BANGKOK: Police say they have identified the killers of former Sydney Hells Angel bikie and underworld figure Wayne Schneider in a major breakthrough into investigations into alleged Australian criminal networks operating in Thailand.
A 21-year-old American man has confessed to involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Schneider, whose mutilated and naked body was found with a broken neck in a grave in woodlands a short drive from his rented home in the Thai tourist city of Pattaya, police said.
The man identified as Tyler Gerard was arrested as he attempted to cross the Thai border into Cambodia.
Police said Mr Gerard initially only confessed to involvement in the kidnapping, but later admitted during interrogation to also being involved in the murder.
He pointed police to a reservoir where Schneider's clothes and other items were dumped after he was killed early Monday, Thai media quoted police as saying.
Police were preparing warrants for the arrest of three suspects, Thai media reported, as they stepped-up a nationwide hunt.
Police had already issued an arrest warrant for another Sydney bikie Antonio Bagnato, 26, on charges of conspiring to assault and detain Schneider, who he was a partner with in a Sydney fitness centre.
Thai media quoted police as saying they believe Mr Bagnato has fled to Cambodia.
Other reports quoted police as saying they now believe he may still be in Thailand.
Police have detained Mr Bagnato's Thai wife Siraphat Saimart, 25, over the rental of a Toyota pick-up truck that was used in the abduction, the Bangkok Post reported.
She told police she did not know the vehicle would be used in the kidnapping, but that Mr Bagnato had instructed her to delete all the text messages in her mobile phone that related to renting the vehicle, the newspaper reported.
Fairfax Media has reported a source in Melbourne as saying Schneider was cashed up at the time of the abduction after recently returning to Thailand with the proceeds of a large drug trafficking operation in Europe.
The source said Schneider's new bank balance was well known among Australian bikie gangs and that it was not the first time he had been stood over.
Fairfax Media also revealed former Victorian Comanchero president, Amad "Jay" Malkoun, who was once considered the state's most powerful bikie boss, was interviewed by Thai authorities as a witness to the abduction.
Malkoun was quoted as saying he slept through the entire ordeal and only learnt Schneider was missing from the police.
Thai police and Australian law enforcement agencies have been investigating Australian motorcycle gang members in Thailand, most of whom do not have legitimate work permits, despite appearing to have extensive business interests in the country.
About a month ago, Schneider reportedly arrived at the Pattaya villa and paid about $5000 to rent the villa for six months.
Schneider was a convicted drug trafficker who had also been charged with obstructing the Australian Crime Commission, as he failed to give evidence during a coercive hearing.
He had been a member of the Lone Wolf gang, and crossed to the Hells Angels' Sydney chapter in acrimonious circumstances in about 2008.
Schneider spent 18 months on NSW's "most wanted" list over the shooting of a bouncer in 2007, although the charges were later dropped.
He was also found with more than $200,000 in betting chips and plaques from Melbourne's Crown Casino in 2009 that were suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
A 21-year-old American man has confessed to involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Schneider, whose mutilated and naked body was found with a broken neck in a grave in woodlands a short drive from his rented home in the Thai tourist city of Pattaya, police said.
The man identified as Tyler Gerard was arrested as he attempted to cross the Thai border into Cambodia.
Police said Mr Gerard initially only confessed to involvement in the kidnapping, but later admitted during interrogation to also being involved in the murder.
He pointed police to a reservoir where Schneider's clothes and other items were dumped after he was killed early Monday, Thai media quoted police as saying.
Police were preparing warrants for the arrest of three suspects, Thai media reported, as they stepped-up a nationwide hunt.
Police had already issued an arrest warrant for another Sydney bikie Antonio Bagnato, 26, on charges of conspiring to assault and detain Schneider, who he was a partner with in a Sydney fitness centre.
Thai media quoted police as saying they believe Mr Bagnato has fled to Cambodia.
Other reports quoted police as saying they now believe he may still be in Thailand.
Police have detained Mr Bagnato's Thai wife Siraphat Saimart, 25, over the rental of a Toyota pick-up truck that was used in the abduction, the Bangkok Post reported.
She told police she did not know the vehicle would be used in the kidnapping, but that Mr Bagnato had instructed her to delete all the text messages in her mobile phone that related to renting the vehicle, the newspaper reported.
Fairfax Media has reported a source in Melbourne as saying Schneider was cashed up at the time of the abduction after recently returning to Thailand with the proceeds of a large drug trafficking operation in Europe.
The source said Schneider's new bank balance was well known among Australian bikie gangs and that it was not the first time he had been stood over.
Fairfax Media also revealed former Victorian Comanchero president, Amad "Jay" Malkoun, who was once considered the state's most powerful bikie boss, was interviewed by Thai authorities as a witness to the abduction.
Malkoun was quoted as saying he slept through the entire ordeal and only learnt Schneider was missing from the police.
Thai police and Australian law enforcement agencies have been investigating Australian motorcycle gang members in Thailand, most of whom do not have legitimate work permits, despite appearing to have extensive business interests in the country.
About a month ago, Schneider reportedly arrived at the Pattaya villa and paid about $5000 to rent the villa for six months.
Schneider was a convicted drug trafficker who had also been charged with obstructing the Australian Crime Commission, as he failed to give evidence during a coercive hearing.
He had been a member of the Lone Wolf gang, and crossed to the Hells Angels' Sydney chapter in acrimonious circumstances in about 2008.
Schneider spent 18 months on NSW's "most wanted" list over the shooting of a bouncer in 2007, although the charges were later dropped.
He was also found with more than $200,000 in betting chips and plaques from Melbourne's Crown Casino in 2009 that were suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
