Police on Monday questioned Iranian bomb suspect Mohammad Hazaei and formally charged him with involvement in the Bangkok Valentine Day blasts.

 

Hazaei, who was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport last Tuesday while attempting to board a plane bound for Malaysia, was taken for questioning for the first time at the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat, who is heading the investigation, formally notified him of the joint charges, with the other suspects, which include assembling explosive devices, possessing explosive devices without a permit, and causing an explosion injuring other persons and property.

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Jarumporn Suramanee said the DNA test showed links between Hazaei and evidence such as clothes, hats and shoes collected from the rented house in Sukhumvit 71.

Gen Jarumporn, however, said the DNA test to determine connections with another suspect Saeid Moradi, who lost both legs when his own explosive device rebounded and is now hospitalised at Chulalongkorn Hospital, has not yet been conducted.

The Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for five Iranians on various charges related to the Feb 14 Bangkok bomb incidents.

The first two suspects were Saeid Moradi, 28, and Mohammad Hazaei, 42.

A third Iranian identified as Masoud Sedaghatzadeh was arrested last Wednesday by Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur. The Thai authorities are working to conclude and translate related documents to be submitted to Malaysia seeking the suspect’s extradition to Thailand for prosecution.

The fourth suspect is an Iranian national identified as Leila Rohani. She reportedly rented the house for the group and returned to the Iranian capital of Tehran several days before the explosions.

The fifth suspect is a Middle Eastern man who may have been involved in the blasts. CCTV camera images show him walking from the rented house where the first explosion took place, apparently by accident.