Month: April 2008

  • Phuket News107 illegal Burmese rounded up in crackdown | Thaiger

    107 illegal Burmese rounded up in crackdown

    PHUKET CITY: Following a crackdown ordered by new Phuket Immigration Police Superintendent Pol Col Chanatpol Yongbunjerd on April 10, more than 100 illegal aliens found working in the province were arrested and deported before the start of the Songkran holidays. News of the arrests was distributed to the media during a special “meet the press” karaoke event hosted by Phuket…

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  • Phuket NewsAppeal made for missing Brit | Thaiger

    Appeal made for missing Brit

    PHUKET: The Immigration Police Tourist Assistance program is asking for anyone with information about Daniel Christian Hall, who was last seen at the Full Moon Party on Koh Pha-ngan on February 24, to contact them. According to a report filed with police, no-one has heard from Daniel since then and he abandoned all his belongings except for his passport in…

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  • Cannabis NewsCrime statistics: prostitutes drop, gamblers rise | Thaiger

    Crime statistics: prostitutes drop, gamblers rise

    PHUKET: Arrests made for prostitution in Phuket decreased in March from the previous month, while the number of arrests for gambling shot up by 127 cases, according to monthly crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police.During March, there were 304 arrests for gambling, 139 arrests for prostitution and 110 arrests for drug-related offenses, 58 of which involved ya bah (methamphetamine)…

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  • Phuket NewsSongkran road toll in Phuket: 2 dead, 40 injured | Thaiger

    Songkran road toll in Phuket: 2 dead, 40 injured

    PHUKET: Phuket recorded its first two road accident fatalities of the 2008 Songkran Festival, as two male teenagers riding motorbikes were killed in separate accidents in Kathu on Sunday. The first victim was identified by the Phuket branch of the National Road Safety Monitoring Center as 15-year-old Chakkrit Titprong. K. Chakkrit was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital following a collision…

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  • Phuket NewsSongkran road toll: 45 dead, 557 injured on first day | Thaiger

    Songkran road toll: 45 dead, 557 injured on first day

    BANGKOK (TNA): A total of 45 persons were killed and 557 injured in 477 road accidents nationwide yesterday, the first of “seven days of danger” in the annual Songkran water festival celebrating Thai New Year.The accidents happened as people headed to their home provinces to celebrate the Songkran festival with family and friends.Former Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi, now permanent secretary…

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  • Phuket NewsAussie lifeguards lend a hand | Thaiger

    Aussie lifeguards lend a hand

    KAMALA: Ahead of the rainy season arriving next month, when the rough surf along the west coast of Phuket becomes dangerous for all but very experienced swimmers, Phuket lifeguards are being trained in surf life-saving techniques at Kamala Beach today and tomorrow.Conducting the training are experienced members of the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) in New South Wales,…

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  • Phuket NewsPatong restaurateur stabbed | Thaiger

    Patong restaurateur stabbed

    PATONG: The owner of a restaurant off Sawasdirak Rd, near the Patong beachfront, is in stable condition after being stabbed early on Thursday morning.He was allegedly stabbed by a drunk teenager who was dining in his restaurant.Capt Jongserm Preecha of Kathu Police Station told the Gazette that he received a call from Patong Hospital at 3 am reporting that a…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Bike Week underway

    Phuket Bike Week underway

    PHUKET: Phuket Bike Week 2008 was kick started last night with an exhibition of gleaming custom choppers and other iron steeds, both old and new, showing their muscle in seven zones at Jungceylon shopping center.Yamaha, Suzuki and BMW have taken some of the stands to show off their latest superbikes, tourbikes and even jet skis until 11 pm tonight.Organizers expect…

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  • Phuket NewsOwner of Burmese “death truck’ in custody | Thaiger

