Two other suspects wanted for the theft of nearly 20 million baht destined for ATM machines in Khon Kaen province have been arrested.
Pol Col Noppadol Phetsut, Muang district police chief, said Monday that Thawatchai Samranbamrun and Surasak Prasertsang were apprehended on Sunday afternoon and brought to the police station for questioning.
Mr Thawatchai and Mr Surasak, along with Sompote Singsom, who was arrested earlier, are accused of stealing 19.7 million baht from a larger amount of cash while it was being delivered to 17 Krung Thai Bank ATM machines in Khon Kaen municipality between July 27 and 31.
The three are employees of the Khon Kaen branch of KTB General Services. The company filed a complaint with police on Saturday after finding out that the 19.7 million baht had been stolen and the three employees disappeared.
Mr Sompote was arrested by Lao police after he crossed the border through the Nong Khai immigration checkpoint on Saturday afternoon. He was sent back to the Thai police the same day.
Pol Col Noppadol said Mr Sompote admitted to stealing the money. He said he had acted alone and nobody else was involved. Police did not believe him and continued to look for Mr Thawatchai and Mr Surasak.
Mr Sompote's wife was also summoned for questioning. She brought with her 300,000 baht and gave it to the police, saying that her husband gave it to her, but she did not know where the money came from.
Police said Mr Thawatchai and Mr Surasak admitted under interrogation they were in the same money-delivery van with Mr Sompote, but had nothing to do with the theft.
They said that on Saturday, Mr Sompote gave them 100,000 baht each, saying that it was for them to spend during the long holiday. The two also handed over the money to investigators.
Pol Col Noppadol said more investigation would be carried out as the police did not believe Mr Sompote acted alone.
The three were initially charged with theft. The investigation was expected to conclude this week, Pol Col Noppadol said.