Bophut and tourist police caught Pairote Sungchim, 21, and another man identified only as Ohm, 15, at a parking lot of Seatran Ferry in Koh Samui district as they were waiting to board a boat to mainland Surat Thani Monday night.
Bophut police chief Satit Promuthai said Tuesday police had evidence showing that the two were part of the knife-wielding gang that tried to rob Zhou Haiyan and her husband, Yang Yafei, at tambon Bophut on the night of Aug 30. They fled the scene without money after the couple were injured, the officer added.
Police were trying to locate two more men identified only as James and Num, who were in the same gang, he added.
Pol Col Satit quote the two as saying that they had robbed more than 10 victims this month and picked only foreign tourists as their targets. The money was spent for the nightlife and drugs, he added.
the two were charged with robbery and assault. Mr Pairote was detained at the police station while Ohm was sent to the Juvenile Observation and Protection center in Muang district in Surat Thani province.