Bomb probe police teams to get Bt3m reward
NATIONAL police chief Somyot Poompanmuang said yesterday he had managed to scrape together Bt3 million to reward investigation teams whose tedious work resulted in the first arrest of a suspect for the Erawan Shrine bombing.
“Of that amount, Bt1 million is from me and the rest from my businessmen friends,” the police general said.
The capture of the man at his Bangkok apartment on Saturday did not come from any tip-off, he said, but from clues police uncovered through interrogation and searching for evidence.
The teams that will share the reward were led by General Chakthip Chaijinda, the deputy National Police chief, Lt-General Chaiwat Ketworachai, acting Special Branch chief, Lt-General Thitirat Nonghanpitak, the Central Investigation chief, and other police officers.
Panthongtae offers Bt7 million
Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said on Facebook that he was also ready to pay out a Bt7 million reward he had promised as soon as the government spokesman officially confirms that the detained man was linked to the Erawan bomb attack.
Of that amount, Bt5 million was for officials and Bt2 million for members of the public who provided useful information.
On August 17, a bomb rocked the popular city shrine, killing 20 people and wounding more than 100 others.
Of the dead, six were Thais.
Only four of them were covered by life insurance. One had taken out two policies.
According to the Thai Life Insurance Association, these policies were worth a combined Bt2.26 million.
The family of each dead victim has been awarded Bt150,000 in compensation by the government and granted Bt90,000 as consolation from Their Majesties the King and Queen.
