Thailand
Teen drowns in swamp during Thai boy scout challenge

A teenage scout drowned yesterday after jumping in a swamp during a mock war with teachers who were throwing rocks at the students, acting as if the stones were bombs. The teen was later reported missing when he did not return home. It took divers 4 hours to search the 3-metre deep swamp and find 15 year old Noppakao Sita’s body.
Police say the Wat Na Ban Kor School in the Isaan province Kalasin had sent the students out to the nearby swamp for scout activities. Reports say teachers were throwing rocks at the students. The students pretended the rocks were bombs and jumped into the swamp, dodging the stones. Police suspect Noppakao did not know how to swim and was forced to participate in the activity.
At around 2pm, people noticed Noppakao was missing because he did not return home. According to Nation Thailand, a report was not filed with police until 8pm.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Crime
Immigration police arrest Frenchman on drug charges, 3 other foreigners for overstay

Immigration police arrested a French man who was allegedly involved in a crime network who allegedly smuggled cannabis, and arrested 3 other foreigners on overstay charges. Police say the crime network sold cannabis to foreigners living in tourist cities in Thailand.
Officers say they suspect there are more people involved in the alleged smuggling operation on the Eastern seaboard, which includes Chon Buri and Rayong. Police are now launching an investigation.
Police were tipped off earlier this year about an alleged French gang selling cannabis to tourists. Apparently, the drug suspects would rent rooms to store the cannabis and frequently change locations. Foreigners had rented a room off a soi in Bangkok, but the manager noticed they were acting suspicious. No one appeared to actually be living in the room and people would stop by the room for less than an hour, the manager told police.
Police arrested a man who was stopping by the room. Officers say the 28 year old, identified as Samy, had a suitcase filled with dried cannabis and scales. He faces charges for possession and distribution of a Category 5 narcotic.
The police went to the man’s apartment in the Charoen Nakhon area and arrested 2 French nationals, ages 27 and 28, and a 29 year old woman from the UK for overstaying their visas. Police say they had thrown cannabis and smoking equipment out the window before officers entered the room.
SOURCE: Thai Visa
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Crime
Thailand hoping to be upgraded to a Tier 1 nation in anti-human trafficking efforts

Thailand is hoping its newest anti-human trafficking report will earn an upgrade from the US from Tier 2 to Tier 1. The report was submitted to the Washington’s Trafficking in Persons Report. Deputy government spokeswoman, Rachada Dhnadirek, said the government is ready to be upgraded after remaining on Tier 2 for 3 years in a row. Those nations who fall on the Tier 2, are deemed to not be fully complying with the minimum standards set out in the US’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Those on the Tier 2, however, are supposed to be making efforts to comply with the minimum standards.
Before 2018, Thailand was placed in Tier 3, which is for nations who don’t fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making efforts to do so. Then, Thailand was upgraded to Tier 2 after making progress compared to the previous year.
Rachada says Thailand submitted the 2020 TIP Report on February 2 and a report on progress in its anti-human trafficking operations from January to March of this year to the US embassy on April 3. The data includes the number of arrests and punishments for human-trafficking offences. Thailand also has created a new plan, making it the first in Asia to introduce such a plan. That plan is called the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
Rachada says now Thailand is processing human trafficking cases more quickly by shortening the investigation time to 70 days as of last year. In 2015, the investigation time was 118 days. She says the country has also set up centres to help LGBT human-trafficking victims as well as helping migrant workers with work-related issues.
Thailand has also introduced the PROTECT-U app for smartphones in which human-trafficking victims can access protection and launch complaints in 7 different languages. The app was developed by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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Crime
Phuket man shot by off-duty police officer now paralysed

