The BTS Skytrain is as ubiquitous in Bangkok as great street food and fake Viagra, and it’s now added 4 new stops to extend its reach. The new BTS Green Line extension, running fro Mor Chit station and Khu Khot station in Rangsit, opened to the public today. The new extension was officially launched by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha this morning, and opened to commuters from 1:30pm.

The 4 new stations are: Royal Forest Department, Bang Sua, 11th Infantry Regiment and Wat Phra Sri Mahathat. In a trip that took 11 minutes, the PM travelled from Ha Yaek Lat Phrao station (on Phahon Yothin Road, before the four new stations) to the end of the line at Wat Phra Sri Mahat.

The extension of the northern service covers 4.2 kilometres, and travel on the new section is free until the end of the year. Whoo Hoo!

The system now comprises 47 stations along two lines: the Sukhumvit Line running northwards and eastwards, and the Silom Line which serves Silom and Sathorn Roads, the central business district of Bangkok, terminating at National Stadium and Bang Wa.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

A report in Nation Thailand says that Thailand’s army chief Apirat Kongsompong has ordered the transfer of all committee members at the Lumpini Boxing Stadium in Bangkok. The dressing down and side-lining of the officials comes after the committee went ahead with a boxing match at the stadium on March 6, two days after the government ordered such venues to close, as part of the Covid-19 lockdown measures.

The stadium is owned and operated by the Royal Thai Army.

The stadium was later found to be a hotbed for the virus, generating a cluster of hundreds of infectionsthat spread beyond Bangkok and into other provinces. A subsequent inspection has revealed serious problems with the venue’s hygiene and disease prevention measures.

Army Chief Apirat Kongsompong is ordering the transfer of all committee members, having already transferred the manager, Rachit Arunrungsee, who is reportedly set to retire in September.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

Police arrested a man for fraud after he hacked into a rich businessman’s bank accounts using a smartphone sent in the mail, posing it as a prize. 34 year old Anontwat Vorametchayangkul took 395,000 baht from the man’s accounts, police announced yesterday. He has a background in computer science, and police say he is wanted in 9 cases which are mostly fraud related.

A text message was sent to the businessman saying he won a phone in a customer reward promotion from a luxury hotel where he had recently stayed. He also received calls from the number, and when he didn’t answer, they contacted his mother’s phone saying the won the phone in a random drawing and he also won a free 3-day stay at the hotel.

The phone was later delivered to his house in Bangkok and was told to keep the SIM card in the phone for 2 hours to verify his reward. He checked his bank account sometime after and noticed money was missing.

The delivery driver was questioned. He said he took short term jobs he found online and was hired to deliver mobile phones people won in a hotel promotion for 5,000 baht. Police say the driver was not involved in the scam.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post