Phuket
- Phuket News
Illegal catch! Phuket cops net 12 foreigners in immigration swoop
Phuket Immigration Police swooped on 12 foreigners for violating the Immigration Act and working illegally, following a series of inspections conducted over two weeks. Immigration Police intensified their crackdown on illegal activities involving foreigners from October 9 to October 18, according to a report by the Phuket branch of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). Police carried out inspections at…
- Phuket News
High stakes: Phuket shop owner rolls up on thieves for a taste of revenge
One of the cannabis shop owners in Phuket, who fell victim to two foreign thieves, yesterday tracked down the suspects and physically assaulted them at their accommodation. Several cannabis shop owners in Phuket reached out to other vendors to warn them after losing products to the two foreign thieves, whose identities remain undisclosed. CCTV footage from some of the ganja…
- Phuket News
Tragic drownings in Phuket claim lives of boy and British tourist
Two tragic incidents in Phuket resulted in the drowning deaths of a five year old Chinese boy and a 43 year old British tourist, police confirmed yesterday. Karon Police were notified by Chalong Hospital at 6.32pm, yesterday, October 22, about the drowning death of five year old Chinese tourist Zhang Zhiqjanna. Zhang had been swimming with his mother in the…
- Phuket News
iCon fraud scam hits 71 in Phuket, losses reach 19.5 million baht
Seventy-one people in Phuket have fallen victim to the iCon fraud scam, with losses amounting to 19.5 million baht (US$580,530), confirmed Phuket Provincial Police Commander Sinlert Sukhum. The number of victims has surged from 48, as announced by Sinlert on October 18. Individuals affected by the scam are still urged to report their cases to the Royal Thai Police complaints…
- Thailand News
Weed out the thieves: Phuket cannabis shops on high alert after 100k baht heist
Cannabis shop owners in Phuket issued a warning regarding two foreign thieves who stole over 100,000 baht worth of cannabis from several shops across the province. The victims urged the Phuket Times to warn other cannabis shops in the province to be cautious of two young foreigners posing as customers and taking the opportunity to steal products. The page included…
- Phuket News
64 year old Thai man in Phuket arrested for abducting young girl
Police yesterday arrested a 64 year old Thai man in Phuket for abducting a 12 year old girl, missing from her home in Phang Nga province for 16 days. The family of the 12 year old Poonyanut “Sompoy” Kayankhai turned to social media platforms to search for her after she disappeared from her home in Phang Nga on October 5. The…
- Phuket News
Family feud turns fatal: Phuket man killed with pick axe handle
A man in Phuket was fatally attacked with a pick axe handle by a relative, leaving him dead at the scene. The attacker claimed the assault was in self-defence and awaited police to turn himself in. At 2pm yesterday, October 20, Weerayut Tanyasirisunwornkul, an investigator from Phuket City Police Station, received a report of a man being assaulted and killed…
- Phuket News
On pause: Chulalongkorn Day shuts down Phuket for royal homage
Expect a full-scale government shutdown across Phuket on Wednesday as the island joins the nation in the annual celebration of Chulalongkorn Day. Chulalongkorn Day is a national public holiday dedicated to the memory of King Chulalongkorn, also known as Rama V. This beloved monarch of the Chakri dynasty celebrated for his reformist zeal, passed away in 1910, but his legacy…
- Phuket News
Rubbed the wrong way: New hire turns thief at Phuket massage shop
An owner of a massage shop in the Patong area of Phuket offered a job to an unemployed woman, who later turned thief and stole money and valuables from the shop on her second day of work. The owner took to social media to issue a warning to other shops and expose the thieving behaviour of her former employee. She…
- Phuket News
Phuket hit-and-run: Foreigner leaves injured Thai man with 3,100 baht
A Thai woman is seeking justice for her husband after a foreign woman hit him with her car on a road in the Thalang district of Phuket on Tuesday, October 15, and fled the scene, leaving him with injuries and 3,100 baht in cash. The victim’s wife shared details of the accident with the news Facebook page, Phuket Times, today,…
- Phuket News
Phuket landslide victims to receive 9,000 baht compensation soon
