- Phuket News
Internet petition calls for another One-Two-Go crash probe
BANGKOK (Daily Xpress): More than 4,400 people, mostly foreigners, have “signed” an Internet petition seeking another formal investigation into the crash of One-Two-GO Airlines Flight OG269 at Phuket International Airport on September 17 last year. The petition calls for a formal probe into claims that the crash may have been caused by controversial management practices by the airline. Relatives of…
- Cannabis News
Drug arrests on the rise
PHUKET: Crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police show that the number of drug-related arrests was about 52% higher in April than for the same period last year.There were 120 arrests for drug-related offenses, 63 of which involved ya bah (methamphetamine) with a total of 3,761 pills seized. However, arrests for gambling offences still topped the list with 202…
- Phuket News
So Sung killers still at large
KATHU: Police have thus far been unable to arrest either of the two police impersonators who shot dead Burmese laborer So Sung at a workers camp on March 30. So Sung was shot in the face at close range with a shotgun after he told fellow workers not to give in to the two imposters’ demands. (For our original report, click…
- Thailand News
Local shooters take aim at park pokers
BANGKOK: The world of Thai clay-pigeon shooting has been rocked by the daily desecration of one of the sport’s club headquarters in Hua Mak. Coinciding with a group of homosexual patrons using the range for open-air trysts, shooters have had to gingerly tread around a sea of discarded condoms. While you may think that this reporter is exaggerating what could…
- Phuket News
Mobile phone ban nets six on first day
PHUKET: Up until 5 pm today, the first day of the ban on driving while using a mobile phone without a hands-free set, Phuket Traffic Police fined six motorists.Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Chalit Thintanee told the Gazette that three car drivers and two motorcycle riders were fined in Phuket City and one car driver was fined in Thalang.“In Phuket…
- Phuket News
Suspect in Patong 7-Eleven shooting surrenders to police
PATONG: After meeting Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, the prime suspect in the shooting murder of a motorcycle-taxi driver in a 7-Eleven store handed himself in to police on Sunday night.The suspect, Chainart Yuyen, 31, has denied any involvement in the murder.About 2 am on Friday, motorcycle-taxi driver Satien Wongwai, 35, was shot twice in the back and once in the neck with…
- Phuket News
Four more elections to be held in Phuket
PHUKET: With the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and Phuket City Municipality elections now decided, the Phuket Election Committee (PEC) is gearing up for four more local elections set to take place over the next three monthsIn a meeting with Phuket Governor Niran Kalyanamit on Thursday, PEC Director Supap Akkam said his agency is preparing for elections for the Karon, Patong…
- Phuket News
Three arrested in ya Ice bust
PHUKET CITY: A Phuket Provincial Police undercover drug investigation unit yesterday arrested three people for possession and sale of ya Ice (crystal methamphetamine) and seized 19 grams of the drug.Officers led by Capt Pongpun Sripattharakul had arranged to buy a small amount of the drug from Udon Thani native Palakorn “Waan” Kamsaen, 19, at an apartment off Phun Pol Rd.When…
- Phuket News
Violent muggings return to Rawai
RAWAI: A foreign man was shot in the leg and stabbed in the stomach in a motorbike mugging at about 4 am on Monday. His attackers made off with his wallet, containing 300 baht.The attack was reminiscent of the spate of violent muggings that gripped the Rawai-Nai Harn area throughout the low season last year.The man, who asked to be identified only…
- Phuket News
Customs raids net B2.6m in fake goods
PHUKET: In a week of raids starting on May 7, Phuket Customs seized counterfeit and allegedly smuggled goods with a total estimated value of 2.6 million baht.Many of the seized goods were sent to Phuket by parcel delivery services, arriving on the island by bus from Bangkok.Pirated goods seized included music CDs, movie and game CDs and DVDs, D&G shoulder…
- Phuket News
1,267 ya bah pills seized in Mai Khao
MAI KHAO: Following a random vehicle inspection, Tah Chat Chai Police on Sunday night arrested three people for possession of ya bah (methamphetamine) with intent to sell and seized 1,267 pills.The arrests were announced at a press conference held Monday afternoon at Phuket City Police Station.Attending were Phuket Vice-Governor Worapot Rattasima, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch, Phuket…
- Thailand News
Pestle pistol swindle
SONGKHLA: It’s always worth keeping in mind the phrase caveat emptor, or “let the buyer beware”, when making any purchase.The warning should be especially well heeded when the item under consideration is somewhat less than 100% legit.This sage advice must have been far from the mind of one wannabe tough guy in Haad Yai, however, when he paid 15,000 baht…
- Phuket News
Smart ID cards available again
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday morning announced that “Smart ID cards” for Thai citizens are now available at Muang District Office – again.The new-style cards, which have a memory chip for storing personal data such as date of birth, physical description and even the holder’s house registration information, became unavailable in January last year when the local office…
- Phuket News
DSI reaches out to scammed rubber investors
PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has set up a desk at Phuket City Police Station to accept complaints from victims of an “investment company” thought to have defrauded some 5,000 southerners of more than 150 million baht.Thanin Prempri, head of the DSI Phuket investigation team, told the Gazette that Amorn-ake Petluechai and two associates of his Khon Kaen-based…
- Phuket News
Navy accepting donations for cyclone relief
CAPE PANWA: The Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Command at Cape Panwa is accepting donations of food and equipment to provide emergency relief for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Appropriate items for donation include florescent strip lights and fittings, corrugated iron, canvas and tarpaulin for tents, dried and canned food, rice and drinking water. The donations will be taken to…
- Phuket News
Young Turks win Phuket City election
