Thai police award themselves for arrest

Many Thais express doubt the bombing will be solved.

Thai police gave $84,000 to themselves for an arrest in the Bangkok bombing,

BANGKOK — With much fanfare, Thai police had offered an $84,000 reward for tips leading to arrests in the Bangkok bombing. On Monday, they handed out the cash — to themselves.

They arrested a suspect Saturday, though the man has not been charged, let alone convicted. He may not even be the prime suspect in the Aug. 17 bombing at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine, which killed 20 people and injured more than 120: Police issued arrest warrants Monday for two more suspects, a Thai woman and a foreign man of unknown nationality.

But Saturday’s arrest was enough for national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung. He said he was taking the unusual step of redirecting the $84,000 reward to high- light that Thailand’s police are good at their jobs.

Somyot made the announcement at a news conference, saying he had “good news.”

“Give me the bag,” he said, turning to an aide who rushed over with stacks of cash that Somyot placed on the podium before him.

“This is real money,” he said with a smile. He went on to say that Saturday’s arrest was thanks to “good police work” and had not come from any outside tips.

“It is the ability of Thai officials that led to the arrest,” he said. “This money should be given to officials who did their job.”

The decision quickly added to criticism on social media over police handling of the bombing investigation. Many Thais have expressed doubt that the bombing will be solved, citing a reputation Thai police have for corruption and forcing confessions.

ASSOCIATED PRESS National police chief Somyot Poompanmoung holds an $84,000 cash reward in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday. He intends to award the money to police.