Suspected Erawan shrine bomber Bilal Mohammad, also known as Adem Karadag and Bilal Turk, says he planted the deadly bomb at the behest of another suspect, Abdullah Abdulrahman, who promised him passage to Turkey, according to his lawyer.
Lawyer Choochart Khanpai was speaking after he re-visited his client at the 11th Army Circle Thursday after the court on Wednesday approved a police bid to have him detained for another 12 days.
The explosion at the shrine killed 20 and injured 130 on Aug 17, and another bomb went off at the Sathon pier a day later, injuring no one.
The lawyer said his client, who communicated with him in English, is aware his offence carries a severe punishment and if he pleads guilty, his punishment would be eased.
The suspect said he did not know what happened in the immediate aftermath of the blast because his room did not have any communication devices or television, Mr Choochart said.
But once he saw pictures of the attack, he felt remorse for what he had done, the lawyer said.
Mr Mohammad (Karadag) said he travelled from China, though he refused to reveal his hometown for fear that Chinese authorities could intimidate his friends and relatives there, Mr Choochart said.
He crossed into Thailand in the hope of traveling onwards to Malaysia with a final destination of Turkey, the lawyer said. Mr Mohammad's family members and relatives are all in Turkey.
The lawyer said he still did not know the motive behind the blast. However, his client told him that the man he identifies as Mr Abdullah ordered him on Aug 16 to plant the bomb-laden rucksack at the shrine.