    Owner of Burmese “death truck’ in custody

    RANONG: The owner of the truck in which 54 Burmese, including an eight-year-old girl, died on Wednesday from suffocation while being smuggled from Ranong to Phuket presented himself today to police for questioning, Col Kraithong Chanthongbai, Superintendent of Suksamran District Police, told the Gazette.The truck owner, who has been named as Damrong Phussadee, of Rungruengsup Limited Partnership, is now in police custody, Col Kraithong confirmed.However,…

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  • Phuket NewsSongkran “soaking zones’ announced | Thaiger

    Songkran “soaking zones’ announced

    PHUKET: As the island prepares for Songkran, which gets underway in earnest tomorrow, Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatwichai has announced that a number of zones have been designated for water play.Muang district: Saphan Hin, Rawai Beach, Kata Beach, Karon BeachKathu district: Patong area.Thalang district: Nai Yang Beach, Surin Beach.The designation system has been set up in the hope that it will help decrease…

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  • Phuket NewsSaphan Hin incinerator given top-level support | Thaiger

    Saphan Hin incinerator given top-level support

    PHUKET CITY: A Prime Minister’s Office inspector who is in Phuket to review mega-projects for which the governor has requested funding said that top priority should be given to having a second burner installed at the incineration plant at Saphan Hin.Changthong Opassiriwit arrived in Phuket on Tuesday and spent the day visiting the proposed project sites, including a 150-rai site…

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  • Phuket NewsFinn dies of suspected heart failure | Thaiger

    Finn dies of suspected heart failure

    KARON: Police are waiting for medical analysis of the body of a Finnish tourist who died Wednesday morning at the Hilton Phuket Acadia Resort and Spa before moving ahead with any further investigation.Capt Theerawuth Thepluan of Chalong Police Station identified the deceased as 46-year-old Onerva Kastehelmi Jaktholm. She was found dead of apparent heart failure in her room on the…

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  • Phuket NewsGovernor receives Songkran blessing

    Governor receives Songkran blessing

    PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s top-ranking civil servants this morning took part in a ceremony offering Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit an early Thai New Year’s greeting in the traditional way – by pouring lustral water over his hands.Some 100 top provincial officials attended the event at the Governor’s Mansion on Narisorn Rd. Among them were Vice-Governors Worapoj Ratthasima, Tri Augkaradacha, Smith Palawatvichai,…

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  • Phuket News54 Burmese dead in trafficking horror | Thaiger

    54 Burmese dead in trafficking horror

    RANONG: Fifty-four Burmese, 17 men and 37 women, suffocated to death while being transported in the sealed container of a seafood delivery truck yesterday en route from Ranong to Phuket.Col Kraithong Chanthongbai of Suksamran District Police today told the Gazette that police received a call from local people saying that a 10-wheeled truck had been left by the side of Petchkasem Rd…

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  • Phuket NewsAmerican man commits suicide in Rawai | Thaiger

    American man commits suicide in Rawai

    RAWAI: Chalong Police are treating as suicide the death of an American man found hanged from a bridge behind the Rawai Municipality offices early yesterday morning.Lt Col Chana Suthimas of the Chalong Police identified the man as Duane Willis Daugherty, aged 45.A local resident called Chalong Police at 6:30 am, immediately after discovering Mr Daugherty’s body, Lt Col Chana said.The…

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  • Thailand NewsFowl play suspected in local election | Thaiger

    Fowl play suspected in local election

    ANG THONG: Police Region 1 are leaving no stone unturned in their attempt to bring to justice a vicious gang of youths who abducted 1,500 waterfowl from a local politician, in what police believe could be a politically motivated ducknapping. At about 3 am on March 28, six young men, some on motorcycles, some in a six-wheeled truck, pulled up…

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  • Thailand NewsBurglar busted during cat nap

    Burglar busted during cat nap

    NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: In most professions, apart from those involving heavy machinery or driving perhaps, falling asleep on the job will earn you a strict telling off, a warning letter or in the worst case, the sack. In the burglary trade, however, sleeping on the job can have somewhat more serious consequences as one young army deserter in Phraphrom District…

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  • Phuket NewsPatong beach road to become “clearway’

    Patong beach road to become “clearway’

