News
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German youth arrested for sexual abuse of young boys
PATONG, PHUKET: A 17-year-old German national has confessed to charges of sexually molesting young boys following an investigation by the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) and Kathu Police. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested at 11.30 pm in Rawai on Monday. The German is accused of conspiring to sexually abuse two young boys together with…
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Red Cross Vigo auction on March 18
PHUKET CITY: The Toyota Vigo that was top prize in the 2009 Phuket Red Cross Fair raffle is to be auctioned on March 18. The 650,000-baht pick-up remained unclaimed at the midnight deadline on Saturday February 28, prompting the auction. Bidding will take place at the Phuket Red Cross Office on Narisorn Rd. Prospective buyers should arrive at the office…
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Thai AirAsia to add direct Hong Kong flights in June
PHUKET / BANGKOK: Thai AirAsia is planning to start direct flights between Phuket and Hong Kong in June and will push Phuket as a second hub in Thailand. An executive of the budget airline said daily flights between the two cities would use new A320s, scheduled for delivery in June. Phuket will be given more links with major destinations in…
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Drowning victim’s body recovered off Rawai
RAWAI, PHUKET: A fishing trip ended in tragedy on Sunday, when a small fiberglass boat with three men aboard sank in a storm off Koh Bon in Rawai. Kathu resident Attakorn Chaiboon, 40, drowned in the accident, which happened at around 8.30 pm. His body was finally recovered from the sea at 3.10 pm on Tuesday. Two survivors, 33-year-old Sittichai…
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Gov Preecha transferred out in civil service reshuffle
PHUKET: Governor Preecha Ruangjan is to be transferred to Phitsanuloke province in the north of Thailand, a source in the Governor’s Office has confirmed. Dr Preecha, a native of Phichit province (which borders Phitsanuloke), was appointed as governor of Phuket less than five months ago under the government of Somchai Wongsawat and his now disbanded People Power Party (PPP). Dr…
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Body of Caucasian woman recovered at sea
AO MAKHAM, PHUKET: The body of a Caucasian woman was this morning found floating near the site of the sinking of the Choke Somboon 19, which capsized about 12 nautical miles off Phuket on Sunday night. For the original story, click here. The identity of the woman has not yet been confirmed. Her body, recovered by a Royal Thai Navy…
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Strong evidence against alleged British pedophile: Kathu Police
PATONG, PHUKET: A British man arrested for allegedly molesting four young boys was returned to Kathu Police Station for a press conference last night, but the conference was delayed pending the arrest of a second suspect on similar charges. A team of Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers, with the assistance of Kathu Police, arrested 41-year-old UK national Dax J.…
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Seven still missing after freak storm sinks boat near Phuket
PHUKET: Following the sinking of a boat last night that was carrying tourists returning to Phuket from a diving trip near the Similan islands, six foreign tourists and one Thai member of the boat’s crew are still missing. Police have issued the following list of seven people who were on the boat but remain unaccounted for: German national Ms Jetzinger…
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Boat sinks off Phuket, six still missing
BANGKOK / PHUKET: A boat carrying foreign scuba divers sunk off Phuket province late last night. Six of the divers are still missing. The Royal Thai Navy base in Phuket was alerted this morning by a tour operator whose boat, carrying 31 divers, failed to arrive at Chalong Pier (at Phuket island’s southern tip) at 2am as scheduled. The company…
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Jyoti scuba dives his way to win the Singha Thailand Open
LAGUNA PHUKET: After starting the day as joint leader in the final day of the Singha Thailand Open golf tournament in Phuket, Indian national Jyoti Randhawa won the four-day event to take home the King’s Cup and nearly US$80,000. Jyoti led at the 40th Singha Thailand Open at the start of today’s play with fellow Indian SSP Chowrasia and Welshman…
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Another murder as meatball dispute turns fatal
RASSADA, PHUKET: A dispute between rival meatball (look chin) vendors ended in murder last night when one man slashed the other’s throat and left him lying dead in a pool of his own blood. The murderer turned himself in to police soon after, claiming that he had acted in self defense. Phuket City Police Duty Inspector Peeraphan Meemak was informed…
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Six arrested in Degioanni murder case
PATONG, PHUKET: The suspected mastermind behind the murder of Canadian real estate developer Francis Alex Degioanni is in police custody. Police say Singaporean national Go Li Fun, 32, confessed she had Mr Degioanni killed after he refused to pay several million baht in personal loans. Better known as “Diana”, the Singaporean is alleged to have paid four men from Petchaburi…
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Smash scatters workmen over Thepkrassatri Rd
SRISOONTHORN, PHUKET: A pickup truck with nine workmen in its rear crashed into the back of a 10-wheeled truck, scattering its human cargo over Thepkrassatri Rd in Baan Lipon, Phuket, early Tuesday night. Nine men were injured in the incident, though none seriously hurt. An image of the aftermath of the smash can be seen here. The 10-wheeled truck had…
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Drug crackdown in Patong pubs
PATONG, PHUKET: Kathu Police last night dispatched three groups of officers to conduct random drug checks of staff and patrons at nightclubs in Phuket. One group of officers checked bars along Soi Bangla, another group checked bars along the beach road, and a third group went to Phang Muang and Sirirat Roads at the south end of Patong. Kathu Police Inspector…
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Senate panel proposes ‘Special Economic Zone’ status for Phuket
BANGKOK / PHUKET: A special Senate committee proposed this afternoon that the government turn Phuket into a Special Economic Zone [SEZ] for tourism to facilitate tourism developments on the island province. Songkram Chuenban, the chairman of the ad hoc panel, said the committee made a trip to the province and found that it had a lot of problems that could…
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Five arrested for Degioanni murder
