Police arrested an Israeli man accused of the armed robbery of a house in Israel as he was boarding a flight at Koh Samui international airport.
Osher Farhi, 22, was apprehended on Sunday, Pol Col Naruwat Phuttawiro, superintendent of Surat Thani Immigration Office, said on Monday. He did not reveal where the flight the suspect was boarding was headed.
He said an assistant to the security attaché at the Israeli embassy gave information to Thai police on Sept 15 and asked that they track down and arrest a fugitive.
Mr Farhi and two other Israelis allegedly robbed a house in Israel, threatening the owner with guns. They took jewellery, a passport and a laptop from the house, according to the charges. Mr Farhi had a prior criminal record, including selling drugs and violence, Pol Col Naruwat said.
Investigators tracked a signal from the stolen laptop, which led them to the suspect on Koh Samui.
The suspect had checked in to a hotel at Chaweng beach in tambon Bo Put of Koh Samui district, but a police search revealed he was not actually staying there.
On Oct 27, police learnt that Mr Farhi had booked a seat on a flight departing Koh Samui on Sunday, leading to his arrest at the airport.
Police cancelled his visa and he will be deported to Israel where he will face prosecution. Mr Farhi has also been blacklisted, banned from re-entering Thailand, Pol Col Naruwat said.