Police in the northeastern province of Udon Thani yesterday arrested a thief claiming to have magical powers, after his “invisibility spell” failed to work. Thirty-two year old Anurak Promwang claims to have used the spell successfully many times in the past, and blames the removal of his trousers for his arrest. Security footage captured the thief in action, including the moment he left the building wearing just a shirt and underwear.

Officials say the Theerada Pharmacy in Udon Thani City was robbed. Security footage not only showed the thief in his underwear, revealing tattoos on his legs, but also his Toyota truck. At the suspect’s home officers found evidence including the truck, pliers and screwdrivers used to break into the store, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. They say this is not Anurak’s first time robbing a store and believe he has robbed at least 10 other businesses in the area.

PHOTO: The “invisible” thief captured on CCTV – Khaosod

Anurak was jailed 13 years ago for a drug offence. When released, he worked as a delivery driver in Bangkok, later returning home to Udon Thani to stay with his wife, with whom he had a child. Anurak told police he entered monkhood for eight years, during which time he “learned magic and got tattoos” that could help him. He says he mastered the “invisibility spell,” allowing him to rob at least 10 businesses without being caught.

Anurak believes he was just unlucky this time. While he was breaking into the shop, his trousers ripped and he wasn’t able to walk comfortably, so he took them off, leaving him in his underwear and exposing his tattoos. He believes this is the reason the spell didn’t work and he was caught on security footage.

SOURCE: Thai Residents

A grandpa in the northeastern province of Surin couldn’t take it anymore and decided to file a police report after a school principal gave his 10 year old grandson a head injury. The statement alleges that the principal threatened to beat the boy to death and to “eat the child’s liver with whisky.” 83 year old “Supon” filed the report at the Sanom Police Station in Surin Sanook News Team reports.

Supon alleges that the principal called his grandson in for a talk, and beat the boy on the head and arms so badly that the boy ended up with a bleeding 10 centimetre head wound. Officials went to inspect the school and a meeting took place with the school’s principal during which he admitted that the report was true.

Supon complained that what happened to his grandson shouldn’t happen in this day and age. The principal says he hit the child because he could no longer handle the boy’s behaviour. Every day the boy would be called in to meet the principal at least 3 times. He was angry and told the child that he should be beaten to death and his liver eaten with whisky. This scared the boy so badly he refused to go to school for 3 days.

Nattanee Anusasnan an official of the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, stated that the topic is very sensitive. “The boy is young and he is still learning. No matter how much he is acting out there should be a better solution than violence. Parents should understand if a child prefers book study or sports and choose appropriately the school that matches the child.”

PHOTO: Sanook

She hoped the boy’s parents and the principal could come to an agreement, but the case will be dealt with by police and according to law.

SOURCE: Thai Residents | Daily News

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha went to Korat, in the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province, scene of the shooting rampage earlier this month that left 30 dead and 58 wounded. He met with people and families affected by the massacre and offered compensation totalling tens of millions of baht. He and accompanying ministers met locals after praying for peace at the Thao Suranaree Monument, a memorial to a Thai heroine.

Prayut distributed financial aid and amulets at Nakhon Ratchasima City Hall to the injured, and to the families of those who died. The compensation from the Victims of Disaster Fund totalled 34.8 million baht.

The families of 24 out of 27 of the dead received one million baht each. Nineteen of 21 who suffered serious injury received 200,000 baht each,and 32 out of 36 people who suffered lesser injuries got 100,000 baht.

PHOTO: The PM offers compensation to victims – The Nation

There is also compensation under the Victim Compensation Act. The Nakhon Ratchasima provincial office is investigating damages to determine compensation for property damaged in the incident.

The PM later travelled to the Korat Terminal 21 mall, the scene of much of the slaughter, to inspect the place and boost the morale of shop operators and the public.

PHOTO: PM Prayut thanks rescuers – The Nation

SOURCE: The Nation