PHATTHALUNG, May 15 (TNA) – Thai police brought in a key suspect for additional questioning Wednesday morning regarding the kidnapping case in which an Indonesian man was held for a 2.3 million baht ransom after being abducted from Hat Yai district and taken to Phatthalung province earlier this month.
The other two suspects were treated as witnesses after the investigation found they were only ordered by the “boss” to guard the house.
Police on Tuesday rescued Mr. Syawana, a 29-year-old Indonesian man, from a house in Mueang district of Phatthalung province.
This followed coordination with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Songkhla province that on May 11, Mr. Syawana was taken by a group of Thai men from Hat Yai district in Songkhla and brought to Mueang Phatthalung district. He was tortured and a video was sent to his sister in Indonesia demanding a ransom of 2.3 million Thai baht. His relatives had already transferred 800,000 baht before Mr. Syawana managed to secretly send the location of the house to his sister using a borrowed phone, allowing authorities to rescue him.
Three suspects were arrested – Weerasak from Phatthalung, Ruswan and Saidee from Narathiwat province. A 9mm handgun and a set of handcuffs were seized as evidence. They were sent to the Mueang Phatthalung police station for further questioning while Mr. Syawana, the victim, provided additional statements.
During the search of the house, two more Indonesian nationals were found detained, making three victims in total. They were taken for medical examination at Phatthalung Hospital to check for signs of assault.
The house where the victims were found is reportedly an abandoned rental property and the owner’s identity is still unknown. Forensics officers from Phatthalung province inspected the scene again to collect more evidence. Police have not disclosed details about the suspects’ testimonies yet. -819 (TNA)
