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Steer clear: Locals plan on-site protest of underpass delays
PHUKET: A group of concerned Phuket citizens will protest the road conditions and construction delays associated with the Samkong Underpass tomorrow morning, Sunday August 30. According to the Facebook page Seang Prachachon Kon Phuket (Voice of the Phuketian), about 50 protesters will arrive at the junction at about 11am. The protest is scheduled to last until 1.30pm. Drivers are urged…
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Phi Phi gibbon touts arrested
PHUKET: An animal tout who was photographed earlier this month showcasing her dressed up gibbon to tourists on Phi Phi Island (story here) has been arrested. Nattaporn Sithisak, 22, along with Saman Prabphet, 52, both from Krabi, were arrested in a joint effort raid by officers from the Thung Talay Non Hunting Zone and the Natural Resources and Environment Crime…
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Coral Island company apologizes for Turks’ arrests
PHUKET: A company has admitted to ‘making a mistake’ by allowing two Turkish men to work for them on Koh Hei, also know as Coral Island, without work permits. Ahmet Komurco, 37 and Altin Cern Salih, 49, were arrested on Thursday by plainclothes police for working illegally as customer service employees for Coral Management. “After receiving a complaint about foreigners…
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Video Report: Police get fright as 20kg python turns himself in
PHUKET: A 20-kilogram python gave police officers a fright at the Phuket City Police Station canteen on Wednesday morning. “This time we got a call from a police officer, not a local resident as usual, to catch a python at the police station,” said Sakun Naepnean, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. “The officer told us that he was going to…
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Island to get 200 new police officers
PHUKET: The never-ending call for additional police officers for Phuket will be answered when a slew of new graduates join the island’s police force this November. “We will have 200 more officers added to our roster following their graduation from the Provincial Police Training Center, Region 8, in Surat Thani,” confirmed Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth Karajedee yesterday. The…
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Gibbon tout aping about on Monkey Beach
PHUKET: Gibbon and iguana touts were spotted showcasing their animals on Monkey Beach in Phi Phi National Park again on Wednesday. Police and national park officers were alerted to the presence of the touts at the popular day-trip destination last month when the Phuket Gazette forwarded photographs submitted by a reader . “We will immediately look into what’s happening on…
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Phuket haze thick with health concerns
PHUKET: Flying in the face of statements by the top official at the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), the Regional Environmental Office has issued a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that has settled over Phuket (story here). “The condition, like last year, is Transboundary Haze Pollution caused by the wildfires in Sumatra,” said Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the…
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Business Buzz: Your business needs social media
PHUKET: These days you hear that every business should have a social media presence, but why is this the case? This week, we explore the main reasons why social media is so important and, if done correctly, what benefits it brings to your business. BRANDING & EXPOSURE To launch a company, create a brand name and even just to be…
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Apple lines up Sept. 9 event, seen unveiling new iPhones
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Apple lines up Sept 9 event to unveil new iPhones Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Apple Inc has invited journalists to a Sept 9 event where the company is expected to unveil new iPhones and potentially a new version of its Apple TV set-top box. The…
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Scorned woman throws acid on friend
PHUKET: A Myanmar woman remains in hospital today with serious acid burns to 90 per cent of her body, including her eyes and ears, after she was attacked by a friend on Wednesday. Ka Ta, 24, was attacked by fellow Myanmar national Ta Zin Moe, 24. “Witnesses told us that Ms Ta Zin Moe had been waiting outside Ms Ka…
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British expat pleads guilty to North Korean meth smuggling charges
PHUKET: A former Phuket resident involved in an international plot to move enormous stockpiles of North Korean drugs through Thailand and into the United States pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. British national Scott Stammers, 46, was arrested in Phuket with four other foreigners in September 2013 as they prepared…
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Video Report: Rescue worker dances with king cobra
PHUKET: A two-meter-long cobra was successfully wrangled after hiding from rescue workers at the back of a rental room in Chalong yesterday evening. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers received the call from a woman who had seen the reptile while getting water from her well at Baan Na Bon. “When we arrived, we couldn’t find the cobra, but after searching around…
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Chinese tourist runs over Phuket traffic cop
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist drove his rented motorbike into the back of a traffic police officer in Karon yesterday evening. Sen Sgt Maj Chaichana Phatikabot was only minorly injured in the incident. “There were four of them on two motorbikes. They had already been stopped and fined for driving without a licence at our checkpoint,” said Sgt Maj Chaichana. “After…
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Wanna-be gunmaker busted in Patong
PHUKET: Gun raids in Patong turned up a wanna-be gunmaker in the Kok Moo community on Tuesday. “We found Mr Sommart Wandee, 44, in possession of two illegal homemade guns and three partially constructed guns,” said Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police. “Mr Sommart told us that he had bought the two guns from a Myanmar national, and…
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Finance: Greece’s economy not too big to fail
PHUKET: As the Greek crisis continues to rattle financial markets and the euro, investors need to understand that Greece being in default is actually business as usual for the country when you look more closely at its history: Greece’s first default occurred during the fourth century BC when around a dozen Greek city-states borrowed from the Temple of Delos at…
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Opinion: Cyclocops roam
