took refuge in Pattaya, but Finland requested the cooperation from Interpol and the Royal Thai Police to arrest the transnational criminal.

Thailand's 191 Special Branch Police and Interpol, in a joint operation, arrested Mr. Pekka on Tuesday.

He admitted being part of the gang that robbed the armoured car, but said he did not want to do it again. Fearing arrest he fled to Thailand on October 28, and learned after entering Thailand for four days that the gang had failed in its succeeding robbery attempt, with some of the group being arrested.

Gen. Witthaya said Mr. Pekka had entered Thailand legally but overstayed in the kingdom and would be prosecuted for that before being extradited to Finland.

--TNA 2007-11-27

TNA got a little dyslexic with the armored-car company name, it's G4S (Group 4 Securicor).

Here's a link here on the second robbery attempt the gang made:

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Two+Swedi...y/1135231511615

Two Swedish gang members still at large after attempted robbery of cash truck near Turku

and photos of the crime scene:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=123063

and here is an article on the armored-car robbery (which involved robbing the Bank of Finland) on Feb. 19, 2007 that Pekka is accused of:

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Eye-witne...g/1135225304200

Eye-witnesses to Turku robbery report seeing two vehicles fleeing

[Briggsy]

Interesting that they are going to prosecute him for overstaying. Seems someone in the local constabulary has seen a profit-making opportunity here.

[zorro1]

With that kind of money, Pattaya seems like the logical place to go! Someone mentioned Boliva--really? He could probably hide in an iceberg in Greenland, but Pattaya seems like a nice place, if you have money!

[John K]

It is beginning to sound like the police could setup cameras on Walking Street running that face ID software and net quite a few wanted folks.

[maccaroni man]

No opinion on this case, but isn't it kind of odd that high profile crims would flee to such a high profile resort as Pattaya where it is obvious interpol is operating? With a million euro you could have a good time most anywhere. Somewhere nobody would be looking too hard. Like Bolivia.

he is probably concerned with the value of the declining dollar

[sweetchariot]

Thai police, Interpol nab Finnish thief

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's 191 Special Branch Police and Interpol cooperated to arrest a Finnish robber who was on a Finnish police most-wanted list as part of a gang which robbed an armoured car of the 4GS Company in Finland earlier this year, according to a senior Thai police officer.

Juha Pekka, 37, and his accomplices held up a 4GS company armoured car at Turku, Finland, on February 17 and escaped with 1 million Euro (about Bt60 million), according to Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Pol. Maj-Gen. Witthaya Kosiyasathit.

The same gang attempted to heist another cash-laden armoured car of the same company on October 31, but failed and some of his accomplices were arrested by the Finnish authorities.

Mr. Pekka escaped, according to Finnish police, and entered Thailand where he took refuge in Pattaya, but Finland requested the cooperation from Interpol and the Royal Thai Police to arrest the transnational criminal.

Thailand's 191 Special Branch Police and Interpol, in a joint operation, arrested Mr. Pekka on Tuesday.

He admitted being part of the gang that robbed the armoured car, but said he did not want to do it again. Fearing arrest he fled to Thailand on October 28, and learned after entering Thailand for four days that the gang had failed in its succeeding robbery attempt, with some of the group being arrested.

Gen. Witthaya said Mr. Pekka had entered Thailand legally but overstayed in the kingdom and would be prosecuted for that before being extradited to Finland.

--TNA 2007-11-27

TNA got a little dyslexic with the armored-car company name, it's G4S (Group 4 Securicor).

Here's a link here on the second robbery attempt the gang made:

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Two+Swedi...y/1135231511615

Two Swedish gang members still at large after attempted robbery of cash truck near Turku

and photos of the crime scene:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=123063

and here is an article on the armored-car robbery (which involved robbing the Bank of Finland) on Feb. 19, 2007 that Pekka is accused of:

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Eye-witne...g/1135225304200

Eye-witnesses to Turku robbery report seeing two vehicles fleeing

That explains it. Group 4 used to lose prisoners in transit in the UK.

[Jai Dee]

Thief suspect from Finland apprehended by Thai police

Metropolitan Police report that Special Branch Police cooperated with Interpol in apprehending a most-wanted Finnish thief who was part of a gang responsible for the robbery of an armored vehicle in Finland. The thief, Mr. Juha Pekka was wanted for the theft of 1 million Euros and armed robbery of a 4GS Company armored car.

Thai police, assisting Interpol, tracked Mr. Pekka to Pattaya where he traveled under the guise of a legitimate tourist. Thai authorities stated that he would be brought up on charges for over staying his visa before being extradited to Finland for his more serious crimes.

The other members of his gang were previously captured while attempting a second robbery.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 November 2007

[Jeffro008]

Why do people think the further distance they run away, the safer they could be from where they made the initial mistake, the world is alot smaler these days, technoligy advances are enormous and well out wieghh the opitunity of confiedence in that game surely.

[sriracha john]

Juha Pekka, seated on the right front, at the obligatory police press conference.

Kom Chad Luek newspaper

Article (in Thai) here:

http://www.komchadluek.net/2007/11/scoop/p...?news_id=176581

[OdeTheBear]

Why not overstay when you have enough money to pay the fees...

[bendejo]

Something wrong with that picture....

Hey, I got it, there should be someone pointing at the guy!

[wpcoe]

Something wrong with that picture....

Hey, I got it, there should be someone pointing at the guy!

Yeah. Which guy is the criminal? How are we supposed to know??? Another Thai tradition going down the tubes? What's this world coming to?

[sriracha john]

I understand, however, that there are plans to conduct a re-enactment of the robbery soon, despite the crime occurring

Distance between Turku, Finland and Bangkok, Thailand, as the crow flies: 8,032 km

away...

so not all is lost in the way of tradition.

Edited December 2, 2007 by sriracha john

[gburns57au]

Catch more wanted crims in Thailand.....maybe then the crims will stop using the place as a hideout...Thailand can do without their sort.