Month: March 2008
- Phuket News
“Bogus cops’ slay Burmese in failed extortion bid
KATHU: A Burmese laborer was executed by a shotgun blast to the face last night after refusing to pay money demanded by two Thai men posing as undercover police officers, Tung Tong’s police chief told the Gazette today.Tung Tong Distict Police Superintendent Col Arayapan Pukbuakhao identified the victim as So Sung, 25, a construction worker living at a workers’ camp…
Read More » - Phuket News
Emotions run high as arrested fugitive faces family
SAMUT PRAKAN: More information about the crimes of arrested fugitive Kriengkrai “Krieng” Saelee came to light Saturday morning when police in Samut Prakan told a press conference the suspect was wanted for the shooting murder of a 14-year-old girl in the waning hours of 2006. Krieng was arrested about 10:30 pm on March 27 while selling clothes at a stall…
Read More » - Phuket News
Gov flames MNRE for lack of environmental protection
PHUKET: Citing examples of deforestation and encroachment across the island, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday criticized the Phuket office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) for failing to report any encroachment or make arrests, despite evidence that encroachment was continuing in some areas.At the monthly meeting of the Phuket Provincial Security Committee at Phuket Provincial Hall, Gov…
Read More » - Phuket News
Fugitive arrested in Patong
PATONG: Kathu Police took into custody on Thursday night a fugitive wanted for murder and other crimes committed in Samut Prakan in December 2006.Kathu Police Inspector for Investigations Lt Col Chalermchai Hernsawat identified the suspect as Kriengkrai “Krieng” Saelee, 26, a native of Tambon Paknam, Muang District, Samut Prakan.Kriengkrai was arrested about 10:30 pm while selling clothes at a stall…
Read More » - Phuket News
Marriott’s Courtyard ablaze
PATONG: Crowds gathered on Ruamjai Rd this afternoon as flames engulfed the corner section of The Courtyard hotel, formerly known as the Grand Tropicana Phuket and now owned by Marriott.“The fire started about 2 pm and took firefighters about 30 minutes to put out,” Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak told the Gazette.“We believe that a spark from workers carrying…
Read More » - Phuket News
Heartbroken man commits suicide
PHUKET CITY: A young Thai man was found dead early this morning after falling from his 19th floor room at the Royal Phuket City hotel.Maj Wicharn Suwannasit, Inspector at Phuket City Police Station, said that police received a call at 2 am from hotel staff reporting that a man had been found dead on the fourth-floor outdoor deck of the hotel.Police…
Read More » - Phuket News
Wichit Municipality Offices open
WICHIT: Wichit Municipality yesterday officially opened its new, three-story office building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by some of the island’s highest-ranking officials.The new building, completed at a cost of just over 96 million baht, sits on five rai on Chao Fa East Rd, next to Wat Thepnimit.The ceremony was attended by Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima, Senators Phummisak Hongsyok and Thanyarat…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police net 10,000 ya bah pills in post office sting
PHUKET: Phuket Police intercepted a package containing 10,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills with an estimated street value of 5 million baht at the Phuket City Post Office on March 21. The drug seizure followed the arrest the day before of two men in Phuket City for possession of illegal firearms, Region 8 Police commander Lt Gen Thanee Thawisri announced at a…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police nab motorcycle thief
PHUKET CITY: A prolific motorcycle thief was arrested on Sunday after stealing four motorbikes in Phuket within about four weeks.About 5 pm on March 23, a passing police officer spotted Nakhon Ratchasima native Sankom Krai-am, 21, by the side of the road outside Soi Tawee Sup in Wichit removing a number plate from a Honda Click motorcycle, said Phuket City Police…
Read More » - Phuket News
60 candidates register for OrBorJor election
PHUKET: A total of 60 candidates have registered with the Phuket Election Commission in the race for seats on the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) council. Of the 60 candidates, 21 are aligned with former OrBorJor president and Democrat Party member Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra, while 18 are from the OrBorJor Kon Baan Rao party led by former Phuket Senator Paiboon…
Read More » - Thailand News
The CCTV firm and the house of Porn
SAMUT PRAKAN: A man was arrested March 15 after police found a wire leading from his house to a tiny camera hidden in the ceiling of the bathroom of the house next door where six women lived. The camera, which had apparently been in place for five months, was discovered only when the voyeur was overcome with desire and rang…
Read More » - Phuket News
Sakoo OrBorTor: “no action’ on Nai Thon dumping
