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Bangkok Blast: Hunt for suspect intensifies
Thai soldiers inspect the scene after a bomb exploded outside a religious shrine in central Bangkok late on August 17 killing at least 10 people and wounding scores more
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span class="inline inline-center">Thai soldiers inspect the scene after a bomb exploded outside a religious shrine in central Bangkok late on August 17 killing at least 10 people and wounding scores more. Body parts were scattered across the street after the explosion outside the Erawan Shrine in the downtown Chidlom district of the Thai capital. (AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)
Police have stepped up their investigation of a Thai man suspected of supplying the explosives used in the Erawan Shrine blast.
The suspect, Aod Payungwong, has no identity card despite standing trial several times and being convicted of a crime, it was revealed.
Police visited Siriraj Hospital yesterday to see if Aod's birth was registered there.
They had earlier visited Ban Banglamung elderly care center in Chon Buri to talk to Anong Payungwong, 61, Aod's mother. Aod is also known as Yongyut Pobkaew.
He is one of two Thais wanted in connection with the shrine blast, which killed 20 people and wounded more than 100 others on August 17. Police have issued 17 arrest warrants in the case, with most of the suspects being foreign.
General Somyot Poompanmuang, a former national police chief, said Aod did not have an identity card.
A police source quoted Anong as saying she had not seen her son in about five years and he had stopped sending her money during that period.
The source said Anong told police she delivered Aod at Siriraj Hospital and registered the birth there, making it possible for him to acquire the 13-digit identity card, but that he failed to apply for the card at a district office.
'We want to confirm his identity and his nationality is that of a Thai citizen,' the source said.
Aod did not know who his father was, he worked as a garbage collector and frequently moved from place to place, the source said. He had a son and a daughter who were adopted by an Australian couple.
Police previously linked him to explosions when protesters took to the streets against the Abhisit government and later the Yingluck government.
The suspicion that he may be involved in the blast has led police to believe that politics may have played a part in the attack.
He was given a suspended jail term in an explosive-related case.
General Jakthip Chaijinda, the national police chief, said the investigation would continue despite the closure of a center set up as part of the probe.
He said he would not make changes to the investigation team.
Two suspects have been arrested in the case while 15 others are at large.
Lt-General Sriwara Ransibrahmanakul, deputy national police chief, said police had enough evidence to link Aod to the case. (k)(++++)