KATHU, PHUKET: Kathu Police have arrested five men in connection with the murder in Phuket of Canadian real estate developer Francis Alex Degioanni. One man was arrested yesterday and a further four today, following the issuance of arrest warrants. Police were unwilling to release the suspects’ names at the time of filing this report. It is understood that the mastermind…
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Father and son die in horror crash
MAI KHAO, PHUKET: A man was decapitated and his son killed after their 22-wheel tractor-trailer overturned on the notorious Kho En “death bend” on Thepkrassatri Rd on Monday night. Suchakorn Veruvannarak, 39, was driving the rig to Rassada Harbor with his 4-year-old son Suchasit and another man, Atisorn Chukorn, when the accident occurred during heavy rains at about 10:30 pm.…
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Tee time! Singha Thailand Open underway
LAGUNA PHUKET: The 2009 Singha Thailand Open golf tournament starts today, with the stars of the Asian Tour well prepared after several practice days on the fairways and greens of the modified Laguna Phuket championship course. Among those with high hopes to win the event is Thai superstar Thongchai Jaidee, fresh from his victory at last week’s Indonesian Open. The…
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Fire on Soi Kebsup
PATONG, PHUKET: A fire broke out at the Kebsup Shopping Plaza along the beach road in Patong last night, causing over a million baht in damage – but no injuries. The blaze broke out at around midnight at one of the many stalls selling tourist-oriented items at the mouth of the soi, well known for its tailor shops, bars and…
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Phuket roads among Thailand’s most dangerous
PHUKET CITY: Phuket is among Thailand’s top five provinces in terms of the number of road injuries and deaths each year, according Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Chalit Tinthanee. Figures from state hospitals in Phuket show that in 2008 there were 13,840 injuries and 136 deaths resulting from road accidents. Actual figures are significantly higher, as admissions to Phuket’s three…
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Dead dugong likely killed by fishing equipment
AO PANWA, PHUKET: An examination of a dead dugong found floating in Phang Nga Bay late last month suggests it died suddenly of injuries sustained though contact with fishing equipment, a leading marine biologist has revealed. A ferry found the female dugong on February 27 and its crew brought the 1.6-meter, 86-kilogram carcass to the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC)…
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Arrest warrant issued for Farang Restaurant killing
PHUKET CITY: Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man suspected of carrying out the murder of the owner of the popular Farang restaurant chain. Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit gave the name of the wanted man as Prapan Inkong, 27. He declined to release the man’s address or other information for fear of jeopardizing the investigation. Police…
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Top cop expects arrests in three murder cases ‘soon’
PHUKET CITY: The Royal Thai Police Region 8 Commander has ordered Phuket Provincial Police and three local police stations to expedite their investigations into three high-profile murders that have taken place on the island in just the past ten days – two involving foreigners. After meeting with the heads of the Kathu, Phuket City and Tung Tong Police Districts where…
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TDA cleanup day at Khok Kloy on Wednesday
PHUKET CITY: The Thai Dive Association (TDA) and Phang Nga Provincial Office will on Wednesday (March 4) hold a beach and sea cleanup at Khok Kloy Beach, just over the Sarasin Bridge in Phang Nga. The event is sponsored by Eden Divers and Aqua Divers Phuket, who will provide the necessary equipment such as trash bags, scissors and gloves. All participants…
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Temple booze ban campaign launched
PHUKET CITY: Temple fair enthusiasts take note: it is now not only immoral to drink on temple grounds – it is also illegal. This is the message of a new “Temples are not Bars; Salas are not Gambling Dens” campaign launched by Phuket Governor Preecha Ruangjanon on February 26. The campaign was launched as part of a merit-making ceremony at Manik…
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Police probe finds TTVI’s Col Pornprasert guilty of misappropriation
PHUKET CITY: The Royal Thai Police (RTP) force has concluded its one-year investigation into alleged malfeasance by the senior officer responsible for finances at the Thai Tsunami Victim Identification (TTVI) center. The panel has found Col Pornprasert Karnjanarin guilty of misappropriating funds and will now move to have him dismissed from the force. Charges of malfeasance were filed against Col…
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Laguna Phuket promo: 100,000 room nights free!
CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: Laguna Phuket is giving away 100,000 complimentary room nights at its six resort hotels for guests who book online in March. The “100,000 Smiles in Laguna Phuket” promotion is being run in co-operation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which will help to market the initiative. TAT Governor Phornsiri Manoharn and Laguna Phuket Managing Director Michael…
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Toyota Vigo winner out there somewhere
PHUKET CITY: For those who bought raffle tickets at the 2009 Phuket Red Cross Fair, it might be worth taking another look at the number – you may have won a Toyota Vigo. The 650,000-baht vehicle was the top prize in the annual raffle at the fair, but it remains unclaimed seven weeks after the January 9 draw. The deadline for claiming…
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Gov Preecha downplays spoiled milk scare
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Preecha Ruangjan on Monday sought to downplay concerns following the latest in a series of scandals involving the distribution of spoiled milk to Thai schoolchildren. The governor was speaking in the wake of an incident on February 13, when a consignment of spoiled milk was sent to Laem Panwa School in Wichit district. Upon inserting straws…
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Grandmother killed in tour bus smash
MAI KHAO, PHUKET : A 69-year-old grandmother was killed instantly this morning when a tour bus veered off the center of the road and hit her at high speed. The victim, Mali Burakhan, was pushing her bicycle along Thepkrassatri Rd back to her home in Mai Khao Village 3 at the time of the tragedy. The bus, a double-decked air…
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