The two men, tracked down and caught after five days of massive police action, had not arrived in Phuket by 9 pm tonight, but Gen Priewpan announced that a press conference will be held tomorrow morning, at which the two men will be put on display.
This suggests that the two may already have admitted to the attack on Mrs Smith and fellow travel agent Tamee Lynn on Wednesday night (June 20).
Thai law allows a halving of sentence for any criminal who confesses unreservedly to a crime.
The two men have been named as Surasak Suwanchot, 26, unemployed, who was allegedly the one who stabbed Mrs Smith and slashed Ms Lee when they struggled with him in an effort to stop him taking Mrs Smith's handbag; and Surin Tatthong, 37, said to work as a tyre fitter, who is alleged to have driven the motorbike used in the disastrously botched bag-snatch attempt.