Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Phuket News
Two men seriously ill in radiation alert
BANGKOK (AFP) – Two Thai men are seriously ill in hospital with radiation sickness after being exposed to a highly radioactive substance in a Bangkok shop, health officials said this afternoon. “These two people are suffering seriously from burns to the hands. They are losing their hair and have very low white blood cell counts,” a public health ministry spokesman…
- Phuket News
Runaway snakes cause chaos in Soi Katoey
PATONG: Tourists and denizens of the night scrambled for safety when a bunch of snakes got loose in Soi Katoey, off Soi Bangla, in the early hours of yesterday. The snakes got loose after a team from the Phuket Provincial Forestry Office, led by Sumran Cheanloy, the office’s chief, and accompanied by police, launched raids on bar areas in Patong,…
- Phuket News
Grass fire frightens Chuanchuen Lagoon residents
KOH KAEW: A fire at Chuanchuen Lagoon that shook the up-market community two days ago was just grass burning, firefighters said today. Pol Maj Amnuay Kraiwootthinan of Phuket Town Police Station said he received a phone call at 8:30 pm on Wednesday from an unidentified person reporting that there was a big fire burning at the old deserted tin factory…
- Phuket News
Parliament acts to drive out evil spirits
BANGKOK (AFP) – Authorities held a multi-faith exorcism in parliament today to drive out evil spirits believed to be responsible for a recent spate of deaths among members of parliament. Since elections in November 1996, eight of the 393 MPs have died in accidents or of natural causes while 11 more have resigned. Yesterday, an MP from the ruling Democrats…
- Phuket News
23 die in bus crash
NAKHON PHANOM (AFP): Twenty-three people were killed and 37 injured today when a bus and a truck collided in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom, 20 kilometers from the town of Kalasin. No details were immediately available on the identities of those killed or the condition of those injured.
- Phuket News
Health Office in hygiene drive
PHUKET: In a bid to raise the standards of local restaurants and food stalls, the Phuket Provincial Health Office has begun inspecting them and awarding those that meet its standards with a ‘Clean Food, Good Taste’ sign and certificate. Dr Boonrieng Chuchaisangrat, Chief of the Health Office, explained that Phuket is still very competitive in the regional tourism industry, and…
- Phuket News
Marine police capture fuel smugglers
PHUKET: Six Thai fuel smugglers were arrested in the Andaman Sea on Saturday afternoon and 110,000 liters of low-grade diesel, worth about 330,000 baht, was seized from their vessel, the Fakthong 47. Pol Gen Narongwit Thaithong, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, said that the modified fishing vessel was stopped near Surin Island, 21 nautical miles off the coast…
- Phuket News
184 couples marry on Valentine’s Day
PHUKET: The island set a record for marriages on Valentine’s Day this year. The number of couples tying the knot on the year’s most romantic day increased from 143 in 1999 to 184 this year. Of these, 115 got hitched in Muang District, 31 in Kathu and 38 in Thalang District. The Assistant District Officer of Thalang, Samapol Koontong, said…
- Phuket News
Lucky boss gets money and pistol back
PHUKET TOWN: Construction boss Prayoon Janpetch is careful when he goes about collecting money from clients. Apart from anything else, he carries a pistol in case someone tries to rob him. But last week K. Prayoon, manager of the Saowaree Civil Engineering Partnership on Thepkrasatree Rd, Thalang, was less careful than usual. He left a bag containing 300,000 baht in…
- Phuket News
Three ya bah dealers arrested
PHUKET TOWN: The Office of the Narcotics Control Board scored a hat-trick day on Thursday when it managed to arrest three ya bah dealers, all on Sakdidej Rd. Thirty tablets of the drug were also seized. In the first two cases, undercover officers pretending to be users bought ya bah before identifying themselves and arresting the dealers, Surapong Saradee, 21,…
- Phuket News
Abandoned baby dies
PHUKET: The baby girl found abandoned in grassland off Sakdidet Rd in Moo Baan Muang Thong Thani on February 3, died the same evening, a nurse at the Wachira Phuket Hospital has told the Gazette. The nurse said that the baby was too young to be left in the sun for a prolonged period – she is believed to have…
- Phuket News
Baby born in motorcycle sidecar
PHUKET TOWN: A woman on her way to hospital to pick up the body of her husband, who had died of a heart attack the day before, gave birth early yesterday in a motorcycle sidecar at the edge of the Bypass Rd. “A man called us at around 1:20 am and told us that there was a woman about to…
- Phuket News
Girl kidnapped from hospital by former boyfriend
PHUKET TOWN: A 26-year-old man was in custody tonight, charged with kidnapping his former girlfriend from the bedside of her ailing mother, in the Phuket Adventist Hospital. Pol Maj Adul Nirapai of Phuket Town Police Station told the Gazette that Kittisak Raksue walked into the hospital at 4 am, pulled out a gun and started to drag Tukta Kapansit out…
- Phuket News
First cloned Thai calf about to be born
BANGKOK, Feb 9 (AFP): Thai researchers are close to delivering two calves cloned from an adult cow’s ear cells in what would be a breakthrough for Southeast Asian scientists, researchers said Wednesday. “The first cloned cow is expected to be delivered within a month,” said Rangsan Polpai, a researcher at Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of Veterinary Science. A second calf is…
- Phuket News
Losing OrBorJor party “will stay neutral’
PHUKET TOWN: The Pattana Tongtin Party, which failed in Saturday’s election to preserve its domination of the Provincial Administrative Organization (OrBorJor), will remain “neutral” and allow the victorious Kao Mai Party to form a majority coalition, Pattana Tontin’s leader, Banlur Tantiwit, told a press conference. Banlur, formerly President of the OrBorJor’s three-man central council, was a shock loser in the…
