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Masked robbers with a shotgun and an M16 foiled by a single man in Phang-nga
PHANG NGA: Police are hunting for two men who used an M16 machine gun in a failed attempt to rob a snooker hall in Phang-nga on Monday night. The 35-year-old owner, who refuses to be named, filed a complaint about the attempted robbery with the police in Phang-nga Town yesterday morning, along with evidence from CCTV footage. The footage shows…
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Minister hammers Phuket Airport, alleging that women are allowed to touch monks
PHUKET: Phuket Airport Director Phet Chan-charoen made a statement yesterday after mass circulation Thai Rath newspaper reported that an unnamed ex-minster is criticizing the airport for allowing female security staff to use hand-held metal detectors to search monks, instead of strictly limiting that process to male inspectors. “We have investigated the incident. It occurred on May 1 when a monk…
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Army soldiers and Phuket police raid 16 massage parlors at Poonpol Night Plaza
PHUKET: Following an order by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, a ‘task force’ of 100 police and soldiers raided 16 massage venues in and near Poonpol Night Plaza last night. The raids were led by Capt Bhavorn Promkeawngam. The purpose of the operation was to suppress illicit behavior, including possession of drugs, working without a permit and human trafficking. Police say…
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Phuket International airport under fire for filthy, stinking toilets
PHUKET: Well known Thai actor Krirkphol Masayavanich has taken to Facebook to tell airport management that he’s not happy their toilets. Translated from Thai, the complaint reads: “The toilets [at the airport] are in serious need of attention. So dirty and stink terribly. I can’t even take a [xxit]!” Many comments under the post agree with him. Recently appointed Airport…
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Motorbike in Phuket worker’s kitchen explodes, reaps big damage in Thalang
PHUKET: A motorbike explosion caused a worker’s quarters in Phuket to catch fire last night, resulting in more than 100,000 baht in damages. Police have yet to learn why the bike exploded. Thalang police station received a report of the incident at about 10:30pm from the quarters in Baan Manik and dispatched fire fighters from the Phuket Disaster Prevention and…
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Double trouble for thief arrested in Phuket Town
PHUKET: A Phuket man who stole a motorbike and Buddhist artifacts, in two separate crimes, in order to buy drugs was arrested yesterday by Phuket City police. Following a June 14 complaint by a Ms Sopee Koodkrai, 51, that her motorbike had been stolen in front of her house in Phuket Town, the police located CCTV footage showing a male…
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Forestry and Wildlife officers on Koh Lanta seize 100 rai of violated land
KRABI: Department of Forestry and allied officials yesterday seized about 100 rai of Koh Lanta land that had been encroached upon by parties they characterized as ‘too powerful, unfazed by law and willing to threaten authorities with death’. More than 30 officials from several departments participated in the take-back, led by Wildlife Conservation Department head Sawat Suksiri. “Locals reported to…
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Good Thai-Myanmar relations highlighted at border management meeting in Phuket
PHUKET: The 31st meeting of the Thai Myanmar Regional Border Committee (RBC) was held at Patong Resort & Spa this morning to solve border problems and strengthen relationships. “In the past, Thailand and Myanmar have always helped each other to deal with border problems, and the purpose of this meeting today was to ensure continued cooperation for stability. Most importantly,…
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Driver leaped from truck moments before explosion, flip-over
PHUKET: A truck driver narrowly escaped death or serious injury by scrambling out of his truck before a wheel explosion flipped it over on the bypass road yesterday evening, causing a major traffic jam. “The incident occurred on the northbound side of the road near the Pornthip souvenir shop at about 7:30pm. We found the truck flipped over with a…
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Phuket teenaged delinquents in riot at juvenile observation center
PHUKET: A group of 12 juvenile delinquents wreaked havoc at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center (JOPC) at Saphan Hin yesterday afternoon, causing major damage there. At about 3:30pm, the Phuket City Police were called in to control the situation. The call came from JOPC Director Rawee Kuhapimook. “The riot was in the canteen, where 12 of the teens…
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Phuket soldier killed yesterday by bomb in Pattani honored, buried here this morning
PHUKET: At 11:30am yesterday (June 19), a car bomb in Pattani province killed 6 soldiers, including a Phuket man whose body arrived here late last night. Phuket Vice Governor Sanit Sriwihok and related officials honored the arrival of the body of Pvt Kittipong Bornar, 23, which traveled by car in a parade to honor the hero. “I feel deep sorrow…
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Phuket’s Mai Khao Beach disgraced in social media
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong is demanding fast action from officials in Sirinat National Park over a stream of complaints from tourists and local villagers about an accumulation of ‘huge’ amounts of trash on the beach at the threshold to the runway at Phuket International Airport. Access to that stretch of beach is through Soi Mai Khao 4, next to the…
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Cause of Phuket volunteer diver’s death continues under investigation
PHUKET: A volunteer diver died on duty while planting coral off Racha Yai island yesterday. Police are not sure about the cause of her death but are looking into personal health issues and the possibility that her tank ran out of air. The diver, Lakkana Sakunpong, 40, was on a volunteer job arranged by the Department of Marine and Coastal…
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Phuket police nab, charge man selling drugs to teenagers
PHUKET: A man from Sukhothai has been apprehended and charged with selling drugs to teenagers in Phuket. The arrest of Nawareuk Lekam, 35, was announced yesterday by Capt Amphon Samorthai of the border patrol police. The arrest occurred in front of a shop on Phuket’s Pattana Rd on June 15. “We learned from local police patrols that Mr Nawareuk had…
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Opinion: Medical Certificates – Who’s Fooling Whom?
