Month: November 1999

  • PhuketAngry chicken fanciers besiege Governor | Thaiger

    Angry chicken fanciers besiege Governor

    PHUKET OWN: An angry crowd of more than 100 people protested in front of the Phuket Town Police Station yesterday, alleging the police had used unnecessary force on Sunday evening when arresting Rassada villagers for betting on cock-fighting. Among those arrested were three members of the Tambon Rassada Administration Organization. They were released on bail Monday morning, but returned to…

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  • PhuketPolice issue sketch of foreign gunman | Thaiger

    Police issue sketch of foreign gunman

    CHERNG TALAY: Thai police have issued a sketch of a Western gunman wanted for murdering Thai restaurateur Lor-man Karnjanasadoong last Tuesday at Bang Tao Beach. The gunman is described as being about 170 cm tall, with pale skin and a silver cap on an upper right tooth. Police believe the man goes by the name “Oliver” and that he is…

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  • PhuketSingapore, Thailand sign deal on civil servants | Thaiger

    Singapore, Thailand sign deal on civil servants

    SINGAPORE, Nov 28 (AFP): Singapore and Thailand have signed an agreement to improve ties and exchange ideas about civil servants, the Sunday Times reported this morning. It said the agreement, signed yesterday, is aimed at upgrading the quality of civil servants in “both” countries. The Thai government has been slow to upgrade its civil service, one of the most bureaucratic…

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  • PhuketHealthy elephant contest held in Phuket | Thaiger

    Healthy elephant contest held in Phuket

    CHERNG THALAY: “Jintana”, a magnificent 30-year-old cow from the Lagoon Elephant Trekking Club, was declared “Phuket’s healthiest elephant” and given an award and cash prize by Phuket Governor Charnchai Soontharamut in a ceremony held at the Dusit Laguna Resort on Thursday night. The occasion was organized by the Elephant Help Project, a charity created to promote and oversee the well-being…

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  • PhuketSketch of murder suspect hits glitch | Thaiger

    Sketch of murder suspect hits glitch

    PHUKET: Composition of a police sketch of the foreigner wanted for killing a Thai restaurateur three days ago has hit a snag: the computer used to create the sketches is unable to handle Western faces. Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, commander of Phuket Provincial Police, told the Gazette that “Yesterday my officers took the witness [the dead man’s wife] to…

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  • PhuketMan arrested for three robberies | Thaiger

    Man arrested for three robberies

    PHUKET: Leng Permthong, 21, a construction worker from Ranong province, was arrested last night for robbing three petrol stations during the past few weeks. The arrest confirmed police suspicions, reported earlier in the online Gazette, that the same individual was responsible for all three robberies. When questioned by Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, superintendent of Muang police station, Leng admitted committing…

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  • PhuketRanong crossing reopens for visa runs | Thaiger

    Ranong crossing reopens for visa runs

    RANONG: Following a visit to Myanmar by Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan on Monday, border crossings between Thailand and Burma reopened yesterday afternoon, allowing foreigners from Phuket once more to take a long-tail boat from Ranong Town to the Burmese side to renew their visas. Although some media announced that all border crossings had opened yesterday morning, Ranong was initially…

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  • PhuketIndonesia arrests 56 Thai ships | Thaiger

    Indonesia arrests 56 Thai ships

    JAKARTA (AFP): The Indonesian navy has arrested 56 Thai ships and 1,276 crewmen for illegally fishing in the country’s waters, the official Antara news agency reported earlier today. “The 56 Thai ships with their 1,276 crew have been arrested and taken to Sabang from Rusa island in Western Aceh,” said Colonel Syahrin Abdurrahman, who heads the navy base in Sabang…

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  • Phuket“Farang’ gunman kills Thai restaurant owner | Thaiger

    “Farang’ gunman kills Thai restaurant owner

    BANG TAO: A Thai restaurant owner was shot dead in front of his wife yesterday by a gunman the victim’s spouse described as a ‘farang’ (Caucasian foreigner). Pol Lt Col Chalit Kaewyarat of Cherng Talay Police Station told the Gazette that the dead man was identified as Lor-man Karnjanasadoong, 46, owner of the Alex Restaurant on Bang Tao Beach. He…

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  • Phuket

    Execution of woman is first in 20 years

    BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand has executed its first female prisoner in two decades, the Corrections Department said in a statement today. It said that Samai Barn-in, 59, was executed by firing squad late yesterday, along with two men. She received the death sentence after police found four kilograms of heroin in her possession in 1994. She had 12 previous convictions for…

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  • PhuketSwiss Tourist Drowns at Karon Beach | Thaiger

    Swiss Tourist Drowns at Karon Beach

    KARON: A Swiss student, Andrea Antonio Tavecchio, drowned yesterday morning in front of the Phuket Arcadia Hotel at Karon Beach. He was 24 years old. Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of the Chalong Police station told the Gazette that Mr Tavecchio and three friends went for a swim together. His friends reported that he was carried out to sea and in…

