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Dog groomer arrested for cat burgling
PHUKET CITY: Phuket City police have arrested a serial thief charged with breaking into 14 homes in Wichit and Chalong during a crime spree that began in mid-2007.Police Superintendent Col Nos Svettalekha and Lt Col Wijak Tarom identified the suspect as 31-year-old Noppakhun Chatchawech, a resident of Chalong Village 4.Noppakhun, who by day worked grooming dogs at a pet shop in Phuket…
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Local resorts make Conde Nast list
PHUKET: Two local resorts, and their spas, and two Phuket restaurants have made the much-respected Conde Nast Traveler Hot List for 2008. The list is often regarded as the quintessential guide to high-end travel around the globe.The Sala Phuket Resort and Spa in Mai Khao and the Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi, in Phang Nga province, both made the grade in the…
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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…
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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…
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The “Coral Reef Squadron’ arrives
MAI KHAO: Amidst great fanfare, a convoy of 15 flatbed trucks loaded with the remains of 10 decommissioned military aircraft arrived at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint at 2 pm on Sunday after a three-day overland journey that began in Lopburi.The convoy departed from Koke Krathiem Air Force Base in Lopburi with the partly disassembled aircraft on Friday.The arrival of…
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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…
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Mai Khao OrBorTor eyes OTOP center
MAI KHAO: The Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) is considering funding a 14-million-baht One-Tambon-One Product (OTOP) retail center at the proposed site of the Phuket Sports Complex, hoping the investment will rekindle interest in the stalled project.Promchote Traivate, Head of the Phuket Office of Sports and Recreation Development, said his office is still awaiting 15 million baht for the…
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Suspect suffers heart attack during police questioning
PHUKET CITY: A man arrested for possession and sale of ya bah (methamphetamine) pills is back in jail after being rushed for emergency medical treatment after a seizure suffered while in detention at Phuket City Police Station on Saturday night.Pol Capt Thammasan Boonthong identified the suspect as 28-year-old Phuket native Boontham “James” Nuandaeng.Following a tip-off by police informants that the…
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Calcutta outclass Etihad in Sixes final
KARON: The Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC) produced a Sixes masterclass at Karon Stadium yesterday, sweeping aside all opposition in their quest for the Cup on the final day of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes.First in the Calcutta firing line were the Liquid Lounge Lizards from Phuket, with each team vying for a place in the semi-finals.Needing a win…
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Alien worker crackdown continues
PHUKET CITY: More than 50 Burmese are in the process of being deported after being caught working illegally by Phuket Immigration Police in two raids over the past two days.Phuket Immigration Police led by Col Chanatpol Yongbunjerd held a press conference at Phuket Immigration headquarters yesterday afternoon to announce the arrest of 43 Burmese workers who were arrested after a…
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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…
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“I robbed to pay for my baby,’ says gold shop suspect
PHUKET CITY: Following information provided by Phuket police, Maha Sarakham police early Wednesday evening arrested Taweesak Bualad, 21, for the robbery of the Kasem Suwan gold shop in Samkong, Phuket City. Lt Col Wijak Tarom of Phuket City Police told the Gazette that the robbery was recorded on the shop’s CCTV system, clearly showing Taweesak brandishing a handgun and demanding…
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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…
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Booze ban set for this weekend
PHUKET: Nighttime actives will be drier than usual tomorrow in preparation for the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) elections on Sunday. The Phuket Election Committee has announced that, in accordance with election law, a booze ban will be in effect throughout the province, prohibiting sales and distribution of alcohol, including in bars and clubs, from 6 pm Saturday to midnight…
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Chappell opens well at Cricket Sixes
KARON: Former Australian international cricketer and Phuket regular Trevor Chappell was in exceptional form with the bat, stroking a breezy 31 not out for Lamma CC of Hong Kong in his first match of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes, which began today. His welcomed performance at the crease against the Perth Postels followed a sudden deluge of rain that forced…
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Vice-Governor opens Wat Chalong toilets
CHALONG: Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha this morning chaired the opening ceremony of Wat Chalong’s new three-million-baht public restrooms, which are being hailed as “the first international-standard public toilets” in Thailand by the Office of Tourism Development. The restrooms, built with the help of industrial manufacturing firm SCG (Thailand) Co Ltd, are to commemorate 100 years since the passing away of revered…
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Danish tourist dies of suspected pain killer overdose
KATHU: A Danish tourist was found dead in his bed yesterday afternoon at the Delight Village bungalow resort, near the Prince of Songkla University in Tung Tong. Tung Tong District Police Inspector Lt Col Kittipong Klai Kaew identified the deceased as 37-year-old Kenneth Schou Rodnes. Police suspect Mr Rodnes died around 8 pm on Tuesday from an accidental overdose of…
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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…
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Tourist Police volunteer found in apparent suicide
PATONG: Kathu Police are treating as “probable suicide” the death of UK national James Alasdair Elliott, 37, who was found hanging by the neck from a ceiling fan in a rented room on Nanai Rd. Kathu Police Duty Officer Capt Songserm Preecha said police were notified of Mr Elliott’s death at 10:30 am yesterday by Preecha Chormanee, owner of the…
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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…
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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)…
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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…
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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…
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Aussie lifeguards lend a hand
KAMALA: Ahead of the rainy season arriving next month, when the rough surf along the west coast of Phuket becomes dangerous for all but very experienced swimmers, Phuket lifeguards are being trained in surf life-saving techniques at Kamala Beach today and tomorrow.Conducting the training are experienced members of the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) in New South Wales,…
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Phuket Bike Week underway
PHUKET: Phuket Bike Week 2008 was kick started last night with an exhibition of gleaming custom choppers and other iron steeds, both old and new, showing their muscle in seven zones at Jungceylon shopping center.Yamaha, Suzuki and BMW have taken some of the stands to show off their latest superbikes, tourbikes and even jet skis until 11 pm tonight.Organizers expect…
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Owner of Burmese “death truck’ in custody
RANONG: The owner of the truck in which 54 Burmese, including an eight-year-old girl, died on Wednesday from suffocation while being smuggled from Ranong to Phuket presented himself today to police for questioning, Col Kraithong Chanthongbai, Superintendent of Suksamran District Police, told the Gazette.The truck owner, who has been named as Damrong Phussadee, of Rungruengsup Limited Partnership, is now in police custody, Col Kraithong confirmed.However,…
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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…
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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…
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Governor receives Songkran blessing
PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s top-ranking civil servants this morning took part in a ceremony offering Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit an early Thai New Year’s greeting in the traditional way – by pouring lustral water over his hands.Some 100 top provincial officials attended the event at the Governor’s Mansion on Narisorn Rd. Among them were Vice-Governors Worapoj Ratthasima, Tri Augkaradacha, Smith Palawatvichai,…
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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…
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