Phuket

Manhunt for second war weapons suspect

Published

17 years ago

July 4, 2002

Manhunt for second war weapons suspect | The Thaiger

PHUKET: Police yesterday began a search for a second man they believe was involved in the transport of weapons seized at the fishing port Tuesday, after they discovered he was the registered owner of the pick-up truck seized for allegedly being used to transport the weapons of war. When Prachumpon Raampung, who had been driving the Toyota Tiger pick-up, was arrested, police sent the vehicle to the Phuket Provincial Transportation Office where it was found that the truck was registered to a Phang Nga resident, Somporn Paupadung. Police then discovered that Somporn was already on the run for evading two attempted murder charges in Phang Nga. Inside the truck, police found “many name cards of high-ranking police and judges”, as well as 10 music CDs and a camera, said Pol Lt Col Weerasin Kwanseng, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station. Copies of a sketch of Somporn have been sent to police stations throughout South Thailand. The suspect’s picture has not yet been released to the public. Also yesterday, Phuket Town Police officers took Prachumpon to his house at Moo Baan Irawadee 1, Tambon Vichit, to search for more evidence. In the house they found an ATM card from Thai Farmers Bank, a notebook, a list of accounts with several banks, and two mobile phones. Pol Col Chaiwat Ketworachai, a Superintendent at the Crime Suppression Division, said yesterday, “The Crime Suppression Division received a tip-off a month ago about Prachumpon, and we believe he is part of a gang that transports weapons of war to terrorists and rebels in nearby countries such as Sri Lanka.” AFP and AP reports from Colombo yesterday quoted a spokesman for Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense as saying that the Sri Lankan government was following the case closely and had ordered its embassy in Thailand to check on where the weapons were headed. Meanwhile, Phuket Town Police Superintendent Col Paween Pongsirin said he had met with Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy officers yesterday, and will meet later with Ordnance Department officials in Bangkok to coordinate investigations into arms dealers.

Phuket

Motorbike driver smashes through glass window after accelerator malfunctions

Published

12 hours ago

March 22, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

Motorbike driver smashes through glass window after accelerator malfunctions | The Thaiger

A female motorbike driver has sustained injuries after her motorbike’s hand grip malfunctioned and she collided with a glass wall.

Chalong Police were notified of the incident at an air conditioning shop at 6pm yesterday on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong.

Police and emergency responders arrived and found the shattered glass wall and a damaged motorbike.

The injured 40 year old Naowarat Jankarn had already been taken to Chalong Hospital. She sustained injuries from cuts from the broken glass. polls of blood were found on the floor.

Ms Naowarat told police that she had parked her motorbike in front of the shop since Wednesday . The motorbike was underivable because the hand grip accelerator was malfunctioning.

Yesterday she started the motorbike, claiming she had forgotten about the broken accelerator.

Phuket

Police hunting for driver who threatened others with a gun on Phuket road – VIDEO

Published

14 hours ago

March 22, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

Police hunting for driver who threatened others with a gun on Phuket road – VIDEO | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Tiw Tiw

The Thalang Police are hunting for the driver who was threatening other motorists on Thepkrasattri Road by waving a gun around out of the driver’s window of his red sedan in Thalang this morning.

A Facebook user ‘Tiw Tiw’ has posted the video with a message reading “where are the police, please follow him. The incident happened this morning in Thalang.”

The video shows a car switching from one lane to another. The driver shows a gun in his car window and then appears to throw it out (at least he used his indicator).

The Thalang Police are investigating the incident and want to find the car driver for questioning.

Phang Nga

Phuket’s hotel and property players look north

Published

17 hours ago

March 22, 2019

Bill Barnett

Phuket’s hotel and property players look north | The Thaiger

by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com

One of Greater Phuket’s real estate and hotel market’s that has a decided buzz of late is the area north of Phuket over the Sarasin bridge in Phang Nga.

In Natai Beach, the entry of the Baba Beach Club and nearby Akyra has created renewed visibility for the broad West Coast stretch of white sand beach, extending north beyond Phuket.

Two upscale hotels are in the development phase in the vicinity, with one being flagged to an international hotel operator.

Up at the 1,000 plus rai Thai Muang mega-project, movement is once again underway, as is a nearby massive Japanese-led mixed-use project including a golf course.

Land values are currently running amuck in the Koh Kloi area where the AOT (Airports of Thailand) has reportedly acquired land for an upcoming Phang Nga airport which will provide Phuket with a second gateway alternative.

Premium land transactions are taking place, with the most notable being the recent trade of the former oceanfront site in Bodan that was to be at various stages first a Raffles and later a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

Looking at Phuket’s light-rail initiative, one knock-on effect will be the eventual linkage between the island and larger connection to a broader rail terminus in Koh Kloi. This will likely spur real estate speculators to acquire peripheral locations.

As Phang Nga’s West Coast four land highway expansion moves forward to Khao Lak and beyond, Phuket’s Northern neighbor is seeing a renewed push in its tourism, property and infrastructure.