American, 64, held on drugs charges

PATONG: Kathu Police on Saturday arrested American Michael Feldstein, 64, for possession of illegal drugs, after a search of the man’s apartment uncovered a variety of “recreational” drugs – including ya bah (methamphetamine).

Kathu Police Deputy Inspector Pol Lt Patak Khwunna told Gazette that Feldstein, an engineer, had been under suspicion for about a month before his arrest.

At around 7 am on July 22, police obtained a court warrant to search the man’s condominium, located at S-1401 Patong Tower on Soi Patong Resort.

There they found five ya bah pills, 31 tablets of ya E (ecstasy) and two grams of ya Ice (crystal methamphetamine).

Also arrested was 24-year-old bar boy Trakul Seesaeng, who admitted to taking drugs but denied having sold the narcotics to Feldstein.

Under police questioning, Feldstein flatly denied all charges against him and said he would speak further only in front of the court. He is currently being held in a cell at the Kathu Police Station in Patong, where his request to police for bail was turned down.

Charges against Feldstein will soon be filed with the Phuket Provincial Court, where he will again be able to apply for release on bail.