The Corrections Department chief yesterday ordered that suspects related to the so-called "Flying Pig" gang of robbers be detained in separate cells.
The move follows suspects Nat Chahom's and Supat "Tom" Noenwichien's failed attempt to escape upon arrival at Bangkok's Taling Chan District Court on Monday with their accomplice Chatchawal Kowkimseng.
Department chief Chatchai Suthiklom said the Bangkok Special Prison chief had put together a team to investigate the origin of materials used for the fake bombs that were reportedly put together in prison and then used by the suspects as a distraction when trying to escape. If any officials are found involved in the making of these fake bombs then they would be severely punished, he added.
Chatchai said information from the prison's security camera footage should be ready in three days. It is believed that Chatchawal, a fraud suspect released on bail last Monday, had visited the gangsters and was often seen entering the prison compound in the Honda Civic he had used as a getaway vehicle.
The department chief added that prison officials had beefed up security, especially when transporting inmates to court. In addition, suspects were now put in shackles, detained in solitary cells and not allowed any visitors, he said, adding that it's a good thing that they are being detained pending trail because otherwise their conditions would be further downgraded.
Meanwhile, the court yesterday issued a warrant to arrest Chatchawal for assisting jailbreak, possessing an unregistered pistol and carrying weapons in public spaces without permission. The police have also interviewed the five Corrections officials who transported the suspects and have also discovered that the green Honda's car licence plate belonged to a Phuket resident. Police officers have launched a hunt for Chatchawal in Bangkok, his hometown as well as hospitals that he was often known to use as a hotel.