    PATONG: Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukkabal on April 2 announced that from next high season no parking will be allowed along the busy beach road.“Taxis will be allowed on Thaweewong Rd only to drop off passengers,” K. Chairat told a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall.“Tuk-tuks and hawkers are currently taking up all the parking spaces along the beach road,…

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  • Phuket NewsCandidates register for Phuket City elections | Thaiger

    Candidates register for Phuket City elections

    PHUKET CITY: The first day to register candidacies for the upcoming Phuket City Municipality elections saw a large turnout by supporters of both the incumbent Khon Noom (Young Turks) party led by incumbent mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana and her rival Ayuth Tansiriroj and his Chao Baan Sarng San (Creative) party.K. Ayuth, a lawyer and former ally of K. Somjai, hopes to…

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  • Phuket NewsRobbery ring rounded up | Thaiger

    Robbery ring rounded up

    PATONG: Kathu Police yesterday arrested six men for a string of robberies in this popular beach town.Kathu Police Inspector Lt Col Chalermchai Hernsawas and a squad of fellow officers made the initial arrest about 5 pm.The case started when 25-year-old Saiyon Jantorn reported seeing a man sitting atop her red-and-black JRD motorcycle, which was parked near Laem Petch Temple opposite…

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  • Phuket NewsBepy passes away

    Bepy passes away

    PHUKET: Well-known restaurateur and local resident “Bepy” Graziano di Ceneda passed away about 9:30 last night after succumbing to lung cancer.A native of Florence, Italy, Bepy had lived in Phuket for 15 years and was well known here, especially in Cherng Talay where his popular Toto restaurant stands at Tinlay Place on the road into the Laguna resort complex.Bepy was…

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  • Phuket NewsJetstar and Tiger slash Singapore-Phuket route | Thaiger

    Jetstar and Tiger slash Singapore-Phuket route

    PHUKET: Citing a lack of demand, Jetstar Asia Airways has ditched its service between Phuket and Singapore, while Tiger Airways has halved its service of the same route.Only 18 months after introducing a Phuket-Singapore air link, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia announced on March 30 that it has suspended its service of six flights a week. Low demand and a reallocation of…

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  • Phuket NewsNavy boys are good to Phuket

    Navy boys are good to Phuket

    PHUKET: Three US Navy warships – USS Hopper, USS Ingraham and USS Port Royal – are currently in Phuket, marking the first time that the three have anchored in the same port to give the 900-plus enlisted personnel and officers some well-earned R&R.While the ships are in port, many of the seamen can be seen around the island, letting loose at some…

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  • Phuket NewsDestination Air flies on | Thaiger

    Destination Air flies on

    PHUKET: The managing director of Destination Air has described Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit’s order to suspend flight service to Patong as “anticlimactic”, saying the airline had for months been scheduled to wrap up operations in Patong because of unsafe monsoon-season conditions now setting in. Pat James told the Gazette that the governor’s decision, taken in the wake of complaints about noise…

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  • Phuket NewsDanish tourist dies in hotel reception | Thaiger

    Danish tourist dies in hotel reception

    KARON: Danish tourist Finn Hansen, 54, was found dead on Thursday in the lobby of the “Welcome Inn” hotel, where he had been staying since March 18.“He was sitting in a chair in the hotel lobby for three hours before anyone noticed he was dead,” Capt Theerawut Thep-Luen of Chalong Police told the Gazette.As there was no evidence of foul play, police…

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  • Phuket NewsGov suspends Patong seaplane service

    Gov suspends Patong seaplane service

    PHUKET: Citing complaints of noise pollution and threats to public safety, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday ordered Destination Air to stop its seaplane shuttle flights to and from Patong Bay until the company complies with all Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) regulations.At a two-hour meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, Gov Niran called a halt to the flights after conferring with three…

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  • Phuket NewsRegistration van makes slow progress | Thaiger