- Phuket News
Kao Mai likely to dominate new OrBorJor
PHUKET TOWN: Following a meeting today organized by the victorious Kao Mai party, which took nine of the 15 Provincial Administrative Council (OrBorJor) seats allocated to Phuket Town in Saturday’s elections, its appears that the party’s leader, Dr Prasit Koysiripong, will become President of the new council. Kao Mai has put together a coalition that includes the Thalang Group Party,…
- Phuket News
Boy, 7, dies in shooting accident
RAWAI: A seven-year-old boy, Chalermpol Kriengkrai, accidentally shot and killed himself on Saturday night. According to Pol Capt Chana Suttimas of Chalong Police Station, the accident took place at around 10:30 pm at 71/12 Saiyuan Rd in Rawai. He said that while Chalermpol’s parents were celebrating the Chinese New Year with staff of their speedboat rental company, Nikorn Marine Co,…
- Phuket News
Fire razes 40 shanty homes in Pathumwan
BANGKOK (Gazette exclusive): Fifty firemen and 30 fire trucks battled for five hours this morning to put out a blaze in a shanty neighborhood behind Wat Pathum Wanararm and the World Trade Center in Pathumwan. Although no deaths or injuries have yet been reported, the fire left 40 homes gutted over an area of about two rai. One witness told…
- Phuket News
High turnout for OrBorJor elections
PHUKET TOWN: There was a respectable 44% voter turnout for Saturday’s Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) elections, up significantly from the 28% turnout for the last OrBorJor vote four years ago. Commentators said this may have had less to do with a surge in interest in politics, and more to do with the fact that voters in Phuket Town qualified for…
- Phuket News
Baby found dumped, covered in ants
PHUKET: Police are searching for the mother of a baby found dumped in grass in Moo Baan Muang Thong Thani, on Sakdidet Rd, on Thursday. The baby girl was found, covered in ants, by a couple passing by on a motorcycle, who heard her cries. They picked her up and rushed her to Wachira Phuket Hospital. Pol Maj Pissanu Poonwong…
- Phuket News
No alcohol on sale tonight or tomorrow
PHUKET: Selling and distribution of all alcoholic beverages is prohibited across Phuket from 6:00 pm today until midnight tomorrow. Tomorrow is OrBorJor (Provincial Council) election day, and the police do not want any problems with drunks. Pol Col Chalit Tintanee, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette that in accordance with the Election Act of 1979, all bars,…
- Phuket News
Former mayor still sought on murder charge
PHUKET: The former mayor of Patong, Dr Anan Ananthanawat, is still being sought by police three months after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of involvement in the murder of an ex-policeman. On October 21 last year, five men were arrested for their part in the killing of ex-Pol Sub-Lt Weerapol Panrod, who was shot dead in…
- Phuket News
Filipino fisherman’s death a “mystery’
PHUKET TOWN: A Filipino crewman was found dead at the fishing port near Phya Thai Hospital on Si Sena Rd, Phuket Town, on Monday evening. Though the body was naked when it was discovered floating in the water, a Taiwanese fishing boat skipper at the port identified it as that of Caderlon Ronelo, 26, who had worked for him. He…
- Phuket News
PM opens Board of Investment Fair
BANGKOK (AFP): Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai was today due to open the two-week Board of Investment Fair 2000, designed to convince the world that the Thai economy has turned the corner and to lure foreign investors to bolster the recovery. The government is touting the fair, which opens to the public tomorrow and is expected to draw between three million…
- Phuket News
Russian girl mauled by leopard
PATTAYA (AFP): A 19-year-old Russian girl mauled by a leopard in a theme park here has demanded US$15,000 to pay her medical bills, police said today. Irena Biliard filed a complaint with police after she suffered seven deep cuts on her left hand and arm when the leopard attacked her, a police spokesman said. He said she had apparently been…
- Phuket News
Top Chinese acrobats to do two shows
PHUKET TOWN: The winners of the 1998 World Acrobatics Championships in Monaco, the 70-strong “Hubei” from the People’s Republic of China, will perform two shows at Saphan Hin on February 19. The first show, from 4:30-6:30 pm, will be for students, with tickets priced at 100 baht apiece. The second show, for the general public, will be from 7:30-9:30 pm,…
- Phuket News
Locals beat TV stars in soccer friendly
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket All Stars’ Anurak In-Ting scored a hat trick and put away a penalty kick for good measure to help his team demolish 168 Hours, a scratch team of visiting TV and entertainment stars. The match, at Surakul Sport Stadium yesterday, drew more than 800 spectators, most of them screaming teenage girls come to see their favorite singers…
- Phuket News
15 arrested for fake passports or visas
PHUKET: Police arrested 15 foreigners carrying fake passports or with fake immigration stamps in Patong, Karon, and Kata over the weekend. Pol Col Apirak Hongthong, recently appointed inspector of Phuket’s Immigration Office, said 12 of the arrests were made when his officers checked people selling clothing and fabrics on Patong beach. The other three were made on the beaches at…
- Phuket News
Road injuries up in 1999, but deaths down
PHUKET TOWN: The number of people injured in road accidents in Phuket in 1999 was 3% higher than in 1998, but the death toll fell by 6%. A total of 10,553 people were hurt in road accidents, 94% of whom were on motorcycles, up from 10,250 in the previous year. Motorcycles were also by far the biggest cause of road…
- Phuket News
Swede’s death “probably suicide’
KARON: A 36-year-old Swedish tourist was found dead yesterday evening in Karon in what appears to have been a suicide. Pol Lt Teerawat Liumsuwan of the Chalong Police Station said the body of the tourist, whom he named as Kauhava Jauko Tapio, was found in the bathroom of his rented house in the soi opposite Karon Post office. He was…
