BANGKOK — The Bangkok Southern Criminal Court has cleared Wanna Suansan of all charges related to the 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing, which killed 20 people and injured 120. Suansan, one of three key suspects among 17 originally identified by authorities, faced charges including murder and illegal possession of explosives. The court ruled Thursday that insufficient evidence linked her to the attack.
Suansan, who returned to Thailand voluntarily in 2017 after being named a suspect, was accused of renting an apartment that reportedly stored explosive materials. However, the court concluded that prosecutors failed to prove any direct involvement, including her presence at the bombing site or interactions with the other suspects. Her husband, a Turkish national and another suspect in the case, remains at large.
The Erawan Shrine bombing drew attention globally, particularly because the site is popular with Chinese tourists. Thai authorities initially suspected the attack was retaliation by a people-smuggling gang disrupted by recent police action, though some analysts believe it was motivated by Uyghur separatists’ resentment over Thailand’s forced repatriation of Uyghurs to China.
Wanna expressed relief after the acquittal, reflecting on the emotional toll her years-long ordeal had on her family. “I’d like to thank the court because I had been waiting for this day for seven years,” she said.
The two other suspects, Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammad, both ethnic Uyghurs, are being tried separately. Their case has faced delays due to translation issues, with their next hearing scheduled for March. The suspects maintain their innocence, asserting they were mistreated in custody.
