Arrested Colombians got car in Phuket

PHUKET: A set of Phuket-issued car license plates was among seized evidence presented by police today during a Bangkok press conference to announce the arrest of a Colombian couple on burglary charges.

Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commander Santhan Chayanont announced the arrest of Colombians Camilo Andres Albois Gonzalez, 27 Luzda Lee Taborda Ospena, 44.

Presented as evidence was a red Honda CRV as well as a set of Phuket license plates with the alphanumeric series: kor ngor 9127.

The couple were among four people in the CRV stopped by police searching for foreign suspects wanted in connection with a burglary at a residential estate in Bangkok’s Thaling Chan area at about noon on August 2.

The thieves got off with a home safe containing gold ornaments and cash valued at over four million baht. The items belonged to homeowner and Sirirat Hospital cardiologist Dr Nithat Wisuwachaiphan, age 30, police said.

Two other suspects with the pair at the time managed to flee.

Police said the pair were part of a gang of foreign thieves that had carried our many similar crimes in the recent past.

The couple entered the country through Phuket, where they acquired the car used to carry out the crime, the press were told.

The couple have denied any involvement in the crime, but police said Mrs Ospena was wearing a ring that was kept in the safe at the time of the heist.

A search of the couple’s rented home on Sukhumvit Road failed to turn up any further damning evidence.

— Nation Breaking News