Month: May 2002
- Phuket News
Airport to get meter taxis, eventually
PHUKET: Piyapan Jampasut, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Land Transport (DLT) for Thailand, has announced that new regulations are to be proposed to Cabinet that would open the door for regulated, meter cabs in Phuket, starting with the airport. K. Piyapan made the announcement after meeting with Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi to discuss what laws need to be…
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Sea rescue center will protect tourists
CHALONG: A 15-million-baht Sea Rescue Center is to be set up to coordinate emergency rescue operations off Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, it was revealed today. The center, to be set up in Chalong, will become a nerve center for information about mishaps and accidents at sea, which will be gathered and disseminated to various marine agencies. Making the announcement…
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Committee appointed to protect waterways
PHUKET: In an attempt to prevent flooding and landslides, Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has appointed a committee to screen applications for excavation work affecting waterways. He also suggested today that excavation on private property may be forbidden if it is likely to affect waterways, or trigger landslides or flooding. “I think that we will have to propose that it be…
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Protest forces transfer of police major
THALANG: The Deputy Commissioner of Police for Region 5, Pol Col Pongsak na Nakhorn, has ordered the transfer of Pol Maj Anand Jingjit from Thalang Police Station to Phuket Town, following a noisy protest by 200 people today. The protest came after a car driver involved in an accident with an elderly woman on a motorcycle was released without charge…
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Tourist saved from 20-floor death leap
PATONG: Floris Max Anton Van Sluys, a 20-year-old tourist from the Netherlands, was so distressed when his Thai girlfriend dumped him that he wanted to leap 20 stories to his death. Pol Maj Boonlert Onklang, of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that at about 11 am on Friday he received a call telling him that a man was standing…
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Call to double Tourist Police ranks
PHUKET: Pol Lt Col Supamit Sukjaroen, Inspector of Tourist Police, Region 5, yesterday lodged an official request with Pol Maj Gen Sanit Miphan, Commander of Thailand’s Tourist Police, for 50 more officers to be sent to bolster tourists’ security throughout the region. If approved, Col Supamit’s request will double the number of Tourist Police officers currently assigned to the region.…
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OrBorJor allocates B140m to education
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) has earmarked more than 140 million baht for upgrading education, and a further 40 million baht for developing tourism in Phuket. OrBorJor President Dr Prasit Koeysiripong explained, “It’s our policy this year to focus on education, the environment and tourism – particularly education, which deserves more funding because, in the past, the budget…
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Carpenter murdered over loan
TUNG TONG: Sanguansak “Nui” Kamtong, a 25-year-old carpenter from Rayong, was allegedly shot dead by a fellow construction worker in the early hours of Saturday morning after repeatedly pestering his colleague for a small loan. Pol Lt Col Ampolwat Saengroeng of Tung Tong Police Station said he received a call at 12:30 am saying that a man had been shot.…
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Job training for young offenders begins
PHUKET: Vice Governor Winai Buapradit today chaired the opening ceremony of the annual job-training program for teenagers confined at the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center (JOPC). The program, which is run by the Phuket Provincial Employment Services Office, aims to give the juveniles in state custody skills that will prepare them for life after their release. Teenagers from the center…
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Storms on the way – weatherman
PHUKET: The weatherman has warned that a strong southwesterly monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the southwestern coast of Thailand is expected to hit Phuket very soon. Tawat Tantham-nu, director of the Southwestern Regional Meteorological Center, told the Gazette today that the system will bring a mix of clouds and heavy downpours to the island over the next few days.…
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Poor support for long-stay tourism rapped
PHUKET: Senator Suradech Yasawas, chairman of the Senate Committee for Tourism, and committee member Senator Paiboon Upatising of Phuket yesterday openly criticized the lack of government support for long-stay tourism, especially health-related tourism. Senators Suradech and Paiboon, along with 10 other committee members, arrived in Phuket yesterday for a two-day inspection tour of the island’s international-standard medical centers, to evaluate…
