Ammunition found in toilet

PHUKET TOWN: One hundred rounds of assault-rifle ammunition and two mortar rounds were found hidden in the ceiling of the toilet of a home in Phuket Town yesterday. The house owner, Somkid Khunsang, 35, reported the finding to the police and believes that the munitions, discovered by a plumber, were left by previous occupiers. K. Somkid told the Gazette that the plumber, Sujit Juajamsai, 24, was moving a pipe in an upstairs toilet of the house, in Rattana Village, Soi Poonsab, Wichit, when he found six boxes concealed in the ceiling. K. Sujit and K. Somkid opened the boxes and found two 60mm rounds for an M19 A2 mortar in one and 20 rifle rounds in each of the remaining boxes. This latest find comes a week after two rounds for an M79 “bloop gun” were discovered in a Phuket Town trash can. Pol Lt Col Chartchai Nikorthanon, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Town police station said, “We asked K. Somkid’s neighbours if they had seen any suspicious people or activities before he moved in. “Apparently two soldiers – we don’t know from which regiment or department – used to stay in the house sometimes. They also used to be doormen at a pub in Patong but were caught stealing and left.” Col Chartchai said that officers were looking for the two soldiers. He added, “The bullets and bombs were quite new and ready to use. We will be checking their origin.” He also reminded people in Phuket that the deadline for the current weapons amnesty is December 15.