Year: 2017
- Phuket News
Anti-corruption boss says Phuket ‘most corrupt’ in Thailand
PHUKET: A Facebook post by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand prompted an emergency meeting of the island’s top bosses yesterday to ‘investigate’ allegations of corruption laid against officials from major sectors of the government. Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan, while insisting that he himslef had not accepted bribes, did launch an initiative called “White Phuket'”for the public to provide him with…
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Breaking: Anti-Corruption agency, Phuket Gov lock horns over corruption
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor has denied accepting bribes and urgently ordered officers to investigate corruption allegations made by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand in a Facebook post yesterday. “I have never accepted tea money, or ordered any of my officers to do so, from any business – legal or illegal,” said Gov Chokchai Dejamornthan. The governor set up a committee…
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Monitor lizards celebrate Valentines Day
KOH LANTA: Monitor lizards celebrated Valentines Day today by professing their love openly in Koh Lanta. The two reptiles, who asked to remain nameless, were found hugging each other in a pond in front of the Pimalai Resort & Spa. Locals and tourists gathered around the pond to take a peek, as it was surely a sight to see. The…
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Soi Dog founder Gill Dalley to be cremated in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of Gill Dalley, long-time Phuket expat and co-founder of the Soi Dog Foundation, will remain at her family home in Laguna until Saturday. Friends and family are welcome to pay their respects today, Thursday and Friday between 7pm-9:30pm. On Saturday morning, the house will be open again from 10am for a short prayer ceremony, before Ms Dalley’s…
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Foreigner survives hanging attempt from Phuket bridge
PHUKET: Valentine’s Day in Phuket started with an unidentified foreigner attempting to hang himself from a pedestrian bridge in Thalang early this morning. The man survived, but sustained serious injuries from falling on to the road after the wire he was using snapped. One end of it was tied around his neck and the other was attached to the bridge.…
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Profile: What victory means for Miss Grand Krabi 2017
PHUKET: Phuket native Pamela Pasinetti was recently crowned ‘Miss Grand Krabi 2017’. Poised and elegant in her gown and tiara, Pamela spoke to Simon J Hand of Gazette Radio to talk about her pageant experience. Now 23 years of age, Pamela has always had big dreams. “I’ve always wanted to be a pageant queen,” she smiled. “It’s something every young…
Read More » - Koh Samui News
Staff involvement suspected in Samui bank break-in
SAMUI: Police are hunting for masked robbers who broke into a Krungsri Bank branch located only about 100 meters from a police station in Samui on Friday night. Lt Col Vachara Somsri of Samui Police received the report soon after the incident took place. “We believe that at least two suspects were involved in the affair. They didn’t manage to…
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Phuket mourns death of Soi Dog co-founder
PHUKET: The untimely death of Gill Dalley, who was a prominent member of the Phuket community and co-founder of the Soi Dog Foundation, was announced early this morning by foundation representatives. Ms Dalley was 58 years old and battled cancer for a short period of time. She was the inaugural winner of the ‘Canine Hero of the year’ award at…
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Falling tree damages tuk-tuk, injures driver in Phuket
PHUKET: A tuk-tuk driver escaped with minor injuries after a palm tree fell directly on top of his vehicle at a crowded shopping district in Karon yesterday. Prawi Sangkaew, 49, was driving past Karon Plaza when a strong gust of wind caused the 40-year-old palm tree to fall. The tree narrowly missed the driver’s section of the vehicle. There were…
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Swedish tourist survives stabbing, balcony fall
PHUKET: A Swedish tourist luckily escaped death after he jumped off the balcony of his hotel room in Karon yesterday morning. The victim, Lennart Sundstorm, 52, was staying at the Kata Green Beach Hotel. Police believe he had pressing financial issues which led him to perform the desperate act. Maj Patiwat Yodkhwan of Karon Police, Tourist Police officers and rescue…
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Patong parking complaints spark military blitz
PHUKET: Officers from the Region 4 Army Headquarters in Phuket visited Patong Beach last week to address complaints about the bike rental management system, particularly the decades-old problem of theft of space from the public. Vendors and locals in the area said that the beach looked disorganized as dozens of rental bikes were parked chaotically and illegally along the road.…
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Sentenced to jail, woman fights against ‘false’ evidence
PHUKET: A therapist accused of stealing a necklace in Trang and sentenced to jail is set to appeal. The theft occurred back in 2011, when the victim reported to Trang police officers that she was drugged by a waitress named Ploi, and her necklace with a Buddha pendant, worth 700,000 baht, was stolen. The accused, Pavitra Kongampon, 32, also known…