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Suicide pact with eerie echoes
THALANG: In a double suicide attempt with spooky echoes of a past tragedy, two deaf-mute women jumped from the Tao Thepkrasattri Tao Sri Soonthorn Bridge yesterday afternoon. One drowned, but the other was rescued by fishermen. Pol Capt Apidej Chuaykeau, of Khok Kloi Police Station, said that, despite driving wind and rain, the fishermen managed to rescue Sumalee “Roong” Pratheep…
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Amulet trader robbed of B3m
PHUKET: An amulet trader has reported to police that cash and amulets worth a total of 3 million baht were stolen from his room at the Royal Phuket City Hotel while he slept. Somchai Srisagawarat, 43, from Bangkok, arrived in Phuket on Tuesday on a business trip and checked into the four-star hotel. He reported to police the following day…
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New Bowling alley opens at Big C
PHUKET: The first 30-lane bowling alley in Phuket, built at a cost of more than 30 million baht, was officially opened at the Big C Supercenter this morning. Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi presided over the opening of CS Bowl , which was also attended by movie stars Yutthapichai Chanlayka, Clerk Rollings and Jayjintai Antimanon. Initially, CS Bowl will charge just…
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US serviceman arrested for rape
PATONG: A serviceman from the visiting American warship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, has been arrested and handed over to the US Navy after allegedly raping a U.S. servicewoman in the early hours of yesterday. He is also alleged to have assaulted an Australian passer-by who tried to stop the rape. The accused man was named by Patong police superintendent Col…
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Bag-snatching gang arrested
PHUKET TOWN: Nine suspects, including five teenagers, were arrested yesterday for their alleged involvement in a series of bag snatchings, following a five-week police investigation into their activities. Police say that all of the suspects have admitted to being party to a number of snatchings in and around Phuket Town. The first case, on March 25 at around 7:45 pm,…
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Man drowns near community college
PHUKET TOWN: A man was found dead in a pool in front of Phuket Community College at Saphan Hin early this morning. Pol Lt Rassada Kluengwong, of Phuket Town Police Station, said that the man was found at about 2:30 am by a group of teenagers. After removing the body from the water, police found 90 baht in the dead…
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Police plan crackdown on parking at schools
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Town Police have warned parents to obey the traffic laws when dropping off their children when schools reopen next Monday. Pol Lt Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Police Station, said today that police will concentrate on the problem of cars parked in the yellow-and-white or red-and-white no-parking zones. “During the period before schools open [traffic]…
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Airport passenger traffic higher than last year
PHUKET: The total number of passengers arriving or departing from Phuket International Airport in March increased by 2.52% compared with the same month last year. Statistics released by airport officials show that 364,586 passengers arrived at or departed from the airport, compared with 355,631 passengers last year. The number of international passengers increased by 6.8% to 141,025, while the number…
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Phuket crash kills Central family member
THALANG: The youngest brother of Central Group Chairman Suthikiati Chirathivat died in a car smash in Phuket on Saturday night. Pol Maj Suppawat Suksiri, of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, said that Sutthipong Chirathivat, 42, was driving his Volkswagen alone from his house in Baan Kor-Ane along Thepkrasattri Rd toward Phuket Town at about 9 pm. In rain on a…
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Wife’s lover “hacked officer hubby to death’
KOH MAPHRAO: Desha Shum-nina, a 40-year-old community police officer for the Samphan community, was hacked to death yesterday morning, allegedly by his wife’s boyfriend. Called to the scene, police led by Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, entered K. Desha’s single-story wooden house, which was surrounded by hundreds of local villagers, and found his body lying…
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Heart-broken singer hangs herself
PHUKET TOWN: A singer and part-owner of a karaoke bar killed herself because she thought her husband was once again seeing a former girlfriend, police believe. Following an anonymous phone call, officers found the body of Shanikarn Boonsomsu, 24, hanging by a rope in the kitchen of her home at Phanthep Condo Town on Mae Luan Rd, Phuket Town, at…