PHUKET: As part of its ongoing reforms, the current government should revise or eliminate the Medical Certificate (bai raprawng phaet) as a requirement in so many government application procedures. In the process of renewing his work permit, this editorialist was recently handed a form citing, among numerous other documentary requirements, “a medical certificate certifying that the applicant is free from…
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Half a million baht worth of goods confiscated in Phuket raid
PHUKET: A Patong raid led to half a million baht’s worth of pirated goods being seized from 19 shops this morning. “After learning from our source that there were many shops selling pirated goods in Patong, we took teams of officers to the area for inspection. The shop owners managed to escape the scene as soon as we arrived,” said…
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King Cobra rescued and released
PHUKET: A king cobra was captured after it was found underneath the hood of a car parked at the ‘Nature and Wildlife Education Center’ at Khao Phra Thaew yesterday. The cobra was just over two meters long and weighed about 3kgs. It was released into a jungle near the center. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers arrived at the scene after locals…
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Thailand receives ranking upgrade for combating IUU fishing
PHUKET: The European Commission has formally upgraded Thailand’s fisheries ranking, citing the Kingdom’s efforts to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing over the past two years. Vice Admiral Surapol Kuptaphan, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, announced the news during a ‘Point of Contact’ marine resources conference with Andaman officials at Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday.…
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Technician injured from electric shock in Phuket
PHUKET: A 24-year-old man was injured from an electric shock after he accidentally stepped on a wire while fixing an electronic display sign in Kamala this morning. “The incident occurred in front of Tesco Lotus. The sign was located above a 7/11 store. Rescue workers climbed up a ladder to bring him down,” said Capt Chatchawan Poonaruemit of Kamala Police.…
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Phuket police issue warning against ‘belt guns’
PHUKET: Police have issued a warning about ‘belt guns’ after another drug dealer was caught in possession of one last week. Capt Kraisorn Boonprasob of Thalang Police yesterday held a press conference to display the weapon and warn against its potential dangers. The gun and bullets were seized from Bundit Chaiwandud, 38, who was charged with possession of category 5…
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Victim helps arrested bike thief in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Police arrested a motorbike thief at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town yesterday, about six hours after he made off with a bike that had been parked at Dragon’s Monument in Talad Yai. The suspect, 42-year-old Suraphol Punpek, had earlier this year been released from jail where he was serving a sentence for theft. The incident occurred sometime between 4am…
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Teenaged tourist drowns, four others rescued on Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Another Chinese tourist drowned and four others were rescued at Phuket beaches in two days, prompting the Phuket Governor to urge officials to find better safety solutions for tourists. The governor was present at the scene when the body of an 18-year-old Chinese tourist, Wei Peixin, washed up at Kamala Beach this morning after rescue workers were unable to…
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Aussie, Argentinian hospitalized after Krabi rock climbing accident
PHUKET: Two tourists were rescued but suffered serious injuries after falling off a cliff while rock climbing in Krabi yesterday. The accident occurred while climbing a cliff between Ao Ton Sai and Ao Pai Plong. Rescue teams, including tourist police, marine police and Nopparat National Park officers, went in search of them after the mishap was reported. Australian national Thomas…
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Phuket gov urges citizens to participate in PM’s poll
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor has invited citizens to respond to Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s televised and nationally broadcast poll regarding governance and politics in Thailand. The poll was launched on May 26, but June 12 marked the first day for citizens to submit their written responses. Day 1 drew in 264 people at Damrongdhama centers in Thalang, Muang, and…
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EGA launches ‘smart kiosks’ in Phuket
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong last week chaired a seminar titled ‘GovChannel Roadshow 2017: Digital Local Government’ at Novotel Phuket Phookeethra in Phuket Town. The seminar introduced the launch of a ‘smart kiosk’ at Big C supercenter, making Phuket the first province in the South to have one. “In continuation of the Smart City project, the GovChannel roadshow was…
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Body of missing swimmer found in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a Thai man who went missing after swimming in a red-flagged zone at Karon Beach on Sunday (story here) was found near Laem Sai yesterday. The victim, Arnon Rodjui, was found about 2km from where he first disappeared. Fishermen in the area informed Karon Police of a body floating near the rocks at about 3pm. “We…
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One missing, six rescued from drowning at Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Two Thai tourists were safely rescued while one is still missing after the trio went swimming in a red-flagged area at Karon Beach yesterday afternoon. The missing man, Arnon Rodjui, is originally from Samuthprakan, reported Col Charnarong Krongkue of Karon Police. Officers from the Karon Tourist Help Center and Karon Police searched for Mr Arnon using jet-skis this morning,…
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Phuket gov tightens security measures amid reports of bomb threats
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor has ordered a security boost in Phuket, particularly at crowded areas such as department stores and fresh markets, as well as at all entry and exit points such as Phuket International Airport, bus terminals, deep sea ports and checkpoints. Following reports of bomb threats in Phuket and bomb blasts in Bangkok last month (story here), Governor…
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20-passenger speedboat collides with another at Phuket pier
PHUKET: A speedboat carrying 20 passengers crashed with another at the Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew yesterday evening. No injuries were reported. A speedboat belonging to ‘Golden Dragon Tour 1’ was carrying passengers from Koh Phi Phi to Phuket when it collided with, and landed partly on top of, another speedboat, ‘K. Kanreab‘, which was not carrying any passengers at…
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Coldwell Banker launches operations in Phuket
PHUKET: American real estate firm Coldwell Banker this week announced its launch in Phuket. The agency has officially opened its doors in Baan Don Cherngtalay, bringing to the island the strength and reach of its global brand with a real estate network of 3,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 50 countries and territories, and more than 86,000…
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