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat assured that compensation from the central government to victims and survivors of the landslide in Kata will be delivered soon. The amount, 9,000 baht per person, will be paid directly into claimants’ bank accounts, Governor Sophon told reporters. He was speaking at the site of the landslide following a merit-making ceremony to support those who suffered…
- Thailand News
Knife-wielding gang on the run after Patong attack horror
Patong’s popular Bangla Road turned into a crime scene early this morning as police launched a manhunt for a gang behind a brutal knife attack. Chaos erupted today, October 16, in Soi Sea Dragon when a 33 year old man, Sarawut Booniai, was chased down and stabbed by a group of unidentified assailants. Two brave bystanders, who stepped in to…
- Phuket News
Lost Italian tourist rescued after night in Phuket jungle
An Italian tourist thanked local officials for their efforts after launching a search to find him when he got lost in the jungle near Nai Yang Beach, Phuket. Tomas Garcia Martin, a 34 year old Italian national, found himself disoriented during a fishing trip on October 13. Realising his predicament, he contacted the Pullman Naithon Hotel, where he was staying,…
- Crime News
Phuket police crackdown on illegal Chinese tour guides ahead of High Season
Phuket Tourist Police initiated a crackdown on illegal Chinese tour guides in preparation for the upcoming tourism High Season. Yesterday, October 14, Phuket Tourist Police, in line with orders from Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, began efforts to combat illegal activities threatening the tourism industry. This directive was shared in a report posted by…
- Thailand News
German tourist nabbed for drugs and overstaying in Phuket
Patong police yesterday dramatically swooped on a 29 year old German tourist, arresting him on charges of drug use and overstaying his visa in Thailand. The bust went down at 2.30pm, yesterday, October 13, right in the comfort of his hotel room on Prachanukroh Road. According to insider info from the boys in blue, the unnamed German traveller was whisked…
- Phuket News
Phuket couple face charges after daughter suffers fractured skull
A couple in Phuket is facing serious charges after their two year old daughter was discovered unconscious with a fractured skull, the result of a horrific beating. Investigating officers revealed that both parents tested positive for drugs, adding to the grim nature of this tragic case. A concerned neighbour, alarmed by the ongoing abuse, called emergency services to the family’s…
- Phuket News
Phuket faces fire risk from unspent firecrackers after festival
Phuket City Municipality officials are addressing the fire hazard posed by unspent firecrackers at the landfill in Saphan Hin following this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Large quantities of firecracker waste were collected after daily street processions and shrine activities during the festival, according to Phuket City Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet. When strips of firecrackers were ignited, not all detonated, leaving…
- Phuket News
Thousands of dead fish wash ashore in Patong, alarming locals
Beachgoers in Patong were met with a shocking scene yesterday, October 11, as thousands of dead fish washed ashore, prompting immediate concern among locals, tourists, and officials. Various species of fish were scattered along the beach, driven in by strong winds and waves. The sudden die-off has left officials scrambling to identify the cause of this marine disaster. Locals quickly…
- Thailand News
Phuket to hold ceremonies for mudslide victims next week
Phuket will collaborate with local agencies to host ritual ceremonies next week, aiming to build morale and honour those who perished in the recent mudslide tragedy. Sophon Thongsai, director of the Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, stated that the event is set to commemorate the victims of the catastrophic mudslide that struck on August 23 at 5am in…
- Thailand News
Phuket marine police seize illegal jet skis, arrest two operators
Marine Police in Phuket seized four illegal jet skis and apprehended two operators who were preparing to offer services to tourists without the necessary licences. The arrests were made yesterday, October 10, during routine patrols at a pier in Koh Kaew, as part of an ongoing initiative to clamp down on unlawful activities in the area. The operation was spearheaded by…
