ANN/THE NATION – Bangkok’s Yannawa Police Station investigators sought permission from the South Bangkok Criminal Court to extend the detention of three men charged with supplying the modified gun and bullets allegedly used in Tuesday’s Bangkok luxury mall shooting, pending the completion of investigation.
The officers also asked the court not to grant the men bail.
Suwannahong Phramkanajan and his son Akkarawit Jaithong are accused of selling a modified imitation pistol to the teenage shooter. Piyabutr Pianpitak is accused of selling bullets and pistol magazines to the boy.
On Tuesday afternoon, a 14-year-old boy armed with a modified blank gun fired at shoppers 0708in the Siam Paragon luxury mall, killing two people and injuring five others.
The three suspects appeared exhausted upon their arrival in court and were seen wearing same clothes they were wearing when they were arrested on Thursday.
The trio has been charged with illegal possession of unregistered firearms and ammunition and the sale of firearms and ammunition with no permission.
Suwannahong and Akkarawit claim that they did not sell the gun used in the mass shooting to the boy, though Piyabutr has reportedly confessed to selling ammunition to the teen.
According to a police source, investigators have evidence to prove the suspects received money from the boy. In Piyabutr’s case, funds were transferred to his bank account on September 20, September 25 and October 1, purportedly for the purchase of ammunition, the source said.
Meanwhile, two more people were arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan province yesterday as part of a police crackdown on suppliers of illegal guns following the mass shooting.
Suthida Panghom was charged with colluding to sell ammunition without permission. She reportedly told police that her husband had given her bank account number to someone who used it to receive money.
A man identified as Wuthipong Phetmanee was also arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan for allegedly colluding to sell ammunition without permission.
He told police that about two weeks ago, Suthida’s husband had given him THB1,000 in exchange for his “mule bank account”.
Police yesterday interrogated Suthida’s husband, as he was suspected of selling ammunition to the teenage shooter.
Examination by the Police Forensic Science Office revealed that 40 bullets were fired during the shooting spree. Bullet casings were found scattered on four floors of the mall, but mostly on the second and third floors.
During interrogation, Suthida’s husband, who was identified as Thanawut Plianwong, told police that he acted as a middleman for some “10 purchases” of ammunition.
According to a police source, the suspect claimed he earned THB200 for each purchase.
Thanawut added that his recent customer was Piyabutr, who sought to buy ammunition for THB1,350. He said he paid the seller THB1,150 for the ammunition, the source said.
The seller, identified as Passarakorn Thienthanawit, was arrested earlier.