PHUKET: THE recent launch of two-wheeled ‘Beach Police’ patrols at every police district on the island is a small, yet potentially positive pedal forward for a provincial police force that has developed a dubious reputation for ensuring tourist safety along our world-famous shorelines. But it’s sad that the initiative, ordered by Police Region 8, had to come in direct response…
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Phuket haze not Indonesia’s fault, says expert
PHUKET: The Indonesian fire haze that has settled over Kula Lumpar is not associated with the thick haze that Phuket residents woke up to this morning, confirmed a top official at the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). “This is ‘wet haze’, which is normal,” said Suntad Panbanpaew, director of the Phuket TMD weather center. “This weather condition often occurs with high…
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Krabi land grab leader shot dead
PHUKET: The leader of a group trying to grab a large unregistered palm oil plantation in Krabi’s Khao Phanom District was shot dead Tuesday, police said this week. Thammayut Sungrod, 57, was shot at a palm oil plantation in Na Khao subdistrict. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Khao Phanom Hospital, said Khao Phanom Superintendent Somdet Sukkarn. “There is…
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Highway Office demands underpass road hazard be fixed
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office is pushing the repair of the dangerously rough road surface on both sides of the Samkong intersection underpass construction site. “Construction is well on its way at the site and it is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year,” said Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office. “However, there are some…
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Public invited to join search and rescue drill, exhibition
PHUKET: The general public is invited to watch as rescue boats and aircraft are deployed for a two-day Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) drill and exhibition at the Ao Makham deep sea port starting tomorrow. “The drill will run from 9am to 4pm both days,” confirmed Vice Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command. “There…
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Bangla bars investigated for encroachment
PHUKET: Almost 30 businesses along Phuket’s primary party street Soi Bangla are being investigated for illegal encroachment, confirmed Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong yesterday. The 28 businesses, occupying 33 units, are allegedly on one rai of land that belongs to the municipality, explained Mr Sayan. “We will be investigating exactly how the businesses located near the beachfront road, on the…
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Widow ghosts “force’ men to cross-dress for protection
PHUKET: The sudden string of deaths of ten fit and healthy men in Nakohn Phanom province has locals pulling out all the ritualistic, spiritualistic and superstitious plugs to avoid widow ghosts, pee mae mai. Red shirts hanging in front of homes to ward off the ghosts are a common sight in the Don Nang Hong sub-district, with some male teenagers…
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Beach police confident about positive effect [video]
PHUKET: The Phuket Beach Police program is rolling forward successfully despite having booked no cases yet, said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayut Karajedee. “Things are going well. However, we will run the program for a bit longer before we do our own evaluation and source community feedback,” Col Peerayut said. “It’s just too early to know what the exact…
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National Guardsman to be honored over French train attack
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community National Guardsman who helped thwart attack on French train to get medal Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A National Guardsman, one of three Americans who disarmed a gun-toting suspected Islamist militant on a high-speed train in France, will be awarded the U.S. Army’s highest non-combat medal,…
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Powering up Coconut Island for locals, businesses
PHUKET: Much-needed mainland power is now flowing to Naka Yai and Coconut Island, off the coast of Phuket. “We have invested in the project, not because we expect to make a profit, but because we can improve the quality of life for the locals and improve their economic situation,” said Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Governor Sermsakul Klaikaew, who chaired the…
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North, South Korea reach agreement to ease tensions
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North, South Korea reach agreement to ease tensions Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: North and South Korea reached agreement early on Tuesday to end a standoff involving anexchange of artillery fire that had pushed the divided peninsula into a state of heightened military tension. Under the…
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China stocks give up year’s gains as
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China stocks give up year’s gains as “national team” stays on bench Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: China stock markets slumped again on Monday, giving up all their gains for the year on amassive sell off that dragged down regional markets, with even some state media…
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All hands on deck for Phuket flood prevention
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has ordered all relevant local authorities to tackle the chronic flooding issues on Phuket. “The recent bout of floods have highlighted how serious the problem with drainage systems are in certain areas of the island, especially villages and other low-lying places,” Governor Nisit said. “We have a team, led by Vice Governor Pallop Singhasenee, developing solutions…
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Two arrested in Phuket for pyramid scheme
PHUKET: A Phuket couple surrendered to Chalong Police yesterday for their alleged involvement in the international 10-billion-baht UFUN pyramid scheme. Damrongsak Pitisuk, 38, and his 37-year-old wife Pornthicha Pitisuk had both received ‘Achievement Awards’ at the ‘The Black Night Party by URICH’ in December last year. The party was held in order to applaud those who manged to recruit investors…
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Bangkok Bank warns of viral fraud
PHUKET: Bangkok Bank has issued a warning about malicious software designed to make bank transactions from the accounts of customers who have registered for their online banking service, ‘Bualuang iBanking’. Bangkok Bank’s warning explained that false messages have been sent to iBanking customers via SMS, MMS and emails purporting to be from the bank. The messages ask the receiver to…
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