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American extradited on child molestation charges
PHUKET (Gazette, Nation, Kom Chad Luek): A man wanted for child molestation by police in the US state of Missouri was arrested Tuesday afternoon and has been turned over to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for extradition.During questioning, the suspect, Earl Russel Bonds, tried to kill himself by cutting his left wrist with scissors, but police seized the…
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Boat explodes, sinks at Boat Lagoon
KOH KAEW: Two Thai men are being treated for serious burns in the intensive-care unit (ICU) at Vachira Phuket Hospital after the speedboat they were working on exploded at the Boat Lagoon about 11:30 am today.Eyewitness Pisek Manasit told the Gazette that the gas tank on board the 35-foot fiberglass speedboat Sakila 6 caught fire and exploded within minutes.“The fire started…
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Young writers set to jet to Dublin
BANGKOK (Nation): The winners of the 4th Annual Junior IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards for Thailand were announced yesterday.The writing competition theme, “If We Could Change the World” proved challenging enough to attract entries from almost 1,000 students throughout country.The competition was open to Thai students between 14 and 18 from Thailand’s four main regions – North, Northeast, South and Bangkok/Central.…
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Abbot killed in “chicken shoot’
KAMPHAENG PHET: A temple abbot was shot dead February 5 after one of his students mistook him for a chicken. Phra Khru Silwachirakan, known to his followers as Luang Por Pheuan, the abbot of Wat Traiphum in Phrankratai district, was tending cattle belonging to the wat with three followers, Phra Pui, 27, Sanong Phobanlang, 37, and Buntham Phairoj, 54, when…
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Seaplanes ordered to land further from Patong shore
PHUKET: Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatvichai this morning confirmed that Destination Air has been ordered to land its seaplanes further from the shore at Patong Bay. “After flying with Destination Air, I can now understand the noise problem, even though the planes require only about one-and-a-half minutes to take off. “The planes should not disturb the tourists on Patong Beach much, but they still…
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Frenchman charged with shoplifting
PATONG: A 68-year-old Frenchman has been charged with stealing leather goods valued at more than 30,000 baht from the Findig store on the Patong beach road.Capt Naruwat Phutharaviro of Kathu Police Station told the Gazette that he received a call from Findig shop manager Nathaya Prasomthong, 34, at 4:20 pm yesterday.K. Nathaya reported that a well-dressed foreign tourist had been…
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PPHO to clear the haze on smoking ban
PHUKET: While the ban on smoking in air-conditioned areas in bars, restaurants and nightclubs came into effect in Bangkok last night, entertainment venue and restaurant operators in Phuket have a temporary reprieve.Venue operators and smokers found breaking the new law in Phuket will not be fined until after the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has launched a public awareness campaign,…
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Gambling and drugs crimes down in January
PHUKET: The number of gambling and drugs arrests in Phuket fell in January compared with the previous month, according to monthly crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police.In January, there were 177 arrests for gambling and 101 arrests for drug-related offenses, 55 of which involved ya bah (methamphetamine) with a total of 1,065.5 pills seized.Twenty-six people were arrested for using…
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Concerns grow for missing Dane
PATONG: Danish tourist Henrik Rasmussen, 47, remains missing despite a reward of 10,000 baht for information that helps find the holidaymaker. Mr Rasmussen, who suffers from Down syndrome, disappeared from the Royal Paradise Hotel on January 28. “He left the hotel around 4:30 am to look for his lost mobile phone. We haven’t heard from him since,” said Mr Rasmussen’s cousin…
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Local tourism leaders voice support for Weerasak
PHUKET: Leading figures in Phuket’s tourism industry have expressed satisfaction with the naming of Chart Thai Party member Weerasak Kowsurat as the new Tourism and Sports Minister in the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.K. Weerasak, 43, is Deputy Secretary of the Chart Thai Party. He has a master’s degree in law from Harvard University. Originally from Ubon Ratchathani…
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Police shoot out tires to end driving spree
PHUKET CITY: A high-speed chase through Phuket City came to an end about midday on Monday when police shot out the tires of a pickup being driven by a man suffering from severe stress, with the pickup crashing into a concrete pole on Soi Korpai, off Phuket Rd.Phuket City Police Duty Officer Maj Keerati Triwai told the Gazette that Kusoldharm…
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Major break-ins reported
PHUKET: Police on Thursday reported two major robberies, including a daylight break-in at the residence of a high-ranking civil servant.The first robbery took place in Pa Khlok late last Tuesday night or early last Wednesday morning.Pol Maj Seksan Komsakorn of the Thalang Police told the Gazette that the break-in was reported by Winai Rattanawittayaporn, owner of the Bang Pae Wassadu…
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Lustful teens get lewd in local library
NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: Most parents would be happy to know that their teenagers were spending their free time hanging out in the library. What better place could there be to engage in some extracurricular learning and curl up with a good book? In Nakhon Sri Thammarat public library, however, teenagers have been curling up for some X-rated extracurricular activities –…
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Rasta roadie nearly roasted at roadside
NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: A sound technician for the popular Thai reggae band “Marijuana” almost went up in smoke January 17, after the fuel system he had just installed in his sedan malfunctioned and exploded. The technician, identified only as Charin, was driving from Surat Thani to Nakhon Sri Thammarat when he was almost lit up. He was on his way…
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Spineless heroes
LOPBURI: Dogs and horses are known for their faithful service in law-enforcement activities. In Lopburi Province, however, police recently found a new animal ally – the humble leech. On the evening of January 13, Pol Lt Col Theerayuth Yungthong, investigation inspector at Lopburi Muang District Police Station, received a call from the headman of Village 6 in Tambon Khao Sam…
