Phuket

633 netted in motorbike crackdown

Published

18 years ago

January 17, 2002

633 netted in motorbike crackdown | The Thaiger

PHUKET: Despite wide publicity before the event, police caught 633 motorcyclists without helmets during a crackdown last night, at the start of an ongoing roadblock blitz. Bare-headed bikers had their driving licenses checked and their names taken, after which they were obliged to listen to a road-safety lecture. After listening, they were allowed to go on their way without a penalty. But in future, riders who have had already had a warning and are caught a second time without helmets will face fines of up to 500 baht. Last night’s police action, part of a national campaign, started simultaneously at 8 pm in Phuket Town, where 226 motorcyclists were caught, and in six other spots around the island. Elsewhere the tallies were: Chalong (80), Thalang (80), Kathu (97), Tah Chat Chai (20), Cherng Talay (50) and Tung Tong (80). Those netted faced a delay of 20 minutes while officers lectured batches of them. Police plan to repeat the process each day from now on at different, undisclosed locations. The arrests came despite wide advance publicity on TV, radio and websites, as well as in a flyer signed by Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi, in which he alerted motorcyclists to the campaign. “You will know in advance that there is a road block coming up,” the flyer read, “so you can either go through the road block, wearing your helmet with pride, or you can spend the rest of your life going round the back roads.” Gov Pongpayome himself visited the checkpoint in Saphan Hin, where he was accosted by a motorcyclist caught in the police web. “I have my son with me,” the man explained, “and he is being bitten by the mosquitos. Can I take him home now?” “No, you may not,” the Governor replied sternly. “Having your son on your bike at night without a helmet is more dangerous than any mosquito.” The rider was obliged to stay and listen to the lecture.

Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.

Crime

Thalang Police arrest local Phuket drug dealer with amphetamine pills

Published

11 hours ago

October 20, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS: เหยี่ยวข่าว ภูเก็ต Newshawk Phuket

Thalang Police have arrested a local drug dealer with more than 192 amphetamine pills. Thalang police in Phuket arrested 29 year old Wimon Songkong from Nakhon Si Thammarat with 192 amphetamine pills that he was carrying when they nabbed him in front of a 7-Eleven store inside a PTT gas station on Thepkasattri Road, in Thalang District.

The amphetamine pills were packed in a black zip-lock plastic bag, which was hidden in his grey shoulder bag. Two of the pills were green and 190 of them were orange, while each pill had the letters ‘wy’ printed on them.

Wimon was charged for possessing and trading illicit drugs and was sent to Thalang police station for further investigation and processing.

STORY: Newshawk Phuket

Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.

Hua Hin

Southern Thailand braces for rough weather and rain

Published

1 day ago

October 19, 2019

May Taylor

Southern Thailand braces for rough weather and rain | The Thaiger

The Thailand Meteorological Department issued a weather warning for southern Thailand with torrential rain forecast to hit the region throughout the weekend. The heavy monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and south of the country is being blamed for the rough weather, with the TMD predicting flash flooding in many areas.

(Phuket, Hat Yai and Hua Hin’s forecast below)

“Waves are expected to reach 2 metres in height in the lower Gulf of Thailand and possibly higher at the height of the storm. Ships are advised to proceed with caution.”

For the north and northeast of Thailand, the TMD forecasts strong winds and cooler mornings as the arrival of the “winter” season, coupled with a moderate high-pressure system, causes temperatures to dip.

Hua Hin’s five day forecast

Phuket’s five day forecast

Hat Yai’s five day forecast

SOURCE: The Nation | weather.com

Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.

Crime

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft

Published

2 days ago

October 18, 2019

Greeley Pulitzer

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Patong Police

Patong Police have yet to develop any tangible leads tracking down a foreigner who made off with US$30,000 in cash from a currency exchange booth in Kalim, north of Patong in Phuket, last Tuesday.

The man is about 168 centimetres tall with grey hair and around 60 years old, Patong police told The Phuket News.

“We have no clue what nationality he is.”

He was last seen at the currency exchange booth wearing a purple polo shirt, blue jeans and black cap. Police have checked hotels in the area, police stations across the island and Phuket Immigration, but have yet to join the dots and come up with firm leads.

“Investigators have checked CCTV in the area and collected what evidence we have but we still do not know the man’s name or where he was staying.”

The man had visited the booth several times before Tuesday, when he disappeared with the $30,000 in US banknotes, according to police.

“It was always small amounts”, he added, noting that the amounts didn’t warrant staff at the exchange booth to check the man’s passport before making the exchange.

The man arrived at the booth again at about 1pm on Tuesday, saying that he had 900,000 baht cash to exchange.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.