    Registration van makes slow progress

    PHUKET CITY: The introduction of a high-tech mobile registration van late last year has recorded an increase of 16,000 in Phuket’s official population, only a small fraction of the island’s “hidden population” of about 300,000.The project is the brainchild of Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, who announced that tackling the hidden population problem would be a top priority after he was…

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  • Phuket NewsTourist Police call for Songkran volunteers | Thaiger

    Tourist Police call for Songkran volunteers

    PHUKET CITY: Phuket Tourist Police have appealed for Swedish- and Russian-speaking volunteers as the force prepares for Songkran.“There are now many Swedish and Russian tourists in Phuket, so we should be prepared to take care of them,” said Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Col Sathaporn Sangaunsuk.“We have about 100 officers, including 18 foreigners,” he added.With the holiday period looming, about 100 Tourist Police…

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  • Phuket NewsTrang man executed on Koh Sireh | Thaiger

    Trang man executed on Koh Sireh

    KOH SIREH: A man was fatally shot by a single bullet to the mouth as he was riding his motorbike on Koh Sireh early yesterday morning. Phuket City Police Inspector Lt Col Sarit Butnongsang identified the victim as Reab Paothong, 46, of Kantang district, Trang province. The murder happened on Theppratan Rd near the Koh Sireh Community Health Office about…

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  • Phuket NewsFrenchman crushed under cement truck | Thaiger

    Frenchman crushed under cement truck

    PHUKET CITY: French national Dominique Jules Valery Bagus, 46, died instantly when he was crushed under the wheels of a cement mixer truck on Sunday.Capt Supachai Petchsakul of Phuket City Police told the Gazette that Mr Bagus was driving a Suzuki motorcycle on Thepkrasattri Rd when the accident happened.“He was overtaking a cement truck being driven by 31-year-old Yutthana Promwiset, who was on…

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  • Phuket NewsGov Niran vows to stamp out “underage prostitution’ | Thaiger

    Gov Niran vows to stamp out “underage prostitution’

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has ordered Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak, Kathu District Chief Khantee Silapa and Patong Municipality officials to work together to immediately put a stop to underage girls working as prostitutes on the island.The order follows recent sweeps of nightlife entertainment venues in Phuket as part of a crackdown ordered by Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung.…

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  • Phuket NewsMan stabbed to death in Soi Romanee | Thaiger

    Man stabbed to death in Soi Romanee

    PHUKET CITY: A sound technician tidying up after a jazz event in Soi Romanee was stabbed to death early Monday morning over a reported “misunderstanding”.Lt Col Adul Nirapai of Phuket City Police said that police received a call at 2:10 am, reporting that a man had been stabbed in Soi Romanee, which connects Dibuk and Thalang roads in the heart…

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  • Phuket NewsHilton staff bus overturns on Karon Hill

    Hilton staff bus overturns on Karon Hill

    KATA: A bus carrying 32 staff of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa to work yesterday morning overturned after its brakes failed.Lt Rattaket Manmuang of Karon Police Station said, “The bus driver, 34-year-old Paitoon Panbuddee, said that he lost control of the bus after the brakes failed as he was driving down the hill.”The accident happened about 7:40 am, he…

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  • Phuket NewsSweden mulls issuing travel warnings | Thaiger

    Sweden mulls issuing travel warnings

    PHUKET CITY: The Swedish Consulate in Phuket and the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok are considering posting warnings on their official websites, advising Swedish women of potential dangers when traveling in Thailand.The move follows sexual assaults and killings of female foreign tourists in recent years, most recently the stabbing murder of 26-year-old Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund on March 15 at Mai…

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  • Phuket NewsBar owners bamboozled by 30-day booze ban | Thaiger

    Bar owners bamboozled by 30-day booze ban

    PHUKET: In a hastily arranged press conference, the Ministry of Interior has announced a month-long ban of alcohol sales throughout Phuket, effective today.Vice Minister Dumwrong Raknaa told the Gazette that the booze ban will, in one clean swoop, further the Ministry’s dual aims of celebrating the nation’s return to democracy and promoting traditional Thai values.As Thailand’s face to the world,…

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