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Thai man’s body discovered after two days
PHUKET: A man’s rotting corpse was found in his house in Thalang this morning. The victim, Thaweechai Noppakao, 54, is believed to have been dead for at least two days before his bdoy was discovered by his daughter. Officers believe he died due to health complications. Locals of Moo 8, Baan Liporn in Srisonthorn reported the incident to Thalang Police.…
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Another drug dealer arrested, charged in Phuket
PHUKET: Another drug dealer was charged with several crimes in Phuket this morning, after he was busted arrested with a homemade gun, ammunition and ya ice (crystal Methamphetamine) on Wednesday afternoon in Wichit. Maj Thanasak Sawangsri with his team took the lead on the case after receiving a tip-off at about 3:30pm two days ago. “We spotted Keerati Laocome, 27,…
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Finance: Markets favor active selection
PHUKET: There is value in having an active stock selector as your money manager – especially right now when individual stocks are starting to break out and the market is favoring them over passive investment. Consider some of the following stocks that are in my watch list and portfolios as of late January. Small cap Internet services stock Tucows Inc…
Read More » - Opinion
Ministry of Farang Affairs: Needlessly hating all farangs
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: Drawing lines in the sand
PHUKET: The lack of any significant official response to encroachment at Laem Singh Beach seems to indicate that those behind it are well-connected. The fight to save our beautiful beaches from the forces of corruption is no doubt as relentless and difficult as that against global climate change. Recent developments at Laem Singh (story here), therefore, justify urgent action to…
Read More » - Thai Life
‘Flying moth’ comes to town
PHUKET: There’s a new bird in town that goes by the name of Shadow. Light as a feather and built entirely with carbon fiber, the Shadow is a Moth equipped with hydrofoils that allow it to ‘fly’ up to a height of at least 5 feet. The idea of the ‘Moth’ dates back to 1928 when the first model of…
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Video: Yet another crash occurs at Heroines Monument
PHUKET: A crash occurred early this morning when a salaeng (motorbike with a sidecar) crashed into a taxi, which then slammed into a barrier at the Heroines’ Monument roundabout. Capt Kraisorn Boonprasob of Thalang Police received the report at about 5:30am. “The taxi, driven by Prapoj Boontang, was heading to Patong from Phuket Airport,” Capt Kraisorn told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Property Watch: Seeing through Phuket property transience
PHUKET: There are many themes of life in Phuket that are either interwoven or operate independently. It is possible, as many local Phuketians will testify, to exist in Phuket without even meeting your friends on a regular basis because you live on ‘different sides of the island’, or ‘don’t like driving over the hill’, or because of the traffic jams.…
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Australian jet-ski victim’s partner awaits trial in Phuket
PHUKET: The partner of a 20-year-old Australian woman who was killed in a jet-ski collision with him at Kata Beach on Sunday, is expected to be charged with reckless driving causing death and is awaiting trial in Phuket. Thomas Keating, 22, and his partner Emily Jayne Collie, 20, came to Phuket for a holiday and had rented jet-skis to ride…
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Thai woman found hanged in Phuket apartment
PHUKET: A Thai woman was found hanged in a Patong apartment yesterday with a note that explained her health and money issues. “The apartment is located on Pisitkoraneee Road. We found the body of Chantraporn Martphanna, 47, hanging by electric wires tied to the closet bar,” said Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of Patong Police. “The body was taken to Patong Hospital…
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Mayor reveals tentative solution for brown water in Patong Bay
PHUKET: Officials have found an experimental or ‘beta’ solution for the repeated appearance of brown water in Patong Bay, which is caused by a plankton bloom. Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup yesterday revealed that the proposed solution is to grow eichhornia crassipes, better known as water hyacinths, to counter the plankton. Tourists and Patong beach operators complained about the presence of…
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Phuket’s Bypass Road ripped up for repairs
PHUKET: A 9 million baht budget has been set aside for repair work on the northbound Bypass Road leading up to Thepkrasattri Road. Locals are having trouble maneuvering on the road, as it has now become slippery and dusty. They asked officers why a section of the road that was in good enough condition is being fixed. Phuket Highways officer…
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Man presumed “dead’ found to be drunk
PHUKET: A drunk man gave everyone a scare yesterday when he appeared to be dead to passersby in Chalong. Capt Prasert Srita of Chalong Police received a call at about 4:55pm to check on the ‘dead’ body of a Myanmar man, lying by an electric pole on Soi Sai Nam Yen. “We went there to check and found that he…
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Another teenager killed, and a second seriously injured in Phuket road crash
