What did StanChart robbery suspect's note read?
Roach had allegedly walked into the bank wearing a hoodie and cap, and passed a piece of paper to the teller.
He had told hostel staff during check-in that he was going to check out on Saturday.
But for unknown reasons, David James Roach did not do so, and stayed on.
On Sunday, Thailand police moved into the Boxpackers Hostel in the Ratchathewi district of central Bangkok and arrested him.
Roach, 26, a Canadian, is the suspect behind the robbery at Standard Chartered Bank's Holland Village branch in Singapore last Thursday.
It was his first visit to Singapore.
The suspect, who was identified by name and face by Thai media outlet Nation TV 22, has maintained that he was not involved in the robbery.
This despite the fact that Thai police have recovered most of the $30,000 cash he allegedly took, Shin Min Daily News reported.
The report added that Roach had only been in Singapore a few days before the robbery.
According to the Chinese evening daily, the 1.8m-tall man had allegedly walked into the bank wearing a hoodie and cap, and passed a piece of paper to the teller.
The note read: "This is a robbery, I have a weapon, give me money, don't call the police."
The teller handed over $30,000, but also activated the secret alarm notifying the police once everyone's safety was ensured.
Within a few hours, Roach had fled Singapore and checked into the $16-a-night hostel in Bangkok.
Carrying only a haversack, he calmly booked a room on the spot when he arrived at the hostel at 10pm.Even though the hostel offered single rooms, Roach opted for a four-man room on the first night.
However, during the three nights he was there, he changed his room twice, opting for a six-man room on the second night and a 10-man room on the third.
CCTV
Roach was arrested on Sunday by the Royal Thai Police after they determined his whereabouts using closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area.
According to Shin Min, there are 10 hostels and hotels in the area. Thai police had earlier gone to each one with a picture of the suspect, asking staff if they had seen the man.
Staff at Boxpackers Hostel who were approached on Saturday night did not recognise Roach, but confirmed that his name was on the hotel's guest register.
Roach was heading out of the hostel when police arrested him, Shin Min reported.
He did not resist arrest and is now in detention in Thailand's Immigration Department.
It is not known how Roach, who had been to Thailand "many times" according to records, had managed to bring the cash into the country unnoticed.
Tourists bringing in more than US$20,000 (S$27,000) are required to make a declaration to Thai customs.
The Straits Times reported that the suspect said nothing and demanded to meet an officer from the Canadian embassy, said Major-General Apichart Suriboonya, head of Thailand's Interpol unit.
However, it was not possible at the time as the embassy is closed on Sundays.
It is unclear whether an embassy officer has since got in touch with him.
In a statement on their Facebook page, the police here said they managed to establish the identity of the suspect on the same day as the robbery, but the suspect had already left Singapore for Bangkok.
"The Singapore authorities are currently engaging our counterparts in Thailand to see whether the suspect can be released into our custody," the statement added.
According to documents seen by Shin Min, Roach was born in Sydney in 1989 but now holds Canadian citizenship.
Maj-Gen Apichart added that more details of the case will be revealed at a press conference in Thailand today.
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