Thai authorities are grousing that alleged Standard Chartered Bank robber — 27-year-old Canadian David James Roach — is totally refusing to speak to them.
Speaking to the media, police chief Jaktip Chaijinda mentioned that Roach has been totally uncooperative during the investigations, refusing to answer questions and requesting for a lawyer to be present throughout. Roach is currently being detained in Bangkok’s Suan Plu Immigration Detention Centre after he was arrested last Sunday for allegedly robbing $30,000 from the bank at Holland Village.
Thai police also detailed Roach’s escape from Singapore and how he got to his hostel hideout:
- After fleeing from the StanChart bank on the morning of July 7, he boarded an AirAsia flight from Singapore
- He arrived at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport at about 5pm, Thailand time
- He managed to clear customs even though tourists bringing in over USD20,000 have to declare it
- He boarded a taxi to get to Central World in the Pathumwan District
- He headed to Boxpackers Hostel in the Ratchathewi district on foot
- Arriving without a room reservation, he checked into the hostel, initially planning to stay for only two days
- He changed rooms each night, extending his stay till July 10, where he was arrested in the 10-bed room
Chaijinda also confirmed that USD27,000, several notes and a notebook were found at the scene during the suspect’s arrest. He was supposed to transfer out the stolen money, but his plans were quickly foiled when he got nabbed.
According to The Straits Times, the notebook detailed plans of his escape to Chiang Mai, followed by Dubai. It was revealed that they took two days to establish the location of the suspect by contacting the taxi driver who ferried him and examining CCTV footage from when he alighted at Central World.
Singapore is now seeking to extradite Roach, but things may be complicated, considering how Thailand does not have an extradition treaty with the city-state. An extradition request to Thailand’s Attorney General’s Office is being processed now.
Another issue that has arisen is the fact that Roach technically has not been arrested — they merely cancelled his right to stay in Thailand, meaning they can’t keep him in the country for long.
Reportedly, Canadian officials are trying to get Roach sent back to Canada.
EDIT: Our initial timeline stated that Roach landed in Suvarnabhumi airport. That is incorrect — we’ve amended the story to reflect that he landed in Don Muang Airport instead.