PHUKET: A 15-year-old biker was killed and his passenger, also 15, was seriously injured when a van driver cut them off, causing a three-vehicle collision yesterday evening in Chalong. Both boys were still in school uniform with their schoolbags across their shoulders. “Rescue workers provided CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to the driver, Wasin Thongsom, but his injuries were too severe and…
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Frenchman, Russians arrested in Phuket brawl
PHUKET: Two Russian tourists and a French expat were arrested after they were seen armed and fighting in Patong this afternoon. The incident happened near a bike rental shop run by the Frenchman, named by police as Gerard Pecherstorfer, 63, and his wife Suvan Paiwansao, on Sirirat Road. Ms Suvan told police that the argument was about a bike rental…
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Another suspect in million-baht drug deal arrested
PHUKET: A suspected drug dealer, part of a million-baht drug operation cracked in December, was arrested yesterday afternoon. Police in December had initially apprehended four suspects, including a minor (story here), with more than 4,000 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) and 200 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) in their possession. The drugs were shipped into Phuket from Bangkok using…
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American found dead in Phuket hotel room
PHUKET: An American man was found dead at a hotel room in Patong yesterday afternoon. “We received a report of the incident at about 3:30pm. The deceased was 58 years old and staying at the Orange Hotel,” said Maj Pattapee Srichai of Patong Police. “We found him lying face up on his bed with no wounds or marks on his…
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Phuket-bound speedboat crashes into longtail at Maya Bay
PHUKET: Three people escaped serious injuries after a speedboat crashed into a longtail off Phi Phi yesterday afternoon. Capt Paramin Maikul of Phi Phi Police received reports of the collision at about 2pm. “The incident occurred near Maya Bay. The longtail had two Japanese tourists and a captain, named Somsak Sangpaen, 30, on board. The captain sustained minor injuries, while…
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Gardening: Two valuable Mexican climbers
PHUKET: I am not talking about social climbers or even those intrepid fellows who scale up the sheer cliffs at Railay. Rather, I’m referring to two members of the vine brigade who have received less than their due footage in these columns. I was reminded of the value of the garlic vine when I visited an estate, the common parts…
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Deadly crash kills one near Central Festival Phuket
PHUKET: A Rawai local was killed early this morning when his truck crashed into an electricity pole in front of Central Festival Phuket. Lt Patcharee Wongboon of Wichit Police received reports of the incident at about 4:30am. “We arrived with rescue workers to find the heavily-damaged brown Toyota Vigo pick-up truck flipped over to its left side and smashed into…
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Holiday nightmare: Aussie tourist killed in Phuket jet-ski collision
PHUKET: A 20-year-old Australian woman was killed in a jet-ski collision with her husband at Kata Beach yesterday evening. The victim, named Emily Collie, suffered severe injuries to her head, neck and shoulders. “Other beachgoers came to her aid and lifeguards administered CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) while waiting for police and rescue workers to arrive,” said Lt Col Patiwat Yordsuan of…
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Phuket hospitals reject migrant insurance
PHUKET: Financial difficulties in the healthcare system is leading to pregnant migrant workers in Phuket Province being denied access to Universal Coverage (UC) health insurance scheme when they deliver babies. Usually migrant workers in Thailand are allowed to buy health insurance in order to get access to affordable services while living in the Kingdom, paying 2,100 baht annually for UC…
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Hotel Report: Russians back, zero-baht backlash, crackdown on illegal hotels
PHUKET: Russian arrivals are back to pre-crisis level while the zero-baht tourism ban curbed Q4 growth, the newly released C9 Hotelworks ‘Phuket Hotel Market Update’ for February says. With total airport arrivals surpassing 7.5 million passengers, Phuket experienced a sharp year-on-year rise of 18 per cent, compared to 13 per cent the previous year. This is largely attributed to the…
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CIA executive unfit due to alleged torture links in Thailand, says Amnesty
BANGKOK: Amnesty International has called for the review of the appointment of Gina Haspel as deputy director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) because of her alleged torture links in Thailand. Erika Guevara-Rosas, Director of the Americas at Amnesty International, issued a press statement that Ms Haspel’s appointment could hamper investigations into alleged torture and enforced disappearance at…
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Two killed by electrocution in Phuket
PHUKET: Two 27-year-old men were killed in two separate incidents of electrocution in Patong yesterday afternoon. The first victim was an elevator engineer named Detch Gamlhong, who was called in to fix an elevator at a hotel on Prachanukror Road. “We received a report of the incident from staff at Patong Hospital at about 1pm. The victim was rushed to…
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