CHON BURI: Police are looking into reports that a “pretty” host hired to entertain three Chinese nationals at a house in Pattaya supplied information to the gang that subsequently robbed them.
Authorities are still looking for three of the five suspects in the robbery that took place early on Wednesday.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Sarawut Suthapot, 31, Nakharin Sae Tieo, 26, and Wanchana Kreedkrai, 27. The three men are still at large.
Two other men — Chachana Phimpa, 28, and Thawatchai “Bank” Siyangnok, 27 — were caught separately in Rayong and Pattaya on Thursday.
Police have charged them with collusion in robbery, coercion with threats to life, illegal possession of weapons in public and related offences.
A pickup truck, jackets and masks used by the gang during the robbery were seized during the arrests.
Police have also confiscated money transferred by the victims to the bank accounts of people linked with the suspects, said Pol Col Thanapong Photi, chief of Pattaya City police. Officers plan to call in the holders of the accounts for questioning.
The gang broke into the house at the Pattaya Muang Mai housing estate in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri and tied up the three Chinese — two men and one woman — and robbed them of nearly 400,000 baht in cash, a car and other valuables in the early hours of Wednesday.
Local media reported the Chinese nationals had hired a young woman to entertain them and serve alcoholic drinks. After noticing many valuable items inside, she reportedly phoned Mr Sarawut, alias “Beer Kophai”, who then ordered his three associates to rob the house.
Mr Sarawut reportedly asked the woman to drug her customers.