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Rogue monks defrocked after temple-‘tech raid
NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: Places of worship are not generally considered the best places to swig booze and get down to some bangin’ dance tracks. However, three young monks in Nakhon’s Wat Suan Pan turned their dormitory cell into a makeshift disco. News of the temple ‘tech came when neighbors told police that they had seen some monks leading a number…
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New Phuket Airport director aims for expansion
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport (PIA) appointed 54-year-old Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop as the airport’s new director on February 1, replacing former-Director Squadron Leader Pornchai Eua-aree, who has been transferred to the Airports of Thailand (AOT) headquarters in Bangkok. K. Wicha returns to PIA after spending the past four months as Director of Haad Yai International Airport. Before transferring to Haad…
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City Hall officer found hanged
PHUKET CITY: The body of Boonsri Sai-ngarm, 59, an officer at Phuket City Hall, was found hanged from a stair rail at her house on Saturday afternoon.A neighbor discovered the body and alerted police to the house on Mae Luan Rd, said Pol Lt Col Sompong Boonrat, deputy superintendent of Phuket City Police Station.“We found no wounds or signs of a…
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Danish tourist missing in Patong
PATONG: A reward of 10,000 baht is being offered for information that helps to find Danish tourist Henrik Rasmusen, 47, who was last seen about 10:30 pm on January 27 at the Royal Paradise Hotel, where he was staying.Mr Rasmusen, who has Down’s Syndrome, is tall, slim, has gray hair and a light gray beard and mustache.Anyone with information that may help locate…
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New animal shelter nears completion
PHUKET: The Soi Dog Foundation (SDF) has announced that a new dog shelter, animal hospital and education center will open next month in Mai Khao. Situated on 10 rai, the new facilities will not replace the government-run dog pound in Thalang, where the SDF has been operating for the past 15 months. In November, the SDF received a letter from…
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Aussies top tourist arrivals for Q1-3 2007
PHUKET CITY: When all the figures are in, tourist arrivals to Phuket in 2007 are expected to exceed five million and generate as much as 70 billion baht in revenue, Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) Vice-President Bhuritt Maswongsa said yesterday morning.At a meeting chaired by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit at Phuket Provincial Hall, K. Bhuritt said that Tourism Authority of Thailand…
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Officers befuddled by seaplanes in Patong
PHUKET CITY: Destination Air seaplanes landing and taking off near the Amari Coral Beach Resort have left government officers in a spin about what to do with complaints about noise, safety and even fuel left floating in the planes’ wakes.At a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, Kathu District Chief Khantee Silapa said, “For nearly three months I have received complaints from…
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Gov calls for “right’ Tourism Minister
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday called on the new central government to appoint a Minister of Tourism and Sports who will push through the “mega-projects” Gov Niran believes will aid Phuket’s development.At the Phuket Provincial Security Committee meeting at Katina Hotel, Gov Niran said that after seven years as Phuket Vice-Governor and one year as Governor, Phuket still…
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Man charged for robbing Adrian Zecha’s villa
PHUKET CITY: Police yesterday announced that they had arrested a man for allegedly robbing Adrian Zecha’s villa at the exclusive Amanpuri, which the mogul developed himself as the first Aman boutique resort.At a press conference at Phuket City Police Station, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth presented Weerapol Laolang, 22, a resident of Soi Phaneang in Phuket City.Gen Decha said that…
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Robber nabbed after fake-pistol heists
PHUKET CITY: Phuket City Police collaborated with Songkhla Police to bring in a robber who went on a one-month robbing spree around Phuket City armed with a fake pistol.Satun-native Narathon Uraiwong, 30, who was arrested on Saturday, admitted to robbing two grocery stores, one 7-Eleven and one tourist, stealing a total of 21,900 baht, said Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Col…
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Glass adding to trash crisis – experts
PHUKET CITY: With the volume of trash generated in Phuket increasing almost 20% annually, Phuket is facing a waste disposal crises that needs immediate attention, experts told a seminar at the Phuket Provincial Office on January 28. Monthip Srirattana Tabuganon, Deputy Director-General of Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s Department of Environmental Quality Promotion led the meeting, much of which focused…
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Desalination plant working at “near capacity’
KARON: After months of rectifying problems related to unstable power supply, Thailand’s second-largest desalination plant is finally working near full capacity, the Gazette has learned.The reverse-osmosis (RO) plant, located at the hairpin turn on the road from Karon to Patong, was completed mid-2006 at a cost of 528 million baht by REQ Water Service Ltd.By mid-2007, the plant was unable…
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Two more candidates enter senatorial race
PHUKET CITY: Two local lawyers have registered to run in the March 2 senatorial election, bringing the final number of candidates in Phuket to three.The second candidate is Adirak Engchuan. The 46-year-old Phuket native, who holds a law degree from Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok, registered his candidacy Thursday morning.The final candidate to register was Cherdchai Wongseree, 47, who arrived at…
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Four arrested for Phuket City muggings
PHUKET CITY: Police have announced the arrest of four suspects charged with being part of gang believed to have mugged at least nine motorbike riders in Phuket City.In a press release, Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Nos Svettalekha identified one of the gang members as Prasit Intachoot, 24.Prasit and a 15-year-old boy were arrested in Surin Rd Soi 1 in Phuket…
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