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Standard Chartered robber fled to Bangkok, stayed in budget hostel

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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

thailandRobberycrimeUncategorisedarrestedholland village