Phuket
Karaoke operators sing the blues

PHUKET TOWN: More than 200 karaoke operators gathered at the Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to protest about the closure of their premises and to petition the authorities to allow them to reopen. The protest comes after a three-day campaign by police to check karaoke bars for licenses. Many were found to have none, or to have licenses that had expired. Pol Capt Wiwat Chamnarnkit of Phuket Town Police Station explained, “To open a karaoke bar you must apply for a license at the police station. “Once the premises have been inspected for compliance with the regulations, the application is sent to the Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police for approval and then to the Provincial Governor for his signature. “The operator will usually know within 30 days whether the application has been successful.” Chaiyong Praptook, owner of Sasa Karaoke, near Nimit Village in Phuket Town, demurred. “My shop was checked two days ago and the police asked me to close it because I still haven’t got a license even though I applied two years ago. I’ve followed all the regulations, but everything is so slow.” Nucharee Kongbun, who has operated two karaoke bars in Saphan Hin for almost four years, said, “Both shops have been closed for four days already, but I still have to pay rent every day. I submitted the paperwork for renewal a couple of months ago but the documents are still at the police station.” Many of today’s protesters had not received licenses because they had not submitted full documentation, in particular evidence of property rights or rental contracts – the reason being that they had set up their businesses on public land. Capt Wiwat said, “We are holding about 100 applications at the police station because they have not submitted rental contracts or land deeds.” The protesters urged the authorities to speed up the issuance of licenses for those who had already submitted applications, and to allow business to continue while applications are being considered. They also urged the authorities to consider ways to “help” those who were unable to provide rental contracts or land deeds to support their applications. After meeting representatives of the protesters, Vice-Governor Manit Wattanasen announced that he would urge the police to speed up processing of applications and to clear everything within seven days. As for those who have not submitted applications, he said that they should do so within seven days if they wanted to be fast-tracked with the existing applications. In the case of applications already approved by the police, he would sign them himself today, he said. However, when it came to those who could not provide land or rental papers, he said, “I have to think about this. We have to find the way that will satisfy both the operators and the public, because some of these karaoke bars are on public land. “There will be a big problem if I allow businesses to operate on public land.” Apart from the land requirements, a karaoke bar is supposed to meet four main criteria before receiving a license. Specifically: – It must have a glass door to contain noise from within; – It must have separate toilets for men and women; – The karaoke machine must be shut off at 1 am; – There must be a sign over the entrance stating that anyone under the age of 20 is barred.
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Thailand
Hotels and restaurants raided, 50 arrested for allegedly cheating “We Travel Together” subsidy scheme

Several hotels and restaurants in Phuket and Chaiyaphum were raided this morning and 50 people were arrested for allegedly stealing from the government subsidy scheme “We Travel Together.” The scheme was launched to help businesses that were financially hit by the lack of tourists during the Covid-19 pandemic and to stimulate the battered economy.
Last month, the Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn filed a criminal complaint against 312 hotels and 202 shops for allegedly cheating the scheme which covered 40% of room rates and offered e-vouchers. Instead of lowering prices to draw in more travellers, some hoteliers and restaurateurs allegedly raised their prices to get more subsidies.
This morning, police arrested 38 people in Chaiyaphum and 12 people in Phuket suspected of cheating the subsidy scheme. Suspects, including hotel and restaurant operators, face charges ranging from fraud and false identification to misusing electronic cards and adding fraudulent information to the computer system.
Nation Thailand says the verification system for the scheme was not stringent and people were able to register fake hotels and list fake bookings. Some hotel operators recorded higher prices for rooms to get a bigger payoff from the government.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Thailand
Phuket eases restrictions, bars back to late-night hours

Things are getting back to normal in Phuket. The provincial government eased disease control restrictions, allowing restaurants, bars and entertainment venues to go back to their normal operating hours – no more midnight closure order – and lifting the late-night alcohol ban.
While bars can now stay open late and serve alcohol after midnight, dancing is prohibited and venues cannot serve alcohol in containers that will be shared among groups of people.
The Phuket Communicable Disease Committee agreed to ease the restrictions yesterday and an order allowing late-night hours and alcohol sales was posted today by the Phuket’s Public Relations Department.
“As the Covid-19 situation in Phuket has improved that there are no more Covid-19 infections found, the committee agreed to cancel the late-night alcohol ban in order to revive the economy of Phuket.”
All businesses related to gathering activities are warned to follow the Covid-19 preventive measures.
SOURCE: Phuket News
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Crime
2 shot dead at Phuket Bus Terminal Saturday night

Police say 2 men were gunned down at the Phuket Bus Terminal by a colleague at the terminal along the stretch of Thepkasattri road heading into Phuket Town last night. The incident happened at about 10:15pm with the local police chief arriving along with medical staff from Vachira Hospital shortly after the incident.
60 year old Wian Iadchuthong, the alleged gunman, was waiting to surrender at the scene when police arrived. Police say Wian appeared to be drunk and told them he had a serious argument with the 2 men and decided to take their lives with the gun. Police say they found 50 year old Yod Sae Lee lying on the ground in front of a taxi service stand, badly wounded. He was given CPR before being rushed to Vachira Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
54 year old Prakob Chuthong was also found lying dead by the counter of a 24 hour car park service kiosk. Police say he had been shot 2 times, once in the left side of his head and once in his left rib cage, according to Bangkok Post.
Witnesses say before the shooting, Wian was quietly drinking alone. But after getting drunk, he walked to the counter of the car park service kiosk and allegedly fired 2 shots from a 9mm gun at point-blank range, killing Prakob instantly. Wian then ran towards Yod, who was sitting in front of the taxi service stand. Yod saw Wian coming at him with the gun and he ran away to 1 side of the terminal building, only to be intercepted by Wian who allegedly fired 5 shots. Yod was hit 1 time in the head, 2 times in the torso and 2 times in the legs. Yod was also rushed to Vachira Hospital where he later died.
An initial police investigation found that the 3 were close colleagues at the workplace, but often engaged in heated fights over motorcycle taxi and taxi services at the bus terminal.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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