- Phuket News
Phuket employer charged for illegal hire of Sri Lankan worker
Phuket Immigration officers charged the employer of a Sri Lankan man for illegal employment at a construction site in Wichit. The Sri Lankan national, identified by police as K. Piyaralala, was apprehended while working on a house extension project at Ao Kham Beach in Wichit on Wednesday, October 9. Piyaralala faces charges for being an alien working without permission, a…
- Phuket News
Thai maid discovers body of Japanese man in Phuket hotel room
A Thai maid discovered the body of a Japanese man in a hotel in the Sakhu district of Phuket yesterday, October 10. A suicide note written in Japanese was found at the scene. Officers from Sakhu Police Station were alerted to the man’s death by a hotel maid and rushed to investigate. The deceased, later identified as 45 year old…
- Phuket News
Dam full: Phuket’s reservoirs overflow as Bang Niew hits 103%
Phuket’s reservoirs are bursting at the seams, with Bang Niew Dam in Srisoonthorn now at a staggering 103% capacity. The island is bracing for more rain and potential flash floods through to Saturday, as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of continued downpours. Bang Niew Dam currently holds a whopping 7.39 million cubic metres of water, surpassing its official capacity…
- Phuket News
Big Buddha Phuket charged with encroachment after deadly landslide
Police have charged the Big Buddha Phuket Phraphutthamingmongkhol Sattha 45 Foundation and its president, Suporn Wanichakul, with forest encroachment and unauthorised construction following a deadly landslide at the site. Karon police announced the charges related to forest destruction and have referred the case to public prosecutors. The landslide, which occurred after heavy rain on August 23, struck Nak Koet Hill,…
- Road deaths
Man dies in motorbike crash on Wiset Road in Phuket
A tragic accident claimed the life of a man this morning on Wiset Road in Rawai, Phuket. The incident occurred around 1am, today, October 9, when Sarayut lost control of his motorcycle and drifted into the central reservation, resulting in a fatal head injury. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, located in front of the Baan Bang Kontee…
- Phuket News
Bedroom horror: Phuket woman attacked in home, suspect at large
In a shocking home invasion that has left a woman traumatised and police on high alert, a 40 year old man forced his way into a bedroom in Moo 3, Ratsada, launching a terrifying attack that included attempted sexual assault and robbery. The horrifying incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday, October 7. The 34 year old woman bravely…
- Phuket News
South Korean man rescued from drowning near Koh Racha, Phuket
The Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre rescued a South Korean man from drowning off Koh Racha, an island in Phuket, on Monday, October 7. The news was reported by the Phuket Hotnews, yesterday, October 8, detailing the successful rescue by Thai officials. The victim was identified as a 63 year old South Korean man, though his name was not disclosed. The…
- Thailand News
Down under or Thai? Aussie mum trades Oz for Land of Smiles
What would you do if the dream of owning your home seemed to be slipping away? For one Aussie mum, the solution was packing up her family and heading for exotic shores, trading Oz for the Land of Smiles. Natalie Coulson, a 45 year old mother of one, had enough of Sydney’s spiralling property market. The fear of a lifetime…
- Thailand News
Phuket cries out for fireboats as cruise ship inferno threat looms
A former top naval commander sounded the alarm over the desperate need for fireboats in Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi, as the spectre of cruise ship fires haunts these popular holiday hotspots. Rear Admiral Amornchote Sujirat has drawn attention to the glaring absence of firefighting vessels in these bustling maritime provinces, which welcome hordes of marine traffic each year. Fires…
- Thailand News
Revved up: Phuket police crackdown on illegal street racing
Phuket City police swooped on illegal street racers in the early hours of this morning, targeting the notorious Saphan Hin area and seizing five motorcycles in a swift crackdown. The high-octane drama unfolded at 12.45am, today, October 7, after eagle-eyed officers spotted online chatter about the underground racing scene on local social media channels. Their prompt action led to the…
