Phuket police yesterday have arrested a thief while he was cooking up a batch of kratom. He had earlier robbed pharmacies in Chalong, Phuket.

Chief Investigator of the Phuket Provincial Police Col Prawit Engchuan says, “Yesterday we have arrested 25 year old Rattaphon Pales at a house in Chalong. Police seized 0.45 litres of liquid kratom.”

“On Monday night Chalong Police were notified that a man had robbed a pharmacy in Chalong (video below) with a knife. He stole 30,000 baht cash and sped away on that occasion.”

“We have continued the investigation and arrested a suspect while he was cooking liquid kratom at his home.”

“He had robbed the same pharmacy last week and another pharmacy in Vichit. In total he has stolen about 50,000 baht in cash.”

“He was taken to Chalong Police Station where he was charged with illegal possession of Category 5 Drugs and theft.”

Three people have died and another sustained serious injuries following the collision of two motorbikes in Rawai early yesterday morning (Tuesday).

The accident happened on Viset Road in front of a public health centre at 1.30am.

The Honda Wave motorbike driver was 37 years old Siripong Mulikkabut. He sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Vachira Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. He was not wearing a helmet. His passenger, 35 year old Warunee Hosakun, died at the scene.

The driver of a white Ducati model big bike was 48 year old French man Philippe Menduni. He died at the scene.

His passenger 44 years old Pannee Pongkan sustained serious injuries was taken to Vachira Hospital. Witnesses at the scene say she was five months pregnant.

Police say the Honda motorbike driver was heading towards Chalong Circle. When he arrived at the scene, the Ducati Bigbike came from behind and collided into the back of the Honda motorbike.

Police are continuing their investigation. Police also report that none of the riders were wearing helmets.

UPDATE: The suspect in this morning’s shootings, 53 year old Chana Rodket from Songkhla, has shot and killed himself in Saphan His this afternoon. He was a housekeeper a the beauty spa where the shooting took place.

Earlier, a South Korean man and Thai woman were injured in a shooting at a beauty spa near Naka Market in Phuket Town.

The two sustained serious injuries from bullet wounds. Wichit Police reports that they was notified of the incident at ‘The Beauty Spa’ at 10.30am.

Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find two injuried from gun shots. Blood-stained towels were found around the scene of the shooting.

The two people shot were 74 year old South Korean man, Kwang Hee Kim (father of Ms Eun Mi Kim, the owner of the Beauty Spa) and a 56 year old Thai woman named as Somsri Chuatonghua, a staff member at the spa.

Both taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.