Search Results for: cat
- Phuket News
Plodprasop flames NDWC’s effectiveness
CAPE PANWA: Dr Plodprasop Surasawadee, assistant minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, today likened the status of Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) to that of an “abandoned toilet”.His scathing remark was made at the opening of a three-day convention on coral reef research and management at the Phuket Aquarium.As a former director of the NDWC, he said he would…
- Phuket News
Construction site extortion gang busted
PATONG: In the latest case of extortion involving Burmese workers, Kathu Police on Saturday afternoon arrested five men posing as government officers in a bid to extort money from a construction company.Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnark told the Gazette that Kathu Police were informed of the extortion bid by construction foreman Somyot Chairat, who was overseeing a project off…
- Phuket News
Dead turtle highlights endangered species’ plight
PHUKET (TNA, Gazette): The discovery of a dead Olive Ridley turtle in front of the West Sands Resort on Mai Khao Beach on March 17 has again raised the issue of coastal development depleting endangered turtles’ natural breeding grounds.The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) at Cape Panwa was alerted to the discovery by the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation.Sontaya Manawatthana…
- Phuket News
Investigation launched into “stolen’ tsunami victims’ coffins
PHANG NGA (Kom Chad Luek): Grave robbery has taken on a disturbing new form in Takuapa, where 11 aluminum coffins intended for tsunami victims were recently reported missing from a storage facility at Bang Maruan Cemetery.In mid-April, cemetery manager Nitinai Sornsongkram, who is responsible for inventory of tsunami victims’ remains and government property at the cemetery, noticed that 11 of…
- Phuket News
Patong illegal logging camp raided
PATONG: More than 20 forest protection officers yesterday afternoon raided an illegal logging operation high in the hills south of Patong, but the handful of workers caught by surprise at the site all managed to flee the scene.Panumet Dam-orn, who heads the Phuket-based Forest Protection Unit 2, ordered the raid after aerial surveillance of the area on Wednesday.The site is…
- Thailand News
Monk cops out royally
TAK: While impersonating a policeman for personal gain is nothing new in Thailand, one monk in Mae Sot who thought he may have picked the wrong career took it one step further over the Songkran holidays. The monk not only claimed to be a high-ranking policeman, but also a member of the royal family and a representative of the Bureau…
- Thailand News
Man stands by limbless bride
UDON THANI: Villagers from across the Northeast and as far away as Laos have been flocking to get a glimpse of a high-profile newlywed couple in Phen District. This couple are not celebrities, but a local Udon man and a female reticulated python he has fallen love with. The happy groom, 35-year-old Sathian Khenkutrang, said he believes that he and…
- Phuket News
Divers help out on Earth Day
PHUKET: More than 100 people took part in beach and underwater cleanups on Tuesday as part of Earth Day activities held on and around the island.In addition to the Royal Thai Navy, private companies took part in the cleanups on the beach and in the sea at Koh Racha Noi and Koh Racha Yai.“More than 30 people were on our…
- Phuket News
Mobile clinic for Thai passports
PHUKET CITY: The Consular Affairs department of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold a mobile service center for Thai nationals to apply for “e-passports” in Phuket City from May 12 to 23.The service center, located in the conference room of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) offices on Narisorn Rd, will be open from 8 am to 4:30…
- Phuket News
Paiboon promises a perfect Phuket
WICHIT: Paiboon Upatising and his team of Khon Baan Rao councilors yesterday held a press conference to thank their supporters and outline their policies at K. Paiboon’s office at the Morning Star Villa housing estate, one of the many projects he has developed under the Phuket Villa name.K. Paiboon was voted president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) on…
- Phuket News
Human trafficking laws to be redrafted
BANGKOK (TNA): Following the deaths of 54 illegal Burmese job seekers who suffocated while being transported to Phuket in the sealed container of a truck on April 9, Thailand is set to issue redrafted laws prohibiting human trafficking on June 6.Senior officials announced the decision yesterday after a meeting between six government agencies and NGOs.Currently, Thailand has a modest law…
- Phuket News
Three bodies found in swamp
MAI KHAO: Police believe the bodies of three men recovered from Pru-Je-San swamp at Baan Dan yesterday afternoon are those of Burmese workers.The police were alerted to the gruesome find by villagers living nearby.Tah Chat Chai Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Payongsak Petchrod told the Gazette that officers arrived at the scene about 1:40 pm with rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation, who…
- Phuket News
Five suspects arrested for Burmese deaths
PHUKET: Police announced today the arrest of a fifth suspect in connection with the deaths of 54 Burmese illegal immigrants who suffocated while being transported in the sealed container of a seafood transport truck en route from Ranong to Phuket on April 9. Police have been issued arrest warrants for seven people alleged to be part of the human-trafficking operation…
- Phuket News
Annual fishing ban to protect tuna stocks
PHUKET: In a bid to protect declining tuna stocks in Phang Nga Bay, the Department of Fisheries has threatened to fine and confiscate the fishing equipment of any boatmen found bottom trawling or fishing in protected areas with nets smaller than allowed by regulations.From April 15 to June 15, all “otter trawlers” (those that trawl the sea floor) and trawlers…
- Phuket News
Dim chef serves self to police
CHERNG TALAY: Cherng Talay District Police on April 10 enjoyed making one of their easiest arrests on record, nabbing a thief who foolishly transferred funds from his victim’s bank account directly into his own.Officers led by Maj Thongchai Matitham arrested 24-year-old Songkhla native Areeyang Talae at 5.30 pm for the theft of an ATM card reported lost by Swede Henrik…
- Phuket News
Daniel Jackson dies of heart attack
