Pattaya —
A Laotian man was arrested on Thursday, August 17th, for the alleged robbery of two gas station attendants in Pattaya. His accomplice is still on the run.
The incident took place back on August 8th at the Bangchak gas station opposite of Pattaya City 7 School on Sukhumvit Road in the Banglamung district of Chonburi.
Two perpetrators arrived at the station on a white Honda PCX motorbike without a license plate. They then pulled out a pistol and threatened two female pump attendants, Ms. Narumon Samart, 25, and Ms. Thanyaporn Sangboonnang, 25, before grabbing their waist pouches and escaping.
The pouches contained 870 baht in cash and a few items. The two women consequently filed a report to Pattaya police following their frightening experience.
Upon conducting an investigation, Pattaya police were quickly able to identify the two suspects. The first man was a Laotian national identified only as Mr. Khem, 30, and the second was a Thai man identified only as Mr. Ton, 22. Police have withheld the last names of both men pending an ongoing investigation.
Police tracked Mr. Khem to his workplace, an unnamed tour bus company in Pattaya. Officers allowed him to leave his workplace before they pounced on him to make an arrest.
During questioning, Mr. Khem confessed to the robbery allegation and admitted that he had illegally entered Thailand using a natural route through the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province, along with his mother, since he was five years old.
In addition to robbery charges, Mr. Khem is also facing charges for entering the country without permission.
Police are still searching for the remaining suspect. It is unclear, however, if his employer will be charged for hiring an illegal migrant worker.
