BANGKOK — A 54-year-old man has been arrested in Bangkok after allegedly carrying out an armed robbery at a ttb bank branch at Talad Thai Market in Pathum Thani, fleeing with more than 1 million baht and later setting his getaway vehicle on fire, according to Thai media reports.
The arrest came less than 24 hours after the robbery, after investigators followed surveillance footage and other leads to a resort in Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao/Ratchada-Ram Inthra area. Thai reports identified the suspect as Saifa Kasemut, although some reports initially withheld his name.
How the robbery unfolded
The robbery occurred on September 10 at the ttb branch in Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani.
Police said the masked suspect entered shortly before closing time while carrying a firearm. CCTV footage reportedly showed him turning the bank’s sign to indicate that the branch was closed before using an iron bar to secure the door from inside.
He then allegedly threatened bank employees and demanded cash.
Initial reports put the stolen amount at around 1.5 million baht, but the bank’s subsequent count showed that 1,176,239.08 baht was actually taken. This distinction is important because several early reports used the larger preliminary figure.
The getaway car became the key clue
After escaping, the suspect allegedly drove away in a Toyota Vios.
Police later discovered the vehicle burned near the inbound side of Phahonyothin Road, close to the Asian Institute of Technology and the Thammasat University Hospital area.
Investigators said the vehicle carried a fake registration plate, suggesting an attempt to make it more difficult for police to trace the getaway route. Forensic officers examined the burned vehicle for identifying evidence.
The decision to abandon and burn the car ultimately appears to have provided investigators with another important trail.
CCTV helped investigators trace the suspect
Police reviewed surveillance footage along the suspected escape route and followed leads from Pathum Thani into Bangkok.
Reports said investigators eventually located the suspect at a resort in the Ratchada-Ram Inthra/Khan Na Yao area, where officers arrested him on September 11.
Police also recovered a small amount of cash and a white Toyota sedan during the operation.
The arrest was confirmed by several Thai outlets, including Amarin TV, Thairath and KomChadLuek.
Suspect reportedly suffered burns
Thai reports said the suspect was found with burn injuries, including injuries to his arm and face.
Investigators believe the injuries may have been sustained while the getaway vehicle was being set on fire.
The detail could become significant as police reconstruct what happened after the robbery and examine whether anyone else assisted the suspect.
Police say the suspect had a previous robbery conviction
The case took another turn after investigators checked the suspect’s background.
Thai reports said Saifa had previously been involved in a 2012 robbery of a cash-delivery vehicle in Ayutthaya, in which nearly 16 million baht was reportedly stolen.
He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison and was released in 2022, according to local reports.
Police are now investigating whether the latest robbery was carried out entirely by the suspect or whether other people were involved.
What happened to the stolen money?
Reports differ slightly on the suspect’s account of the stolen cash.
Thai media reported that he told investigators he had used the money to deal with debts, with some reports saying he cited gambling or informal debt obligations.
Only a small amount of cash was reportedly recovered when he was arrested, and police are continuing to trace the remaining money.
His statements remain allegations made during the investigation and would need to be established through the legal process.
Police investigation continues
Following the arrest, investigators brought the suspect to Khlong Luang Police Station for questioning and further legal proceedings.
Authorities are expected to examine CCTV footage, forensic evidence from the burned vehicle, the suspect’s movements after the robbery and the source of the vehicle used in the getaway.
Investigators will also determine whether anyone helped plan the robbery or provided assistance after the suspect abandoned the first vehicle.
Why the case drew attention
The robbery stood out because of the speed and apparent planning involved.
The suspect allegedly:
- Entered the bank shortly before closing.
- Used a firearm to threaten staff.
- Secured the entrance from inside.
- Took cash from both the counter and safe.
- Escaped in a vehicle carrying a false registration plate.
- Abandoned and burned the getaway car.
- Fled from Pathum Thani to Bangkok.
- Was arrested at a Bangkok-area resort within roughly a day.
The rapid arrest demonstrates how CCTV networks, vehicle records and forensic evidence can combine to narrow a suspect’s movements even after an attempt to destroy the getaway vehicle.
The key correction in the early reports
One of the most important points for accurate reporting is the amount stolen.
Early accounts described the robbery as a 1.5-million-baht heist, with one report putting the figure at 1,541,704 baht. However, later reports citing the bank’s own verification gave the amount as 1,176,239.08 baht.
For that reason, the safest formulation is:
The suspect initially was reported to have escaped with about 1.5 million baht, but the bank later determined that 1,176,239.08 baht was missing.
That distinction prevents the widely circulated preliminary figure from being presented as the final verified amount.
Bottom line
What began as a daylight armed robbery at a bank in Pathum Thani quickly became a cross-province manhunt.
The suspect allegedly tried to erase his trail by using fake plates and burning the getaway vehicle. But investigators followed CCTV and other evidence to Bangkok, where they arrested him at a resort less than a day after the robbery.
Now, investigators face the next question: Where did the rest of the stolen money go, and did the suspect really act alone?
Leave a Reply