RAWAI: Long-time Nai Harn resident Daniel Leroy Jackson died of a heart attack early Tuesday morning at Phuket International Hospital. He was 62. Friends and neighbors James and Pat Domville informed the Gazette of Mr Jackson’s passing this morning.Originally from Baltimore in the US state of Maryland, Mr Jackson was a Vietnam War veteran who worked as chief public transport safety…
- Phuket News
107 illegal Burmese rounded up in crackdown
PHUKET CITY: Following a crackdown ordered by new Phuket Immigration Police Superintendent Pol Col Chanatpol Yongbunjerd on April 10, more than 100 illegal aliens found working in the province were arrested and deported before the start of the Songkran holidays. News of the arrests was distributed to the media during a special “meet the press” karaoke event hosted by Phuket…
- Cannabis News
Crime statistics: prostitutes drop, gamblers rise
PHUKET: Arrests made for prostitution in Phuket decreased in March from the previous month, while the number of arrests for gambling shot up by 127 cases, according to monthly crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police.During March, there were 304 arrests for gambling, 139 arrests for prostitution and 110 arrests for drug-related offenses, 58 of which involved ya bah (methamphetamine)…
- Phuket News
Songkran road toll in Phuket: 2 dead, 40 injured
PHUKET: Phuket recorded its first two road accident fatalities of the 2008 Songkran Festival, as two male teenagers riding motorbikes were killed in separate accidents in Kathu on Sunday. The first victim was identified by the Phuket branch of the National Road Safety Monitoring Center as 15-year-old Chakkrit Titprong. K. Chakkrit was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital following a collision…
- Phuket News
Songkran road toll: 45 dead, 557 injured on first day
BANGKOK (TNA): A total of 45 persons were killed and 557 injured in 477 road accidents nationwide yesterday, the first of “seven days of danger” in the annual Songkran water festival celebrating Thai New Year.The accidents happened as people headed to their home provinces to celebrate the Songkran festival with family and friends.Former Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi, now permanent secretary…
- Phuket News
Songkran “soaking zones’ announced
PHUKET: As the island prepares for Songkran, which gets underway in earnest tomorrow, Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatwichai has announced that a number of zones have been designated for water play.Muang district: Saphan Hin, Rawai Beach, Kata Beach, Karon BeachKathu district: Patong area.Thalang district: Nai Yang Beach, Surin Beach.The designation system has been set up in the hope that it will help decrease…
- Phuket News
Saphan Hin incinerator given top-level support
PHUKET CITY: A Prime Minister’s Office inspector who is in Phuket to review mega-projects for which the governor has requested funding said that top priority should be given to having a second burner installed at the incineration plant at Saphan Hin.Changthong Opassiriwit arrived in Phuket on Tuesday and spent the day visiting the proposed project sites, including a 150-rai site…
- Phuket News
54 Burmese dead in trafficking horror
RANONG: Fifty-four Burmese, 17 men and 37 women, suffocated to death while being transported in the sealed container of a seafood delivery truck yesterday en route from Ranong to Phuket.Col Kraithong Chanthongbai of Suksamran District Police today told the Gazette that police received a call from local people saying that a 10-wheeled truck had been left by the side of Petchkasem Rd…
- Phuket News
American man commits suicide in Rawai
RAWAI: Chalong Police are treating as suicide the death of an American man found hanged from a bridge behind the Rawai Municipality offices early yesterday morning.Lt Col Chana Suthimas of the Chalong Police identified the man as Duane Willis Daugherty, aged 45.A local resident called Chalong Police at 6:30 am, immediately after discovering Mr Daugherty’s body, Lt Col Chana said.The…
- Phuket News
Jetstar and Tiger slash Singapore-Phuket route
PHUKET: Citing a lack of demand, Jetstar Asia Airways has ditched its service between Phuket and Singapore, while Tiger Airways has halved its service of the same route.Only 18 months after introducing a Phuket-Singapore air link, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia announced on March 30 that it has suspended its service of six flights a week. Low demand and a reallocation of…
- Phuket News
Destination Air flies on
PHUKET: The managing director of Destination Air has described Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit’s order to suspend flight service to Patong as “anticlimactic”, saying the airline had for months been scheduled to wrap up operations in Patong because of unsafe monsoon-season conditions now setting in. Pat James told the Gazette that the governor’s decision, taken in the wake of complaints about noise…
- Phuket News
Registration van makes slow progress
PHUKET CITY: The introduction of a high-tech mobile registration van late last year has recorded an increase of 16,000 in Phuket’s official population, only a small fraction of the island’s “hidden population” of about 300,000.The project is the brainchild of Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, who announced that tackling the hidden population problem would be a top priority after he was…
- Phuket News
Gov Niran vows to stamp out “underage prostitution’
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has ordered Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak, Kathu District Chief Khantee Silapa and Patong Municipality officials to work together to immediately put a stop to underage girls working as prostitutes on the island.The order follows recent sweeps of nightlife entertainment venues in Phuket as part of a crackdown ordered by Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung.…
- Thailand News
The CCTV firm and the house of Porn
SAMUT PRAKAN: A man was arrested March 15 after police found a wire leading from his house to a tiny camera hidden in the ceiling of the bathroom of the house next door where six women lived. The camera, which had apparently been in place for five months, was discovered only when the voyeur was overcome with desire and rang…
- Phuket News
Sakoo OrBorTor: “no action’ on Nai Thon dumping
NAI THON: More than a month after being given photographs showing a truck belonging to Vasi Construction Co Ltd dumping trash near Nai Thon Beach, the Sakoo Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) says it cannot press charges because nobody has been caught in the act.The photos were sent to the Gazette in January by a concerned reader. The site is about 200…
