Hunt on for prime suspect

YUSUFU MIERAILI, the second suspect arrested in connection with last month’s Bangkok bombings, is not the prime suspect seen in yellow T-shirt on surveillance footage at the Erawan Shrine before the blast, police spokesman Pol Lt General Prawut Thavornsiri said.

Citing DNA test results, he said the suspect, who holds a Chinese passport, was not the person who left the explosive at the shrine that killed 20 people and injured more than 100 on August 17.

However, Prawut added that the man, who was arrested near the Thai-Cambodian border last weekend, was one of the persons allegedly involved in making the bomb in the Min Buri and Nong Chok districts of Bangkok, based on DNA and forensic evidence.

Prawut said Mieraili’s DNA was not identical to that found in a taxicab believed to have provided a ride to the prime suspect on his way to the Erawan Shrine on August 17. It’s also not identical to that found on a Bt20 banknote used by this person on that day. 

However, Mieraili’s DNA is identical to that on explosive containers found at the Pool Anant apartment building in Nong Chok district and DNA found on a toothbrush and a nail cutter insider another apartment room in Min Buri district. Hence he is believed to be one of the bomb makers in the two Bangkok attacks.

“At this stage, there is no evidence showing this man as the person who left the bomb [at the Erawan Shrine], but we believe he is one of the team’s members, and he holds a Chinese passport,” Prawut said. 

Mieraili is facing charges of illegally possessing explosive materials but police have not filed charges of manslaughter against him, he added.

Meanwhile, the military yesterday handed overAdem Karadag, another suspect in the Bangkok bomb blasts, to police custody after seven days in detention. At this stage, this suspect also faces the charge of illegally possessing bomb-making materials. Earlier DNA tests also showed that he was not the man who left the bomb at the Erawan Shrine, but police believed he was a member of the network that made the bombs for the Bangkok attack based on evidence found at his Pool Anant apartment in Nong Chok district.

Pol Lt-General Sri-vara Rangsi-bhamkul, the Bangkok police chief, said a total of nine arrest warrants had been issued for suspects in connection with the incidents, including Wanna Suansan, a Thai woman who rented apartment rooms and a house to other suspects.

Police also found about 30 litres of liquid chemicals, electrical parts and other materials that could be used to make bombs at a house in Min Buri district rented by Wanna, whose family said she was now in Turkey with her husband. Neighbours told police they saw Wanna come to the house with her child about a year ago.

Deputy Government Spokes-man Maj-General Weerachon Sukonpatipak said police would have to prove the nationality of suspects in cooperation with the countries concerned, as the issue was very sensitive and it did not mean that these countries were behind the Bangkok attacks.

Asked if the incidents were connected with Thailand’s earlier repatriation of Uighur migrants to China, he said it was premature to make any conclusion on the motives behind the blasts, as there were several possible factors, including cross-border human trafficking and domestic politics.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has found a money trail believed to be connected with the network that carried out the Bangkok bomb blasts, according to Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya.

The AMLO found evidence that could be linked to financial transactions related to the suspects arrested by police, so it will forward it to the Department of Special Investigation for further action.

Weerachon had said earlier that there could be a link between financial transactions and human-trafficking activities if the latter were the motive behind the blasts.