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Breaking News: Ship bursts into flames off Phuket
PHUKET: A ship carrying cargo was engulfed by flames near Koh Naka, off Phuket’s east coast this afternoon. Phuket Marine Police were notified of the incident at about 4pm by a speedboat captain. First reports are that all on board the ship were safely rescued by the passing speedboat. — Chutharat Plerin
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Phuket Gazette International Sports: Birmingham City FC boss busted for money laundering
PHUKET: Birmingham City Football Club boss Carson Yeung was sentenced to six years in jail on Friday for laundering $93 million following a high-profile trial that cast a spotlight on how the barber-turned-businessman made his fortune. Yeung, 54, was found guilty by a Hong Kong court on Monday of five counts of money-laundering. He had denied the charges. The businessman…
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Travel agent east of Phuket busted for using lost debit card
PHUKET: A Koh Lanta travel agency owner managed to steal almost 130,000 baht using a debit card he found on the ground. Polish tourist Magdalena Holak told Tourist Police that she had lost her debit card while on holiday on Koh Lanta in late February. After police checked with her bank and discovered that the lost card had been used…
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Special Report: Trafficking abuse of Myanmar Rohingya spreads to Malaysia
SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: Human traffickers have kept hundreds of Rohingya Muslims captive in houses in northern Malaysia, beating them, depriving them of food, and demanding a ransom from their families, according to detailed accounts by the victims. The accounts given to Reuters suggest that trafficking gangs are shifting their operations into Malaysia as Thai authorities crack down on jungle camps…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Singapore police probe ‘unnatural’ death of American CEO of bitcoin trader
PHUKET: Singapore police are investigating what they have called the “unnatural” death of a 28-year-old American woman who ran a small exchange that traded virtual currencies, including bitcoins, from the Asian city state. Autumn Radtke, chief executive of First Meta Pte Ltd, was found dead at her Singapore home on February 26. “The police are investigating the unnatural death,” a…
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Phuket Sports: Reaching the ultimate goal [Video]
PHUKET: The ancient martial art of Muay Thai is alive and strong, especially in Phuket, where fighters from around the world make their way to train with some of the best. The Phuket Gazette and PGTV were able to get the scoop on what’s new in the island’s fighting scene during a recent visit to Tiger Muay Thai gym. Located…
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Phuket Sports: Train like a pro, win like a pro
PHUKET: Roughly 135 is the number of triathlons completed by Jaray Jearanai, Phuket’s homegrown triathlete. “I’ve been running for nine years and each year I run more than 15 triathlons,” he says. But as much as he likes it, it’s not all just for fun. “I want to be the best Thai triathlete. Right now, there are no Thais going…
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Phuket Sport: Getting back to the top
PHUKET: I first saw Alisa Kleybanova bouncing balls across the net during her morning tennis practice at Thanyapura. Not a hint of smile on her face, but 100 per cent focus, precision and power. Later, when she dips into Thanyapura’s Olympic size pool with the members of the Dutch elite swim team who are preparing in the sport complex for…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Crimea joins Russia, Obama orders sanctions; Anwar faces sodomy verdict; India braces for elections
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Crimea votes to join Russia, Obama orders sanctions Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Crimea’s parliament voted to join Russia on Thursday and its Moscow-backed government set a referendum in 10 days’ time in a dramatic escalation of the crisis over the Ukrainian region that drew a…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Satish seeks royal pardon; Surapong to engage envoys; Satun in drought
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Satish appeals to HM over govt order to deport him The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Attempts were under way yesterday to stall a deportation order against Indian-born businessman Satish Sehgal for joining the anti-government protests. Satish, 70, yesterday petitioned His Majesty the King to intervene…
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Phuket motorcycle taxi driver nabbed for swiping wallet
PHUKET: Police arrested a Phuket man early yesterday morning for swiping a wallet from a tour guide counter in Patong. Patong Police received a complaint from 47-year-old tour agent Urailuck Chaiphan that her wallet had been stolen from the M.E.G. tour counter. “We investigated CCTV footage and saw that the suspect had a tattoo on his arm and was wearing…
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Protests hold up Phuket sea gypsy DNA results
PHUKET: DNA tests that could prove the residency of sea gypsies in Rawai and help them counter land claims of private investors seeking to evict them have been delayed due to the Bangkok Shutdown. The tests are being done on bones found last year buried in the dirt floor of a sea gypsy home. If there is a match between…
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Patong police delay action on tourist extortion claims
PHUKET: Patong Police Acting Superintendent Sakchai Limcharoen confirmed today that no immediate action will be taken over claims that officers under his new command stand accused of extorting money from tourists. The news follows Phuket expats who assist the Patong Police as Region 8 International Volunteers revealing in a public statement yesterday that several of them had resigned over an…
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Phuket teacher recovering after blood donations allow for safe surgery
PHUKET: Donors answering an urgent call for A-negative blood allowed doctors to perform a four-hour operation to repair the fractured leg of Phuket teacher Dean Jackson last night. Mr Jackson, a teacher from HeadStart International School, was injured when he fell off his motorbike and rushed to the hospital with a broken leg (story here). “We are pleased to announce…
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Breaking News: Phuket tourists rescued from sinking boat off Phi Phi
PHUKET: All 47 European and Asian tourists and five crewmen have been safely rescued from a Phuket tour boat that started taking on water in Phang Nga Bay earlier today. Capt Wichai Chairap, 40, called for help after the tour boat Andavaree 919 started to struggle amid strong waves near Koh Gai off the coast of Krabi at 11:30am. The…
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Phuket Business: Mövenpick appoints two new key vice presidents
