The stunt was apparently intended for a televised reconstruction of the incident, though furious Thais also ask if it was just a sick attempt at humour.
Thai TV channels have run a plethora of graphic-intensive "reconstructions" of the bombing in the past week.
The Nation has since apologised for the incident, and cancelled the programme.
Twitter user @BoyOfHeaven, who passes that way every day, published two images of the stunt as it was in progress.
His post, which set off the hostile internet reaction which ultimately led to the Nation’s apology, has been republished more than 11,000 times.
The images, in which the TV cameras are not visible, show a stockily built man, wearing a shaggy black wig, yellow T-shirt, backpack and glasses.
In one shot at the shrine, the young man appears to wear a smile. Thais surrounding him have noticed the likeness between him and the key suspect, and look angry and confused.
"I don't know which television show staged this prank where a guy dressed like the bomb suspect came to the shrine," @BoyOfHeaven wrote in his opening remarks.
He said he wasn’t sure if it was a reconstruction for a news item, or a poor attempt at humour, but either way it was unfitting.
"At first when I saw him I figured it might have been a coincidence, but I thought, doesn’t he look alike? Police pounced on him in a flash. When the crowd parted I could see they were part of a TV crew," he said.
Onlookers had started abusing the impersonator, prompting police to intervene. They invited the crew to leave.
The Nation apologised for the mishap, after netizens criticised the stunt as insensitive and out of place.
Nation TV night editor Boonlert Supprapawanit, who took responsibility for the stunt, said he assigned a team of two to visit the scene of the tragedy on Thursday.
"We intended it as a reconstruction of the bombing, where a reporter would guide the action, and a member of the crew would go to the shrine at the same time as the blast, impersonating the suspect," he wrote on social media.
He admitted the stunt had backfired, as Thais, their feelings still raw after the tragedy, did not appreciate the intrusion.
"While they were filing their report, worshippers at the shrine, Thais and foreigners alike, showed they were unhappy. The team stopped filming immediately," he said.
"We have now abandoned the show reconstructing the incident."
That evening, Nation TV presenters apologised on air, offering a deep, contrite wai. Nation Broadcasting Corporation president Adisak Limprungpatanakij also issued an apology, adding the company is considering what punishment to impose.
"I'd like to express my sincere apologies and remorse for our attempt to re-enact the scene without considering the impact it might have on the sensitivities of the public, and our failure to respect those who died," he said.
Thai celebrities are wading into social media reaction, with DJ and actor Paranyu "Tack" Rojanavudtitham asking what could possibly motivate such an oddball stunt.
"I would really like to know who the producer is … Thai or foreigner? He’s lucky I wasn’t there that day, or I would have grabbed him and pounded his head into the ground," he said.
DJ Techin "Matoom" Ploypetch asked what lies in the subconscious of those responsible. Barely a week had passed, and they sent an impersonator to the scene of the tragedy. "I can’t see the humour in it," he said. -
2. Janie stays cool under pressure
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| Kueng, Janie, Grace |
Grace turned up a day after the formal opening, attended by Janie herself, to pass on her best wishes.
She also tucked into a ramen meal, and after she had finished, was lucky to have Kueng as a personal escort to her car.
"It started to rain, so Kueng unfolded his umbrella and took her to her vehicle," media reports said. Inside the car, Grace presented Kueng with a bouquet of flowers to mark the eatery’s opening.
The reports said Grace chose not to attend opening day itself, perhaps because she knew Janie would be there.
While Grace has yet to comment on the sighting, Kueng insists there was nothing to it.
"I don’t want Grace’s name dragged into it," he said. "I know her personally, but we just chatted. She turned up at the restaurant, but we did not eat together."
Janie won’t comment on the sighting between Kueng and Grace.
"It hasn’t upset our relationship, as I have been clear from the start that we’re just friends.
"I don’t know if he was flirting … you will have to ask him. No one has done anything wrong, so you shouldn’t go blaming people," she said. -
3. Marnfah denies knowing Nam Petch
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| Nam Petch, Marnfah |
In a social media message, Nam Petch praised socialite Ornpapat "Marnfah" Jantarasakha as a down-to-earth type who used to drop into her place for a bowl of Mama.
She was responding to recent publicity in which a group of netizens questioned the origins of Marnfah’s wealth and suggested she was a "fake" hi-so.
In response, Marnfah paraded her smart gold sports car before reporters, and a clutch of her diamonds, which an expert tested in the studio and confirmed were real.
She has since lodged a 100 million baht lawsuit against her critics.
In her message, Nam Petch, who claims the two were once neighbours, said she was sure Marnfah’s diamonds were real.
"Diamonds? The rocks are genuine. But she’s so cute. If she was hungry, she would come and see me for a cup of Mama," she said.
In response, Marnfah claimed initially she didn’t know Nam Petch.
"We shared Mama, did we? I am perplexed.
"Thanks to my friends for protecting me when I am under fire … my real friends, not those who simply claim to be mates," she wrote.
Later, Marnfah conceded she once posed for a picture with Nam Petch, but insisted she doesn’t know her personally.
"I do have my own Mama at home. I know her because she’s a model, and the industry is small. She’s my junior, and a sweet kid."
Nam Petch, who went on TV last week to clear up the matter, insisted she meant no harm.
"We knew each other, but I never claimed we were close. She lived opposite me about two years ago," she said.
"She used to drop in often. Now she is wealthy and famous and claims she doesn’t know me. Never mind, I still wish her the best."
Nam Petch, who critics say is too eager to seek fame for herself, was linked last month to rocker Sek Loso.
He was pictured giving her a Buddhist amulet. After reporters asked if she was seeing the freshly divorced rocker, Nam Petch insisted they were just friends.
Last year, she came under fire from fans of champion boxer Sombat "Buakaw" Banchamek, after she failed to clear up the status of their relationship following similar sightings with him in the media.
He also gave her a Buddhist amulet, but both insisted they were merely friends.
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