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PACC Dives in on extortion charges
PHUKET: Charges of extortion lodged by 41 members of the Phuket dive industry will be investigated by national-level anti-corruption officers who arrived on the island today. Public-sector Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) Secretary Prayong Preeyachitt promised a thorough investigation that would conclude with legal action against any officer found guilty of extortion. The charges stem from a round-up of dive instructors…
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Phuket Poll: Better driver training best way to stop Patong Hill carnage
PHUKET: More than half of the respondents to a Phuket Gazette poll said that better training for tour bus drivers was the best way to stop the carnage on Patong Hill. Two people crushed to death by a runaway bus in December (story here) sent officials scrambling for ideas on how to prevent more needless deaths on the notorious slope…
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Phuket lounge chair touts battle boot campers for beach space
PHUKET: A Phuket exercise and beach-cleanup group saw an abrupt end to their activities on March 15 when lounge chair touts battled them for space on Nai Harn Beach. “Clean the Beach Boot Camp” is a free event held every two weeks aimed at bringing together local expats and giving back to the community, explains Krix Luther, the health and…
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Dynamic Without Fins competition next in the Phuket Suunto Series
PHUKET: The We Freedive Suunto Series continues this Sunday at Phuket Country Home in Chalong as competitors line up to participate in the “Dynamic Without Fins (DNF)” event. The event will be monitored by Association Internationale pour le Developpement de l’Apnee (AIDA) judges Sarah Whitcher and Richard Wonka. All competitors’ results will be entering the AIDA International ranking list. Those…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Vatican deposes German ‘bishop of bling’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Vatican deposes German ‘bishop of bling’ Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Vatican removed a German bishop on Wednesday because he spent 31 million euros ($43 million) of Church funds on an extravagant residence when Pope Francis was preaching austerity. It said the atmosphere in the…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Officials say 90 people still missing in Washington mudslide
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Officials say 90 people still missing in Washington mudslide Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The number of people missing after a landslide sent a wall of mud crashing into dozens of rural Washington state homes dropped to 90 on Wednesday, as officials reported finding more bodies…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Court drops Lese Majeste; Police deny beating Lak Si shooter; Bt3bn Australia-bound heroin bust in Ranong; Activists slam Thai seafood slavery
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Court drops Lese Majeste case over lack of strong proof The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Court of Appeal gave an alleged lese majeste offender the benefit of the doubt yesterday and acquitted him after the man’s computer notebook – confiscated by police – was…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Planes, ships race against bad weather in search for Malaysian jet debris field
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Planes, ships race to beat bad weather in search for Malaysian jet debris field Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Aircraft and ships scouring the southern Indian Ocean for wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 were racing to beat bad weather on Thursday and reach an area…
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Chalong Police called to answer diver extortion allegations
PHUKET: The Chalong Police have been ordered to explain in writing to Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut what transpired on March 10, when more than 20 foreign dive instructors were taken into custody at Chalong Pier. The foreigners were transported to Chalong Police Station in a police pick-up truck – and allegedly threatened with legal action if they did not pay…
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Mum’s nightmare a prelude to daughter’s disappearance becoming murder investigation
PHUKET: More than three months after 7-year-old Natthapa “Nong Dear” Papkaew disappeared, her mother had a nightmare that her beloved daughter had been raped by a tall man with a knife. Jaroon Papkaew, Nong Dear’s mother, woke from the horrific vision only to discover a graver nightmare: DNA tests confirming that the human remains found in a Chalong pine field…
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Officials inspect overflowing Phuket landfill, prepare for possible fires
PHUKET: Island officials yesterday visited Phuket’s overloaded waste management facility and took steps to ensure that any fire there could be quickly contained. The inspection followed the news of a blaze that erupted in a garbage disposal site in Samut Prakan province on March 16 (story here) and adversely affected many locals in the area. “I have asked Prachum Suriya,…
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Thalang triumph over ICC at ACG
PHUKET: In Sunday’s JLL league match, the Thalang cricket team chased down 143 runs in 22.4 overs at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) to defeat the Island Cricket Club (ICC). In their first encounter of the season on February 9th. ICC set the record for the lowest team total on the ACG of just 37 runs. Winning the toss this…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Chinese families clash with police, slam Malaysia over lost plane
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chinese families clash with police, slam Malaysia over lost plane Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Dozens of angry relatives of passengers on a lost Malaysian jetliner clashed with police in Beijing on Tuesday, accusing the Southeast Asian country of “delays and deception” a day after it…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Bus ravine plunge leaves dozens dead; Grenades rock Bangkok; NSC chief gets his job back
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bus plunges into ravine in Tak, killing 29, injuring 23 The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A double-decker bus plunged into a ravine in Tak province on Monday night, killing 29 passengers* and injuring 23 others. Most of them were elderly people. As of press time,…
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New bypass road opens for Phuket travellers
PHUKET: The new road that will allow drivers travelling between Patong and Chalong to bypass the Darasamuth Intersection in front of Central Festival officially opened to the public yesterday morning. The new route, officially dubbed the Muang-Naka Road by Governor Maitri Inthusut, is just one part of an overall project to improve traffic flow throughout the island (story here). The…
