Standard
Chartered robber fled to Bangkok, stayed in budget
hostel
The man who robbed a Standard Chartered Bank branch in Holland
Village of $30,000 has been caught.
He had stayed three nights in a backpacker hostel in Bangkok
before he was arrested by Royal Thai Police.
Canadian national David James Roach, 26, is believed to have
taken a cab to Changi Airport and fled to Thailand after committing
the crime at 11.30am on July 7, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Roach is believed to have purchased the airplane ticket prior to
committing the crime.
He arrived at a budget hostel in Bangkok before 10pm that same
day.
One day after the robbery, Singapore Police requested to
extradite the suspect.
On July 9, Thai police managed to locate his whereabouts and
arrested him the next day, the Chinese daily reported.
During his stay, Roach opted to share a room with other
backpackers, paying between $16 and $20 each day, Shin Min Daily
News quoted a source as saying.
He had to switch rooms daily as he did not have a reservation
and rooms were limited.
When Thai police questioned him, he did not say anything beyond
demanding to meet an officer from the Canadian embassy, said Major
General Apichart Suriboonya, who heads Thailand's Interpol
unit.
As his arrest took place on Sunday, the embassy was closed.
Maj-Gen Apichart told The Straits Times he was not sure whether
an embassy representative had since got in touch with police.
Roach, who was born in Australia, is currently being detained at
the Immigration Detention Centre. His tourist visa has been
cancelled by Thai authorities.
Singapore has requested to extradite the suspect to Singapore
and is waiting for approval from Thai authorities.
While Roach has spent some of the money, the bulk of it was
recovered.
Source: Shin Min Daily News
