Thai police say StanChart robbery suspect is Canadian

Update: The man who allegedly robbed a Standard Chartered Bank branch in Holland Village of about $30,000 on Thursday has been identified. According to Thai media, Nation TV 22, the man is identified as 26-year-old David James Roach.

THE man who allegedly robbed a Standard Chartered Bank branch in Holland Village of about $30,000 on Thursday has been arrested in Thailand, Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday.

The police also confirmed in a press release yesterday that he was nabbed by the Royal Thai Police on Sunday.

They added that investigations had established "the identity of the suspect on the same day but he had already left Singapore for Bangkok, shortly after the crime was reported".

"The Singapore authorities are currently engaging our counterparts in Thailand to see whether the suspect can be released into our custody."

Major General Apichart Suriboonya, who heads Thailand's Interpol unit, told The Straits Times yesterday that the suspect is Canadian. He flew from Singapore to Thailand on Thursday, arriving at 5.08pm.

On Sunday, he was arrested at noon at Boxpackers Hostel in Bangkok, and is now being detained at an immigration detention centre in Bangkok.

During the heist, the man had passed a piece of paper to the teller.

According to Shin Min, the note read: "This is a robbery, I have a weapon, give me money, don't call police."

The teller handed over $30,000 but also activated the secret alarm notifying the police.

The robber is believed to have taken a route with fewer closed-circuit television cameras and escaped to a residential area nearby.

Shin Min spoke to workers at shops in the area, who were on their guard after the robbery.

Coffee-shop manager He Shengmao, 24, said he triple-checks that the doors are locked before leaving each night.

A money changer, who gave his name as Mohammad, said he takes extra notice of suspicious-looking people who loiter.

myp@sph.com.sg

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