PHUKET CITY: Incumbent Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana was re-elected by a comfortable margin on Sunday, garnering 10,657 votes (57.4%) vs just 7,910 (42.6%) votes for her rival Ayuth Tansiriroj, leader of the Chao Baan Sarng San (Creative Village People) party.In a remarkable outcome in voting for regular council seats, it was a clean sweep for members of Somjai’s Khon Noom…
- Phuket News
Phuket City elections on Sunday
PHUKET CITY: Despite intermittent downpours throughout the day, sound trucks carrying political hopefuls plied the streets of Phuket City today in a last-minute bid to drum up support for their candidates in the hotly-contested Phuket City Municipality election to be held on Sunday.The mayoral race pits incumbent Somjai Suwannasuppana of the Khon Noom (Young Turks) party against her former deputy…
- Phuket News
Thai AirAsia sets up Myanmar donation stations
BANGKOK: Thai AirAsia announced this afternoon that it is offering aid to cyclone victims in Myanmar by carrying public donations to Yangon. The airline has set up collection points in all the destinations it flies to, including Phuket. Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia, said that the airline wants to make sure that donations such as food, clothing,…
- Phuket News
Ao Phuket project given top-level green light
PHUKET: The government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has given the green light to the Ao Phuket development plan, a 100-billion-baht megaproject on 3,000 rai of reclaimed land that would include a convention center, marina and other facilities. The latest movement in the Ao Phuket plan, first conceived over two decades ago, follows from PM Samak’s assigning responsibility for the…
- Phuket News
Police hunt suspected tsunami coffin thieves
PHANG NGA (Kom Chad Luek): Takuapa District Police are on the lookout for two former cemetery workers who confessed to stealing 11 70-kilogram coffins worth an estimated 400,000 baht from a storage facility at Bang Maruan Cemetery. Cemetery manager Nitinai Sornsongkram, 54, filed a report with Takuapa Police on April 27 after discovering that 11 of 40 coffins, which were…
- Phuket News
Burmese junta stalls aid workers
BANGKOK (Nation/Agencies): With the death toll estimated at more than 100,000 and even more people stricken homeless by Cyclone Nargis, survivors still await emergency supplies while the United Nations waits for the military junta in Myanmar to allow international workers to start relief operations.Aid officials said they are waiting for the military to approve entry visas. “We are in close…
- Phuket News
Myanmar relief efforts underway
BANGKOK: With the death toll in Myanmar now feared to be more than 100,000, a number of aid organizations have started relief efforts in the hardest-hit areas. World Vision is reporting that it is already providing clothing as well as tarpaulins, blankets, rice and drinking water in the capital, Yangon. As of yesterday, World Vision had delivered 34.8 metric tons…
- Thailand News
Little larvae, powerful performance
KALASIN: Aphrodisiacs and sex aids come in many forms. The Chinese have rhino horns and tiger penis, while Viagra has spread from America to become a worldwide craze allowing a generation of aging lotharios to revisit the prowess they enjoyed in younger days. In Isarn, however, the latest sex-aid craze is neither the body part of an endangered species nor…
- Phuket News
Plodprasop flames NDWC’s effectiveness
CAPE PANWA: Dr Plodprasop Surasawadee, assistant minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, today likened the status of Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) to that of an “abandoned toilet”.His scathing remark was made at the opening of a three-day convention on coral reef research and management at the Phuket Aquarium.As a former director of the NDWC, he said he would…
- Phuket News
Eight nabbed in Cherng Talay drug-ring bust
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Police have arrested eight people on drugs charges, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth announced yesterday. Cherng Talay Police arrested Prasit Waharak, 31, from Phang Nga, in possession of ya bah (methamphetamine) in a sting operation at the Bang Tao weekend market, he explained. After questioning Prasit, the officers arrested Thanongsak Phromdech, 32, from Nakhon…
- Phuket News
Construction site extortion gang busted
PATONG: In the latest case of extortion involving Burmese workers, Kathu Police on Saturday afternoon arrested five men posing as government officers in a bid to extort money from a construction company.Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnark told the Gazette that Kathu Police were informed of the extortion bid by construction foreman Somyot Chairat, who was overseeing a project off…
- Phuket News
Phuket braces for stormy weather
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has warned of the risk of landslides, flooding and strong seas in Phuket due to Cyclone Nargis.Myanmar state television earlier today reported that Cyclone Nargis had claimed 21,793 lives and that 40,695 people were missing in Irrawaddy division alone.DDPM-Phuket Chief Chotenarin Kerdsom said that waves have…
- Phuket News
Newborn found in hospital car park
PHUKET CITY: A newborn boy was discovered yesterday morning in the back of a pickup truck in the car park of Bangkok Hospital Phuket. Doctors believe he had been abandoned the night before. Dr Nat Tantipipat of Bangkok Hospital Phuket discovered the baby, wrapped in a towel and a blanket and placed in a red basket in the back of…
- Phuket News
Coral Reef Squadron red-flagged
PHUKET CITY: The sinking of 10 decommissioned military aircraft – nicknamed the Coral Reef Squadron – to create Thailand’s largest artificial reef has been postponed until November, Tourism Authority of Thailand South Region 4 Office Director Suwalai Pinpradub announced today.Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, K. Suwalai said that the strong winds and large waves that have arrived with…
- Phuket News
Aussie airlifted from Similans
PHUKET CITY: An Australian man is recovering at Vachira Phuket Hospital after being airlifted to Phuket from the Similan Islands by the Royal Thai Navy this afternoon.Rear-Admiral Supot Pruksa of the Third Naval Area Command, based at Cape Panwa, identified the man as Gregory Edwin Orior, 51.The Navy base received an emergency call this morning from the Navy outpost at…
