Tyler Gerard, 21, provided “useful information” during the intense interrogation that followed his arrival yesterday night from Sa Kaeo province where he was apprehended trying to enter Cambodia, a police source said.
As a result of his disclosures, arrest warrants were issued for the remaining suspects in the case, local Pattaya media reported yesterday.
Police said the investigation is expected to be wrapped up soon.
Gerard, along with 26-year-old Australian Antonio Bagnato and three other men, believed to be foreigners, are accused of kidnapping 37-year-old motorcycle gang member Schneider from his rented Jomtien Park Villas home in Bang Lamung district of Pattaya early Monday (Nov 30), then killing him before burying the body in a wooded area of neighbouring Sattahip district.
Schneider’s naked body was found with a broken neck in a 1.8-metre grave on the Khao Cheechan hill yesterday.
Immigration police yesterday said Mr Bagnato has managed to leave Thailand unmolested and Pol Col Sukthat Pumpunmuang, superintendent of Pattaya police, was quoted by ABC News in Australia as saying he had crossed over into Cambodia.
However, local Pattaya media today said Pattaya police now believe Mr Bagnato could still be in the country.
Gerard, meanwhile, was nabbed around 11am yesterday at the Aranyaprathet immigration checkpoint where authorities found his passport matched a list of suspects in the case.
Pattaya police also detained the Thai wife of Mr Bagnato, accusing her of renting the Toyota pick-up truck used to abduct and transport Schneider’s body. She claimed to have no knowledge of the murder plot.
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