NAI THON: More than a month after being given photographs showing a truck belonging to Vasi Construction Co Ltd dumping trash near Nai Thon Beach, the Sakoo Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) says it cannot press charges because nobody has been caught in the act.The photos were sent to the Gazette in January by a concerned reader. The site is about 200…
Read More » - Phuket News
Seized land earmarked for botanical gardens
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Land Reform Office plans to establish botanical gardens on plots of agricultural reform (SorPorKor) land previously held by three Phuket tycoons.The land was returned to the state last year in three separate Supreme Court rulings that found the tycoons did not qualify to occupy the land because they were not poor farmers.Land Reform Office Chief…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phummisak named Austrian Consul for the South
PHUKET: Phuket Senator Phummisak Hongsyok, a former Phuket City Mayor and a major businessman on the island, has been appointed Austrian Honorary Consul for Southern Thailand. K. Phummisak replaces his younger brother Chuchai Hongyok, who has held the position for more than 10 years. “K. Chuchai just wants to retire,” K. Phummisak told the Gazette. “I’m very happy that the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Ice dealer arrested at Big C
PHUKET: Police on Sunday arrested a man found in possession six grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Nos Svettalekha told a press conference yesterday.After a tip-off from undercover police, plain-clothes officers searched Phuket native Chalermrat “Chai” Thongwong in front of the MK Suki restaurant at the Big C shopping mall on the bypass road at…
Read More » - Phuket News
Vanity plates auction raises B14m
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPTO) held its fourth annual vanity car-registration plate auction over the weekend, raking in 14 million baht from 301 special plates auctioned off at the two-day event.Bidding kicked off at 9:30 am Saturday in the Phrapitak Grand Ballroom of The Metropole hotel, where a line of professional presenters – attractive young women in…
Read More » - Phuket News
Food Fest draws big weekend crowds
SAPHAN HIN: The 11th annual Phuket Food Festival kicked off on Wednesday with an official ceremony presided over by Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatwichai.Seventy food and drink stands from Phuket and neighboring provinces are serving food at the event, organized by the Phuket Food Vendors’ Club and the Phuket City Municipality.The first day featured a competition to find the tastiest “Hor Mok…
Read More » - Phuket News
Hanna Backlund memorial
MAI KHAO: About 50 people gathered at Mai Khao Beach this morning to attend a memorial service for slain Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund, who would have been 27 yesterday.Akkaradej “Chon” Tankae, 31, has confessed to stabbing Miss Backlund to death on the morning March 15, less than 500 meters from the Mai Khao Bungalows where she had been staying with…
Read More » - Phuket News
Patong to expand CCTV surveillance
PATONG: Kathu Police plan to install about 10 more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Patong to increase security and fight crime there, the police chief has announced.Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak told the Gazette that more CCTV cameras are needed in Patong, as the 16 cameras that went into operation there in early 2007 are effective for traffic control,…
Read More » - Phuket News
Murder case reward money under review
PHUKET CITY: Following widespread criticism, the Phuket Provincial Police will set up a panel to reconsider plans to give the family of confessed murderer Akkaradej “Chon” Tankae the 100,000 baht in promised reward money for their help in his capture.Akkaradej was arrested in Ranong last Wednesday and charged with the murder of 26-year-old Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund.Miss Backlund was stabbed…
Read More » - Phuket News
Patong vendors nabbed in counterfeit goods raid
PATONG: Kathu Police on Wednesday afternoon arrested several vendors caught selling counterfeit goods, seizing 300 items of clothing and handbags illegally bearing designer labels including Chanel, Burberry and Prada.Kathu Police Crime Suppression Inspector Lt Col Worawat Sitthinoon led the sweep along the beach road and Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, accompanied by Pol Maj Serm Kwannimit and four officers from the…
Read More » - Thailand News
Hot-headed soldiers shoot up police station
NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Dealing with the police can be a frustrating experience in any country. Minor traffic offenses are often ignored and when a crime is reported, often nothing seems to be done. Weeks or months can go by with no apparent effort to arrest perpetrators and put them behind bars. Most people can do little but sit and fume at…
Read More » - Thailand News
Trash or treasure?
NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: The heady days of “Jatukham Fever” last year, when sale of the over-sized Jatukham Ramathep medallions hit a record high, are clearly over.The large amulets – particularly beloved by tuk-tuk drivers, gunmen and others in dangerous professions – were reputed to bring good fortune. Some individual medallions sold for millions of baht and one woman was literally…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police arrest Hanna’s suspected killer
PHUKET CITY: After a regional manhunt for the killer of Swedish tourist Hanna Charlotta Backlund, 26, whose body was found at Mai Khao Beach on Saturday, police have arrested and charged with murder their prime suspect after he gave himself up in Ranong province early this morning.Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Tavat Boonfueng led a team to Ranong…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket pets to require microchips
PHUKET: From April 24 every cat and dog arriving on Phuket must be microchipped, Phuket Provincial Livestock Office Chief Dr Sunart Wongchawalit has announced. He has also announced that with no reports of cats or dogs on Phuket being infected with rabies since 2003, Phuket is the first province in Thailand to be declared “rabies free” by the Ministry of…
Read More » - Cannabis News
Unsolved murders and drug arrests on the rise
PHUKET: According to monthly crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police, four murders committed in February remain unsolved, while the number of drug-related arrests was about 30% higher than the same period last year.There were also four attempted murders reported in February, with two related arrests made, and 15 reports of assault. One arrest was made for rape.There were 109…
Read More » - Phuket News
Blowout leaves Chalong in the dark
CHALONG: Many parts of Chalong bordering Chao Fa West Rd were without power for about four hours Monday evening after a transformer box blew out. Workers restored power at about 10:30 pm, after replacing power lines that had been damaged. Suthep Jitsiri, Manager of the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority, told the Gazette that the blowout happened because the box was outdated.…
Read More » - Phuket News
Candidates register for OrBorJor election
PHUKET CITY: Two of Phuket’s top political heavyweights yesterday morning registered their candidacies for presidency of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), along with 50 other candidates for the 24 council seats available.The two rival candidates for the presidency, Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra and Paiboon Upatising, both arrived at Phuket Community Hall before its 8:30 am opening with supporters estimated at…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police launch manhunt for prime suspect in Hanna murder
MAI KHAO: Police have been issued an arrest warrant for Phuket native Akkaradej “Chon” Tunkae, 31, a local resident in Mai Khao, for the murder of Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund, 26.Hanna was found stabbed to death on Mai Khao Beach about 300 meters from where she was staying. Her body was discovered by Emma Stenman, who Hanna was holidaying with…
Read More » - Phuket News
Warcraft reef to bring back marine life
PHUKET: Ten decommissioned military aircraft will be sunk off the coast of Cherng Talay to create the largest artificial reef of its kind in Thailand. The announcement was made at a meeting and project presentation chaired by Vice-Governor Worapot Ratthasima at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday.Attending were representatives from several government agencies and Vittayen Muttamara, head of the Bangkok-based For…
Read More » - Phuket News
Staff protest continues at Blue Canyon
MAI KHAO: For the past three weeks, some 100 staff of the Blue Canyon Country Club (BCCC) have spent their mornings protesting in front of the golf course, claiming its new management has threatened them by placing them on indefinite, unpaid leave. The management refutes their claims, however, saying the work suspension is only temporary and part of management restructuring,…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police close in on prime suspect in Hanna murder
MAI KHAO: Police investigating the murder of Swedish tourist Hanna Charlotta Backlund, 26, whose body was found at Mai Khao Beach on Saturday morning, are waiting to speak to a key person before moving to arrest their prime suspect in the case, Phuket Police Deputy Commander Col Paween Pongsirin told the Gazette today.“We have received important information from villagers in the…
Read More » - Phuket News
No progress in Hanna murder investigation
MAI KHAO: The body of Hanna Charlotta Backlund, 27, who was found murdered on Mai Khao Beach yesterday morning, has been flown to Bangkok for forensic tests, Col Sakchai Limcharoen, Superintendent of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette this afternoon.“There is no news to report at this time, but police are working quickly to solve this case. We…
Read More » - Phuket News
Swedish tourist slain at Mai Khao
MAI KHAO: The body of a Swedish tourist was found at Mai Khao Beach, at the north end of Phuket, this morning.Lt Col Somkid Khaosang of Tah Chat Chai Police Station named the deceased as Hanna Charlotta, 27.Her body, dressed in a one-piece swimsuit, was found at about 11:30 am on the beach around 300 meters from Mai Khao Beach…
Read More » - Phuket News
Little support for new Chalong Marina plan
CHALONG: Scaled-down plans aimed at allaying local opposition to the second phase of the Chalong Bay Marina found few backers during a public hearing at Muang Phuket School in Rawai on Wednesday.The project, to be operated by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), is part of the provincial development strategy drawn up by the Phuket Provincial Office, which has expansion…
Read More » - Phuket News
Kidnapped baby turns up in Krabi
THALANG: Police are searching for two people suspected of snatching a newborn baby from Thalang Hospital after a two-day ordeal ended with mother and baby being reunited in Krabi yesterday.Thalang Police have issued arrest warrants for Sunantha Sangarun, 28, and her unidentified accomplice, said Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima at a press conference today.Burmese native K. Fah, 20, gave birth to…
Read More » - Phuket News
Smith denies resigning as NDWC chief
BANGKOK: Dr Smith Dharmasaroja late this afternoon denied reports in the Thai media that he had resigned his position as Director of the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC), which is responsible for issuing tsunami warnings.In a telephone interview with the Gazette, Dr Smith said that he told a press conference in Bangkok yesterday that he was only considering resigning –…
Read More »