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WWII shells spark fear and hilarity
PHUKET TOWN: A scrap metal collector found 17 World War II-era artillery shells under a tree in an area off Rassadanusorn Road in Moo 3 yesterday. Pol Capt Anukul Nookate, of Phuket Town Police Station, said that he received a phone call at 12:30 pm that the shells had been found near the garbage pile belonging to Kijprasarnphattana Co. Pol…
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Bid to boost public bus service
PHUKET TOWN: Monthly passes and additional buses are to be introduced to counter complaints that Phuket Town’s public bus service has failed to live up to expectations in its first month of operation. The most frequent complaint by passengers was over the frequency of service. As a result, the Vice-President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, Samroeng Chaison, told the…
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Yet another Burmese savagely murdered
PHUKET TOWN: Police are conducting a murder investigation after a man, believed to be a Burmese construction worker, was found dead with his neck almost completely severed. Called by nearby residents, officers found the body face down on a pile of sand in Soi Kingkaew-U-Tid, near Rassada Port, at about 8:30 am on Thursday. The victim’s head was almost separated…
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Tourist dies on island adventure
CHALONG: A 30-year-old Taiwanese tourist died while snorkeling off Koh Hei about noon on Wednesday. Police named him as Hsu Chi Jen. An officer said that although Mr Hsu was wearing a lifejacket, he appeared to have panicked and choked on water. The man was among a group of tourists who had made a day trip on a speedboat from…
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Large whale washed up
SURAT THANI: A six-meter whale that died off Maekoh-Koh Pee in Angthong National Park has been taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Center for further study. Somkiat Lungbomrung, the chief of Angthong National Park, said that on April 28 he received a phone call from a villager that a big whale had been washed ashore. K. Somkiat and officials went…
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Fugitive Duangchalerm surrenders
BANGKOK (The Nation): Thailand’s most wanted man, politician’s son Duangchlarem Yoobamrung, surrendered to police last night after flying in from Kuala Lumpur. Duangchalerm, son of notorious MP Chalerm Yoobamrung, is accused of the murder of a policeman in a Bangkok nightclub just over six months ago. He has been on the run ever since. Duangchalerm breezed into the Thai Embassy…
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Seminar tackles dangers at sea
PHUKET: With the dangerous monsoon season approaching, a two-day seminar for 200 officers who may be required to take part in sea rescues is being held to improve life-saving procedures. Organized by the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet, the gathering also involves representatives from the Marine Police, the Tourist Police, the Harbor Master, the fishery and national parks departments and…
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Three stabbed in pub brawl
PHUKET TOWN: Three employees of the Dance Fever Pub on Rassada Rd were stabbed early yesterday morning after a group of young men were denied entry to the pub because they were deemed to be inappropriately dressed. Pol Capt Kanung Pitakkulthorn, of Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette today that he received a phone call from Wachira Phuket Hospital…
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Black day on Phuket&’s roads
PHUKET: Four people were killed in three separate road accidents in the south of the island yesterday. The first accident, in Kata at 1:30 pm, involved a motorbike and a 10-wheel truck on the narrow beach road in front of Club Med Resort, said Pol Capt Anek Mongkol of the Chalong Police Station. Police arrived on the scene to find…
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Tip-off allows gamblers to escape raid
PHUKET TOWN: Two people were arrested for betting on soccer after a raid on a house in Soi Lim Sue Jue last night, but officers had hoped to net many more. At around 8:30 pm, Vice Governor Manit Wattanasen led 30 officers from the Phuket Provincial Defense Office and Phuket Town Police on the raid on a one-story house behind…
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Japan to pay for clinic for Burmese
PHUKET TOWN: Aeko Nakamura, first secretary to the Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, met with Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi yesterday to discuss Japanese government funding for a health clinic for Burmese immigrants. Details of the meeting were not released, but it is understood the governor used the meeting to lobby for further financial support to cover the running costs of the…
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