French robber slow on the getaway

A French tourist was arrested for stealing Bt2.5 million in cash from a Siam Commercial Bank on Koh Tao in Surat Thani on Friday morning, police said yesterday.

The 44-year-old suspect, Pierre Charassel, wore a wool hat to cover his face, and used a fake gun to force bank employees to give him money, before running to his motorbike to flee the scene. But he was stopped and apprehended while starting the engine by bank manager Tawan Srinak, staff and bystanders.

Charassel reportedly confessed to police that he had travelled in Thailand for several months and ran out of money, so he decided to rob the bank.