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  • PhuketPolice target criminals who prey on tourists | Thaiger

    Police target criminals who prey on tourists

    BANGKOK (AFP): In a major publicity drive ahead of His Majesty The King’s birthday celebrations next month, Thai police today launched a nationwide crackdown on criminals who target tourists. The operation was launched simultaneously by the national Tourist Police in major centres around the country, officers said. “This sweep is against any illegal activity involving tourism, illegal tour operators, unfair…

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  • PhuketTourist’s purse snatched in Patong | Thaiger

    Tourist’s purse snatched in Patong

    PATONG: Two men who appeared to be Thai snatched a handbag from a Japanese tourist while she walked along a road at Patong Beach at approximately 7:40 pm on Saturday. According to Pol Capt Boonlert On-klang, the case investigator, Nana Nishizawa, 23, reported that two men were involved. One, described by Ms Nishizawa as a young Thai with long hair,…

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  • PhuketAnother murder in the fishing port | Thaiger

    Another murder in the fishing port

    PHUKET TOWN: A man thought to be a fisherman was murdered in front of a warehouse on Soi Si Sena in Phuket’s fishing port on Saturday night. Pol Capt Surat Muangsri of the Phuket Town District Police Station told the Gazette that the man, as yet unidentified, was wearing a black T-shirt and brown shorts. On his right shoulder was…

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  • PhuketCabinet approves huge hike in work permit fees | Thaiger

    Cabinet approves huge hike in work permit fees

    BANGKOK: A proposal by the Ministry of Labor to raise the price of renewing a work permit has been passed by the Thai Cabinet, bringing massive rises in fees a step closer. The proposal must be ratified by Parliament before the change in legislation comes into effect. This may take up to a year. Should the proposed legislation be accepted…

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  • PhuketCall for divers to join Koh Kai clean-up | Thaiger

    Call for divers to join Koh Kai clean-up

    PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police and the Phuket Diving Club will be cleaning the sea floor off Koh Kai on Saturday and Sunday, (November 20 and 21), and are inviting all divers to join them. Pol Lt Col Chaleampol Maliwan, inspector of the Phuket Marine Police, explained that there are now growing numbers of tourists diving off Koh Kai, so it…

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  • PhuketTHAI to suspend 20 overseas flights amid Y2K fears | Thaiger

    THAI to suspend 20 overseas flights amid Y2K fears

    BANGKOK (AFP): Thai Airways International (THAI) will suspend 20 international flights over the New Year due to fears the Y2K bug could affect air traffic safety, THAI president Thamnoon Wanglee said late today. “No domestic flights will be affected, only 20 flights to Europe, Australia, and Sri Lanka will be suspended,” he said. A senior Thai government minister this week…

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  • PhuketTour Boats Burn at Ao Por Pier | Thaiger

    Tour Boats Burn at Ao Por Pier

    THALANG: Two boats belonging to Lucky Canoe Co Ltd, one of Phuket’s leading sea canoe operators, burned and sank at Ao Por Pier last night. At 8 pm, a fire broke out on the Lucky Canoe 1 and quickly spread to Lucky Canoe 2 which was docked next to her. Initial estimates put the damage at approximately 10 million baht.…

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  • PhuketPoliceman commits suicide | Thaiger

    Policeman commits suicide

    KATHU: A nephew of an assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, himself a police officer, committed suicide yesterday morning in Tung Tong, three days before he was due to be married, because he was depressed that he did not have enough money to pay for the wedding. Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, told…

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  • PhuketThree witnesses testify in Jennings murder trial | Thaiger

    Three witnesses testify in Jennings murder trial

    PHUKET: Three witnesses appeared on the stand this morning in the trial of Nongnut Tungkaburi and Kraisorn Kamnoun for their alleged involvement in the December 15, 1997 murder of Roger Jennings, Nongnut’s common-law husband. The first witness, Weeranat Kammanochart, 22, a cashier at the Alice Bar, owned by Jennings and Nongnut, testified that Mr Jennings and Nongnut were nice people.…

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  • PhuketPirates arrested with hijacked vessel | Thaiger

    Pirates arrested with hijacked vessel

    PHUKET: Authorities in Bombay have arrested the pirates who seized a Japanese freighter off the coast of Indonesia on October 22, Phuket Marine Police said today. The pirates set the crew of the vessel, the Alondra Rainbow, adrift on a raft on October 29. They were found 11 days later by Thai fishermen who brought them to Phuket. Pol Col…

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  • PhuketReward for information on gas smugglers | Thaiger

    Reward for information on gas smugglers

    PHUKET: The Ministry of Finance is offering rewards for anyone giving information that leads to the arrest of gasoline smugglers, it was announced today. The announcement came as Marine Police said they had stopped two vessels on Friday, arrested nine people, and confiscated more than 100,000 liters of fuel. Pol Lt Gen Luan Panrotthip, Commissioner of the Illegal Gasoline Suppression…

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