South

Deputy PM links last night’s Songkhla attack to local issues

Published

8 months ago

December 27, 2018

Deputy PM links last night’s Songkhla attack to local issues | The Thaiger

Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan, and defence minister, has linked last night’s Songkhla bomb attacks to politics in the southern province.

He says he is confident that the incidents had nothing to do with insurgency in the deep South, claiming that security authorities already knew who was behind the Samila Beach attack.

“The aim was to cause chaos during the New Year festival. The attacks may have stemmed from internal political problems in the province, though we believe the attackers were separatists,” he said, without elaborating.

The Thaiger notes the deputy PM’s contradictions in his brief statements.

Earlier report about the incident HERE.

The double explosions on Wednesday night only damaged the tail of a famous mermaid statue on the beach. The explosions coincided with Prawit’s visit to the province to distribute land title deeds among local people.

SOURCE: The Nation

Malaysia

Malay tourist allegedly ploughs into roadside workers, killing five

Published

3 days ago

August 15, 2019

Tanutam Thawan

Malay tourist allegedly ploughs into roadside workers, killing five | The Thaiger

“Five Thai workers were killed and another injured on the Asia Highway.”

Khao Sod reports that a Malaysian tourist has been charged with reckless driving causing death and injury after her car allegedly ploughed into six Thai road workers in Songkhla, southern Thailand, on Tuesday. The workers were from the Kamphaeng Phet Highway District Office doing routine maintenance along the roadside.

Five Thai workers were killed and another injured at 3pm on Tuesday on the Asia Highway in front of the Asia Rescue Unit in Village Group 3 in Songkhla’s Rattaphum district.

The driver of the car was ‘Malinda Susilalinee Asalan’ (translated from Thai) who allegedly lost control and ploughed into the six road workers cutting weeds on the roadside. Five workers died at the scene, with another seriously injured and rushed to hospital.

Police have charged 30 year old Malinda with reckless driving causing death.

SOURCE: Thai Residents

ASEAN

Police seeking arrest warrants for planners of August 2 Bangkok bombs

Published

4 days ago

August 14, 2019

The Thaiger

ORIGINAL PHOTO: Reuters

Police now believe that three suspects in the August 2 Bangkok bombings plotted much the attacks in a neighbouring country. Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon reported the latest in the investigations to the media today.

Gen Prawit reported that the three suspects were actively involved and have fled back to their country. Without mentioning the country (presumably Malaysia), Prawit said that police are seeking the assistance of their neighbouring counterparts to arrest and return the suspects to Thailand for questioning.

At this stage police have linked the attacks to insurgents in Thailand’s far South where some of the Muslim-majority population remain in a long-term civil conflict with Thai buddhists and the government.

Police have also reported that the attacks were planned near the Thai-Malaysian border at a meeting of the planners, bomb-makers and attackers. A total of 15 suspects are believed to be involved in the bombings.

Meanwhile, two detained suspects in the bombings are back in Bangkok after being transported from Narathiwat. More about that story HERE. The Metropolitan Police will seek an extension to their lawful detention at the Bangkok South Criminal Court tomorrow.

Both suspects have been charged with organised crime, attempted murder, carrying explosives and illegal possession of explosives.

The two men are accused of planting two bombs on the steps of the Royal Thai Police HQ in the Thursday late afternoon. At the time authorities claimed the bombs were dummy devices. The bags contained a bomb that was set to go off at 8am on August 2 but were defused by bomb disposal officers. The other bombs went off in locations around Bangkok between 7-9am on August 2, during Bangkok’s morning peak hour.

Six bombs and six incendiary devices detonated on August 2 as Bangkok hosted the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting. Police believe the day was chosen to co-incide with the regional meeting to ’embarrass’ the Thai government.

Crime

Accused pedophile arrested in Phang Nga after 14 years on the run

Published

1 week ago

August 10, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Police questioning Honchao Sae Oun – Crime Suppression Division

A man, wanted over the indecent assault of a five year old girl in Yala 14 years ago, has been arrested in Phang Nga.

62 year old Honchao Sae Oun was arrested at a house in Thai Muang district yesterday by the Crime Suppression Division.

Officials say that Mr Honchao was living in Yala in 2004 when he allegedly lured a five year old girl into his home where he is reported to have molested her. The girl’s parents filed a complaint after their daughter explained what had happened.

A warrant for the suspect was issued but the man fled the area. CSD officials eventually re-opened the case and discovered that the suspect had moved north to Phang Nga.

According to police, Mr Honchao has admitted to the charges and is now being taken back to Yala province to face the charges.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post