An investigator at Tungtong police station told The Phuket News that Arehama was living in a Tungtong apartment with his girlfriend.
“We have networks of local people who let us know when strangers move into an area. You could say that this case was cracked by the volunteer community network in the area.”
Investigators found that Mr Arehama was wanted over allegations that he was involved in a number of crimes including robbery and bombings.
After his arrest he told police that he had fled from the deep south to Malaysia and then returned, heading for Patong, where he worked as a security guard for a bar in Bangla Rd and then as a huckster for a restaurant on Soi Seadragon for about five years.
He has already been sent under guard to the Crime Suppression Division of the police, in Bangkok.
The Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, Pol Col Jirapat Poachanaphan, said, “We try to make sure that Patong is safe. We are always checking around.”