PHUKET: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts recently announced two key new appointments – Jan Bundgaard has been internally promoted to the position of vice president of development, Europe and Africa, and Paul Mulcahy joins the company as vice president of distribution and revenue management. The two new members of the company’s corporate center team based in Zurich will be focusing on…
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Drug dealer turns in Phuket suppliers
PHUKET: Police seized more than 3.7 million baht of property after a Phuket drug dealer gave up his suppliers Tuesday night. “We first arrested Kiatipoom ‘Tak’ Rangubwong, 34, in possession of 338 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills,1.8 grams of ya ice (crystalmethamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia at his house on Thung Thong Road at about 11pm,” said Col Jaroon Bangprasert of the…
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Breaking News: Phuket expat volunteers quit over police corruption allegations
PHUKET: At least five long-term Phuket expats who have spent years assisting police as volunteers in Patong have resigned over allegations that police officers have extorted money from tourists. The Region 8 International Volunteers who work out of Kathu Police Station – the formal name for the police station in Patong – met today to discuss their concerns about working…
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Phuket expat volunteers strike amid Patong Police fallout
PHUKET: The ousting of Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan on Monday has prompted expat police volunteers in Phuket to go on strike. Expat police volunteers will no longer assist police or carry out their highly-praised night patrols of Patong until a clear structure is established, explained Wal Brown, long-term Phuket expat and head co-ordinator of the Royal Thai Police Region…
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Phuket Marine Police help thirsty sea gypsies
PHUKET: Koh Sireh sea gypsies received 6,000 liters of water yesterday after they told Phuket Marine Police they had a water shortage. “It is not our job to do this, but we have a good relationship with the Koh Sireh sea gypsies,” said Marine Police Inspector Chatchai Sakdee. “And if we can do something to help people, we will.” “When…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine
PHUKET: Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, with tensions high over its seizure of control in the Crimea and its threat to send more forces to its neighbour Ukraine. The Strategic Rocket Forces launched an RS-12M Topol missile from the southerly Astrakhan region and the dummy warhead hit its target at a proving…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Interpol fugitives nabbed in Bangkok; Police seize weapons in South; Thai billionaires hit 11; B20bn for rice farmers next week
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police seize several caches of weapons in raids The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Nakhon Si Thammarat police announced yesterday that they had seized 177 guns, 1,440 bullets and two M26 grenades from 179 suspects in raids and checkpoints from February 17-28.A self-proclaimed anti-government protest guard,…
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Phuket mini-crepe maker saved from sharks, gets gift of a lifetime
PHUKET: A Phuket vendor who saw his only source of livelihood – a mini-crepe cart – go up in smoke was able to avoid going to loan sharks to replace it because of help from an unlikely source, a New Zealander who has been to the province only twice. Prayoon Inpuang, 44, was preparing to sell mini-crepes in Phuket Town…
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Phuket speed cameras return to bypass road this week
PHUKET: Speed cameras on Phuket’s bypass road will be put back in position this week after officials removed them on Friday. “The pictures the cameras were taking at night were not clear or bright enough to identify license plates,” Lt Col Rungrit Rattanapagdee of the Phuket City Police told the Phuket Gazette yesterday morning. “We hired mechanics from Nextech System…
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Burning rubber in dry grass leads to flaming car
PHUKET: A man trying to free his girlfriend’s new car from the sand of a Phuket beach yesterday sent it up in flames instead. “My boyfriend tried for 30 minutes to drive out of the sand, but it wasn’t working, so we kept increasing our speed. Then the engine suddenly caught fire,” said Nutcharee Madkatep, 37. “I only bought the…
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Phuket Business: Making gym cool again
PHUKET: There sure are some exiting sports out there – diving, rock climbing, free running, gym fitness training… wait, the gym? It might be challenging and fulfilling but few would call it exciting. At least this is how things were up until now. A new place here in Phuket is on a mission to change that image. “Unit-27 has been…
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Phuket tuk-tuk blockade ousts Patong Police superintendent
PHUKET: A 200-strong tuk-tuk blockade last night ended with Phuket’s top cop agreeing to meet the drivers’ demands, which included transferring the Patong Police superintendent. The blockade formed after four tuk-tuk drivers were arrested yesterday afternoon for not allowing green plate taxi drivers to use public parking spots on Thaweewong Road, said Sakol Srisompoch, president of the Patong tuk-tuk drivers…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Inflation hits 7-month high; Construction companies adjust; Rice funds still lacking
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community February inflation hits 7-month high The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is likely to grow continuously in the following months because of the higher cost of raw materials and fresh foods amid rising concern over drought. The Commerce Ministry reported yesterday…
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Phuket Provincial Hall fails to re-open
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Hall did not re-open yesterday as anticipated after People’s Democratic for Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced the end of the Bangkok Shutdown. “As I told you on Saturday, the stage in front of Provincial Hall will remain standing until I receive word from Bangkok to dismantle it,” said Phuket protest co-ordinator Amnuay Kumban (story here).…
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Phuket restaurant owner saves the month for woman in Cherng Talay
PHUKET: A Phuket restaurant owner saved the day for a woman who left behind her entire month’s living allowance in a motorcycle basket Sunday morning. The 47-year-old Kamala restaurant owner found 6,620 baht and an identification card outside CP Fresh Mart in Cherng Talay, said Peerasit Noopayan of the Cherng Talay Police. “Pradit Samohthong came immediately to the station and…
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