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Phuket kidnapping suspect wanted by Russian Police
PHUKET: Police heading the investigation into the alleged kidnapping of Iana Strizheus and Alexey Slabinskiy have confirmed that one of the two main suspects is a Russian fugitive. “We are aware that Ukrainian Oleksandr Boychuk, 44, is wanted by the Russian Police,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arun Kaewvatee told the Phuket Gazette. “We know only that he was wanted…
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Chalong Police chief denies Phuket dive industry shakedowns
PHUKET: Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Dazintharasorn has publicly denied that any of his officers are – or have been – involved in arresting and extorting money from foreign dive instructors in Phuket. Col Krittapas’ denial of corruption among his officers follows more than 20 dive instructors being rounded up at Chalong Pier (map here) and taken to Chalong Police Station…
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Phuket Gov warns against showing ‘too much’ skin during Songkran
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut issued a warning yesterday about showing too much skin during the Thai New Year Songkran Festival next month. “Tourists need to be aware of how they dress and of their surroundings when participating in the Songkran Festival. Please do not just wear a bikini, as it might make you a target for sexual harassment,” said…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rohingya trafficking cargo ships seized off Ranong
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rohingya trafficking cargo ships seized off Ranong The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Coast guards in Ranong seized three fishing boats for illegal modifications believed to have been done to smuggle Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh through Thailand. Lt Thaweeporn Khanathong, who is with the…
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Sister of Russian missing in Phuket offers B500,000 reward
PHUKET: The sister of missing Russian Alexey Slabinskiy has offered half a million baht for information leading to the arrest of the two men believed to be involved in his disappearance. An additional 100,000 baht is offered to whoever finds her brother. WANTED: Olexsande Boychuk. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong Mr Slabinskiy disappeared with his girlfriend, Iana Strizheus, on March 7 (story…
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A moving meditation
PHUKET: Making a guest appearance at the Aikido of Phuket dojo across from Bangkok Hospital, Aikido Grand Master Nobuo Maekawa exceeded my per-conceived expectations of the quintessential Japanese martial artist. Small in stature but huge in confidence, aging but incredibly able and agile, lighthearted yet deeply philosophical and reflective. “It is a moving meditation. Blend, like cafe au lait. If…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama seeks allied, China support as Ukraine exits Crimea
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama seeks allied, China support as Ukraine exits Crimea Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama sought support from European allies and China on Monday to isolate Russia over its seizure of Crimea, and Ukraine told its remaining troops to leave the region after…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: At least 32 dead as bus plunges into ravine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community At least 32 dead as bus plunges into ravine The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: At least 32 passengers died and many others were injured when their chartered bus plunged into a ravine in Tak’s Muang district last night. Police were alerted at about 7.30pm that…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Suthep rallies as DSI mulls next move; Abhisit faces 2010 charges; Trawler crew eyed for murder
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community DSI mulls more action against PDRC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will combine its investigation into People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) moves to stop voters from casting their ballot on February 2 with allegations of insurrection, for which PDRC…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Malaysia says jet crashed in sea; bad weather halts search
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia says jet crashed in sea; bad weather halts search Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Bad weather and rough seas on Tuesday forced the suspension of the search for any wreckage of a missing Malaysian jetliner that officials are now sure crashed in the remote Indian…
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Phuket black water problem to be taken on by Bangkok officials
PHUKET: In an effort to combat the black water debacle in Karon, officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to temporarily relinquish control of wastewater management in the area to the Wastewater Management Authority of Thailand (WMA). “Municipality officers signed the MoU on March 13. It allows the WMA to take charge,” Director of Regional Environmental Office 15 Pornsri Suthanaruk…
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Three Phuket candidates registered to battle it out for Patong mayor
PHUKET: Three candidates have registered to fight for the position of mayor in Phuket’s premier resort town of Patong in the upcoming April 26 election. “Kittisan Kuru of the Patong Gao Na (Patong Progress) Party and former town council member was the last candidate to register today at 8:30am,” Patong Municipality Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Poonsak Naksena told the Phuket…
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Myanmar Embassy Official visits Phuket over allegations of workers’ rights violations
PHUKET: The Labour Attache to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok landed in Phuket on Friday to dig into allegations by Myanmar construction workers of labor law violations. “I came down to Phuket to follow up on a complaint on March 5 against Nantawan Co, Ltd, which employs about 200 workers from Myanmar,” said Kyaw Kyaw Lwin, Mr Lwin had just…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt sentences 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt sentences 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Egyptian court sentenced 529 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to death on charges including murder on Monday, a defence lawyer said, in a sharp escalation of a crackdown on the movement.…
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Northern Phuket at full flush as water supply restored
PHUKET: Water supply throughout huge residential areas of northern Phuket returned today after waterworks crews completed repairs to a main that burst in Baan Bang Jo, Cherng Talay, on Saturday (story here). “The burst main left residents in Cherng Talay, Koh Keaw, Rassada, Koh Sireh, Srisoonthorn and Baan Porn, Srisuchart and the Rock Garden housing development without mains supply over…
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