The court denied bail applications from the five. They were arrested this week after allegedly kidnapping Mark Hutchenson, 46, at gunpoint from his Bangkok condominium on April 7. They demanded US$800,000 (Bt28 million) for his release and took $400,000 from his residence.

The five men are metropolitan police officer Senior Sgt-Major Suchart Muengkhunlong, Thai-American Nicolas Pruksukkan, Mongkol Sukkasem and Thai-American brothers John and James McCleary. They are in custody at Lumpini Police Station.

Two others, metropolitan police Sergeant Sathit Prasanphangsri and Crime Suppression Division Sergeant Prasertpan Punarittidej, were arrested earlier.

A SWAT team rescued Hutchenson on Thursday.

 Police suspect three more men are involved and in possession of the stolen cash. They have been identified as Immigration Police Lt-Colonel Thanapol Boonnak, Chok Chai police Sergeant Adul Kamorn and Thai-Dutch civilian Samual, or Sam, Prasomthong.