Police in Thailand have arrested four Brits on suspicion of robbing a US tourist at gunpoint. Hussain Meer, 26, Mir Wayne Carew, 25, Yanne Sarkawt, 25, and Malique Kai Walters, 27, were allegedly caught in the act on dashcam footage.
The four were driving a blue Ford Everest SUV, when they knocked Ibrahim Iyun off his bike, as he was riding on a road in Phuket. According to reports, the Brits jumped out of their car and pointed a gun at the US lawyer, before making off with his US$75,000 (£56k) watch. The four alleged perpetrators are all believed to be professional thieves and most likely targeted Iyun after spotting him at the tourist hotspot.
The commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, Major General Sinlert Sukum, told reporters: “As of now, there are four suspects.
“We are interrogating them to determine whether other persons were involved. They arrived in Thailand at different times as tourists.
“We are investigating their movements and have already located all vehicles used in the crime as well as other evidence.
“They were charged with jointly committing robbery. We are currently checking their backgrounds. So far, we have not found any similar incidents committed by them in other areas.
“All four of them are from the same country, but they did not confirm whether they knew each other before coming here or if they only met in Thailand.”
Iyun said he had been on his way home after a shopping trip on the rainforested island, that has some of Thailand’s most popular beaches.
He told the Daily Mail: “I had never seen any one of these people before in my life. This just comes to show that foreigners who are criminals should not be welcome in Thailand.
“Unfortunately these foreigners come to Thailand to attack Thai people, to attack the tourists, and to ruin the reputation of Thailand, but Thai people are stronger than this.”
The US lawyer – who is based in Geneva – went on to praise the “swift and efficient” response by police.
