Phuket
Police offer B200k reward for gold shop robber

PHUKET: Police are offering a reward of 200,000 baht for information leading to the arrest of the man who robbed the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store at gunpoint yesterday evening, shooting dead a customer at the store in the process.
Apichet Choo-kliang, 32, was shot in the chest trying to stop the gold heist (story here).
Mr Apichet was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the nearby Phuket International Hospital.
The robber made off with gold jewelry valued at more than 2.32 million baht.
Police suspect the man who committed last night’s heist was the same one who robbed the Kasikornbank Tesco Lotus Chaofa branch in Wichit on January 7 (story here).
“The CCTV camera footage [from the gold heist] shows the robber walked with a limp, just like the gunman wanted for robbing the Kasikornbank Tesco Lotus Chaofa branch,” Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat told the Phuket Gazette this morning.
“We suspect it is the same man. We are checking every CCTV image from the Kasikornbank robbery at the Tesco Lotus Chaofa branch and comparing them with CCTV images of the gold shop robber from last night,” he added.
Maj Gen Choti described the robber as “quite plump”. “He was wearing a dark t-shirt, black jeans and black shoes. From the CCTV image, it looked like he was carrying a .38 pistol,” he said.
Police collected fingerprints at the scene.
“The robber was not wearing gloves when he removed the gold jewelry from the display cases, so we collected his fingerprints and we will send them to the Forensic Science Region 8 office in Surat Thani to examine today,” Gen Choti confirmed.
“We expected the results will be available in about two days,” he said.
Mr Apichet, originally from Thung Yai District in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, worked as a bartender at the Novotel Phuket Resort in Patong.
He was to marry his long-term girlfriend early next year, Gen Choti said.
“We have spoken with his fiancée. Mr Apichet was a generous man, always helping other people. He had also served in the military,” he added.
The hunt for the killer gunman continues.
“We have notified every police station in Phuket and nearby provinces of the robbery,” Gen Choti said.
Bullets removed from Mr Apichet’s body will also be sent for forensic examination, the general added.
Anyone with information that may lead to the robber’s arrest is urged to contact the nearest police station or call the Phuket Provincial Police at 076-212 046.
— Kritsada Mueanhawong
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Thailand
Covid-19 tests are not required for visa extensions – Phuket Immigration

No… you don’t need a Covid-19 test to extend your visa or apply for a work permit, according to Phuket Immigration. While multiple Covid-19 tests are required for people arriving in Thailand and undergoing quarantine, foreigners who have been in the country do not need to be tested.
The local immigration deputy chief Nareuwat Putthawiro spoke with Phuket News, debunking some rumours that were shared on social media saying Covid-19 tests could soon be required when extending visas or applying for work permits.
“We do not require any medical documents for an application to renew a visa, because there are few foreigners’ movements outside Phuket. Most of them live and work in Phuket, and have done so before the new wave of Covid-19… So they do not have to worry about it. Everything is still the same.”
Medical exams are required for most work permit applicants. The exams include a brief screening and a blood test for syphilis. At the moment, a Covid-19 test is not required for work permit applicants, although it certainly could be in the future.
“We have not received any notices about Covid-19 requirements for processing applications to renew visas. If we do receive any such orders, we will let the public know.”
SOURCE: Phuket News
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Visitors to Phuket from “highest risk” areas must show Covid-19 test results

People arriving Phuket from the “highest risk” areas are required to take a swab test by the staff at emergency operation centres (EOC) or show the test result document endorsed by the EOC staff made within 72 hours of their arrival. The revised order is effective from now until January 31, according to the Phuket Governor.
Those people who are on a brief business trip to Phuket need to show certificates from their employers describing the reason and necessity of their trips. If they want to leave their accommodations, they have to make a request to the EOC and clearly explain the reason as well as the time and destination. Visitors are also asked to avoid going to the community areas to avoid crowded gatherings.
It is noted that the revised order by the governor has not been officially promoted by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department. However, all visitors are still asked to register online via the Mor Chana contact tracing application and via www.gophuget.com according to the order re-issued on Friday.
SOURCE: Phuket News
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Tourism
The road less travelled – trekking to the Kalim Viewpoint

There are two well known ways to get from Kathu to Kalim or Kamala – one is across the Patong Hill, and the other is much longer, through Srisoonthorn and along the coastal road from Surin the Kamala (very scenic too).
But there’s also another way. Also very scenic but will take you about 2 hours through dense forest although there is a well-worn walking track. The track will take you from Kathu up to the Kalim Viewpoint. From here you can head back to Kathu along a different path, or down into Kalim, near Patong.
Starting about halfway down Soi Namtok in Kathu, you head up a nondescript road past the Flying Hanuman zipline attraction, although there’s no sign at the entrance to the soi (below). About the first kilometre is paved but then becomes increasingly ‘agricultural’ as you get higher into the hills, heading towards the Kalim Viewpoint. There’s also a small temple on the way up.
PHOTO: The start of the trek, a small soi off Soi Namtok – Google Maps
It will take around 2 hours to trek up to the Kalim Viewpoint. The walking is quite strenuous and you’ll need to be wearing the right shoes and take plenty of water – there’s no 7/11s on the way! As you get nearer the top, to the viewpoint, the track becomes less drivable although the track is still quite open and easy to follow. If you’re feeling a bit lazy you can take a motorbike about halfway up the road until you’ll need to proceed on foot from there.
From the Kalim Viewpoint you can see across Kalim to Patong Bay and the land that stretches along the bay south of Patong Beach. From the top you can either make your way down to Kalim or another exit along the Kalim-Kamala Road, just near the Iguana Beach Club.
You can also head back another way to Kathu, a longer return track that skirts around the top of the Kathu Waterfall. A lot of that track gets very narrow and parts of it are up and down the hills, some of it very steep.
The views are amazing and you get to see a vast swathe of Phuket, still very close to popular locations like Patong, Kamala and Kathu, but untouched by any civilisation.
You’ll need to be in reasonable health to take on the trip but, just to go up to the Kalim Viewpoint and back, or down into Kalim, should take around 5 hours in total. On a scale of 1 – 5 for difficulty, we’d rate it a 3. An easy trek for experienced people but will need a bit of planning if you’re not an experienced trekker.
Even on a hazy day, as it was today, the views were amazing. But best to start off early morning when the weather is cooler. Well worth the time for the views and the opportunity to see more of Phuket, away from the bars and beaches.
Thanks to BT for the pics and information.
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