KOTA BARU: The Thai couple wanted by police in connection with the Mundok fireworks warehouse explosion which killed 12 and injured 120 others was finally arrested just a week later.
Thai police detained the couple, both 42, when they tried to cross the Thai border yesterday morning.
A Thai police spokesman said the two were nabbed in Danok town, bordering Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah.
"The couple was trying to pass Danok's immigration checkpoint when they were arrested.
"The Thai immigration officer realised the two were wanted by the authorities in Thailand in connection with the fireworks warehouse explosion before alerting the police.
"The two were returning to Thailand after spending their holiday in Malaysia," said the spokesman.
The Narathiwat provincial court last week issued arrest warrants for the couple after they failed to respond to a police summon.
Meanwhile, a Thai portal reported that investigation on the explosion found evidence of a bribe being paid to state officials so that the fireworks could be stored at the warehouse without a permit.
Deputy national police chief, General Surachate Hakparn said investigators found money had been paid by the warehouse owners to officials of local administration agencies.
He said police are looking into five agencies responsible for issuing the warehouse's permits. They are the sub district administration organisation, and the ministries of Defence, Industry, Interior, and Public Health.
Surachate added the explosion had no connection to insurgent attacks in the South,
He said if any state officials are found to have violated Article 157, the families of those who died will be eligible for a 500,000 baht (more than RM65,000) compensation.
Surachate said officials who violate Article 157 of the Criminal Code can be jailed for up to 10 years.
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