Bangkok Blast Suspect Bribes Way Into Thailand
One of the main suspects in the Bangkok bombing illegally bribed his way into the country.
According to The Straits Times, Adem Karadag was detained at a flat near Bangkok, after he bribed an officer with $600 to enter the country. In Thailand, it is illegal to bribe a government official. Despite this law, Thailand has been shrouded in corruption, especially near the border.
In a statement, police Chief Somyot Poompanmoung stated, "The first man [Karadag] said he travelled through Vietnam to a neighboring country where he then paid for transportation. ... At the Thai border he paid US $600 to cross into Thailand."
Karadag's role in the explosion is unknown, but police caught him with a fake Turkish passport and bomb-making materials. A second man, named Yusufu Mieraili, was caught and arrested by the Cambodian border.
According to CNN, Thai officials concluded that the Chinese passport that Yusufu was carrying was a fake. Copies were then sent to Turkey and China, and police forces there echo the same sentiment.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters, "China is following the investigation of this case and has been in close contact with Thai authorities. I want to emphasize that anyone who has committed such a heinous crime is bound to face severe punishment. China will continue to strengthen cooperation with relevant sides on law enforcement and security matters."
Last month, a bomb near the famed Erawan shrine killed 20 people and injured 120 people. The shrine is visited by thousands of people, and it is the home of a golden statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Thai police have more than five people in custody and are still looking for more suspects.
They also believe that the bombing was a part of "a network."
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