PHUKET: A foreign man accused of being the Bangkok bomber was helped across the border from Thailand to Cambodia by a Thai official who was paid a bribe, according to media reports tonight.
However, in Cambodia, a Cambodian border official stopped the bomb suspect and alerted other authorities.
Soon after, Thai police sent a helicopter to the border crossing post at Sa Kheao and airlifted the suspect back to Bangkok for intensive questioning about the blast at the Erawan Shrine that killed 20 people on April 17.
Meanwhile, the first foreigner already under arrest and being questioned about the bombing told police that he came to Thailand via Vietnam and Laos.
At a checkpoint entry spot on the Thai border, he paid 18,000 baht to Thai Immigration officials to let him into Thailand, according to Thai police.
Questions are now being asked about whether Immigration officials on the Thai border have been bribed to let two men associated with the Bangkok bombing enter and leave Thailand.
The first suspect, finally opening up to questioning, has said that the fake passports in his apartment were for the human trafficking of Uighurs from China who wanted to go to Turkey or third countries.
However, in Cambodia, a Cambodian border official stopped the bomb suspect and alerted other authorities.
Soon after, Thai police sent a helicopter to the border crossing post at Sa Kheao and airlifted the suspect back to Bangkok for intensive questioning about the blast at the Erawan Shrine that killed 20 people on April 17.
Meanwhile, the first foreigner already under arrest and being questioned about the bombing told police that he came to Thailand via Vietnam and Laos.
At a checkpoint entry spot on the Thai border, he paid 18,000 baht to Thai Immigration officials to let him into Thailand, according to Thai police.
Questions are now being asked about whether Immigration officials on the Thai border have been bribed to let two men associated with the Bangkok bombing enter and leave Thailand.
The first suspect, finally opening up to questioning, has said that the fake passports in his apartment were for the human trafficking of Uighurs from China who wanted to go to Turkey or third countries.
If true these bribe takers should be jailed for a long time. All we see is they get transferred to an 'inactive post'
which probably just means a post with no access to graft.
Posted by Arun Muruga on September 3, 2015 10:59
Editor Comment:
This is more serious. Killers bribing Immigration? Something has to be done.