Gambling tops arrests for December

PHUKET: Statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police show that gambling came out trumps once again to top the arrests table, with 256 people arrested from December 1 to 25 for the offense. Thirty-seven cases involved the sale of illegal underground lottery tickets.

Two murders were reported during the month, with one case solved. There were two cases of attempted murder in which no arrests were made.

There were 36 reports of theft, with three people charged with snatch-and-run crimes. Eight people were arrested for possessing firearms without a license.

One hundred and twenty people were arrested for the illegal possession of controlled substances – and 44 were charged with possessing a total of 4,760 ya bah (methamphetamine) tablets.

Of the remaining drug arrests, 32 were for marijuana possession; 44 were for substance abuse, 30 of which were for sniffing glue or paint thinners; eight involved yah E (Ecstasy) and six involved krathom (an indigenous Thai plant that acts as a stimulant).

Thirty-four people were arrested for offenses related to prostitution.

Three motorcycles were stolen, with two people subsequently charged. No cars were reported stolen.

Although police declined to comment on the December murder that was solved, they did disclose details about an unsolved murder that took place on December 4.

Thanee Payompruek, 33, died from wounds received after being stabbed in the chest with a broken bottle during an altercation with teenagers at Saphan Hin.

Police told the Gazette that a drunk Thanee annoyed a group of teenagers – who had also been drinking – by riding his motorcycle near them before the incident took place.