Issara Parnto said he wanted to show his sincerity in denying that he did not assault a man whose gold necklace was stolen by his friend Worraphob Buaphet. Worraphob was arrested after a pickup truck he stole was cornered in the Lak Si area by police.

Issara claimed he did not harm the man whose necklace was stolen at the Carrefour Ratchadaphisek department store and that he played no part in a woman security guard being taken hostage at the nearby Ratchada subway station.

Worraphob alone had held the woman guard at gunpoint before stealing a pickup truck from a woman and was driving it north along Phaholyothin Road. Issara said he parted ways with Worraphob at the subway station and managed to get away unnoticed by pursuing police or bystanders.

However, he admitted taking the necklace from the man at Carrefour. He also felt "shocked and confused" after seeing Worraphob hit the man over the head with a pistol.

Asked about a comment by police that Worraphob always carried a handgun, Issara said: "It's not surprising to me. Worraphob collects that kind of stuff."

Both suspects have been charged with six criminal offences and are now in police custody at Bang Khen police station.

Police alleged that Issara and Worraphob also mugged a man at The Mall in Bang Kapi on July 14 and took a large necklace from him.