A 25 year old Phuket man who was allegedly beaten and shot by an off-duty, drunken police officer, will never walk again as he remains paralysed in the hospital. The news, according to doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital, comes after Aroon Thongplab, was shot from a close range, with the bullet hitting his spine.
The man was a noodle vendor and was collecting a bowl from a customer on Bangla Road when he was allegedly shot by Pornthep Channarong of the Phuket Provincial Police at around 6am. Doctors told his wife about his prognosis after he woke up from a coma and underwent surgery to increase his prospects of being able to sit up. His wife, who is only known by her surname as Kulthida, told The Phuket News that she received news that he would never walk again.
“He cannot feel or move the lower part from his waist. Doctors just gave him spine surgery last week, so that he can sit. However, the doctors cannot assure that the surgery will work. We have to wait to see if his recovery goes well along with physiotherapy.”
Pornthep was discharged from the Royal Thai Police less than a day after he allegedly shot the noodle vendor. Now, he is facing charges of attempted murder, firing a weapon in a public area, and carrying a firearm in a public area without a necessary reason. But those charges have come slowly, according to Kulthida.
“I have already asked Patong Police, and they told me that at this stage the report to file (with the public prosecutor) is about 90% complete. I am also waiting for a notice from the court. Today, officers from Region 8 Police came to the hospital to question Aroon, but he has not been able to speak… I asked them about the bail conditions, and they told me that the suspect is still in jail.”
The Phuket Provincial Court is allowing Pornthep to go out on bail, despite the Royal Thai Police asking the court to keep in locked up.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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Issan John
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 5:26 pm
Beyond stupid, followed by complete incompetence.
This should be criminal negligence, with an appropriate prison sentence, not just a payout from taxpayers’ funds.
Catman
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 5:52 pm
Why would they stand there and take a photo with the poor boys body? This isn’t a photo opportunity.
Ian
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 8:54 pm
Welcome to Thailand Catman I was fishing in khun han and they did same with a snail fisherman who drowned, taking photos of body and rescuers
Ian
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 9:15 pm
I cant help agreeing with ij why wasn’t the children supervised and a head count if this was UK the teacher or teachers would be arrested for manslaughter I feel for the parents a tragedy that should never have happened so sad to lose a child .
Sanuk
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 9:29 pm
A photo op with a dead body? that is deplorable and strange.
Somchai
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 10:11 pm
NO risk assessment, no planning, no analytical thinking, THIS IS THAILAND
michael cooksey
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 10:45 pm
My thoughts exactly. Where is the newsworthiness of that picture?
toby andrews
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 11:47 pm
A few years back there was a magazine in Thailand that showed traffic accident victims and murder victims.
It was in Thai and was popular!????
Fred glue
Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 9:14 am
It was too Toby, I remember now, it showed everything.
Issan John
Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 10:02 am
“No risk assessment, no planning, no analytical thinking, THIS IS THAILAND”
Unfortunately it’s not just “THAILAND” but it’s not unusual all too often, and lessons are seldom learnt unless and until people and organisations are held responsible. Look at heat stroke casualties in the British Army despite all the regs and precautions – there’s no excuse anywhere.
In this case it shouldn’t be the school and consequently the taxpayers who are held responsible but the individuals and the Boy Scouts, where this happens far too often.
Issan John
Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 10:30 am
“A photo op with a dead body? that is deplorable and strange”
By Western standards, yes, it’s ghoulish, but not by many others – to others it just shows the divers paying respect to the family and the recovered body having done their job successfully.
In many cultures parents and families would expect it, out of respect, and not taking such a photo would be tantamount to wanting to hide the body away, like a piece of refuse.
In the West you honour soldiers killed in war time by putting their names on a war memorial so “their name liveth for ever more”, or family by naming a charity or foundation after them. For aborigines, though, that’s the ultimate in disrespect and you shouldn’t even say their name out loud.
It may be “strange” to us if we don’t try to understand it, but that shouldn’t make it “deplorable”.
Wayno
Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Only the sick minded Thais would think about posing for a photo with a dead child. A strange breed of people
Issan John
Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Alternatively, Wayno, only sick minded people would treat a dead child as a piece of refuse to be put in a bag and hidden away rather than accorded respect that the parents and family can see.
It all depends on your perspective.
Thomas H.
Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 10:30 am
Issan John, thanks for your comments about customs around death. A little effort at understanding goes a long way and you taught me new things.