File photo, source: wikimediaBANGKOK: -- Khaosod Newspaper has received complaints from the Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association that they are being forced to pay substantial amounts of money to mafias for the right to offer their services to city commuters. Chalerm Changtongmadun, the association's president, says he represents around 500 motorcycle taxi drivers in the city. Bangkok, he says, has over 4,800 motorcycle taxi cues throughout the city. That amounts to around 200,000 individual motorcycle taxis.
Chalerm claims that this group has been forced to pay protection fees of up to 40,000 to 60,000 baht a month. Each motorcycle cue is extorted for different amounts of money by local and national mafias.
According to Chalerm, these mafia represent high ranking members of the armed forces or local and national politicians, depending on which area of the city the cue is located.
If they refuse to pay, Chalerm claims that the mafia will send bullies to harrass and terrorize them. In some cases, motorcycle taxi drivers have been hospitalized for serious injuries inflicted upon them for not paying up.
Chalerm says that there has been a case where the head of the motorcycle cue disappeared. His body was found days later and police still haven't concluded the investigation.
The president of the association says that he's brought these grievances to authorities before, but no one has fixed the problem.
Chalerm claims that in some areas, a whole new motorcycle cue is organized nearby, offering services on the same routes as the legitimate taxi cue. Local police failed to deal with the situation after being told of the problem.
The motorcycle taxi drivers are also calling on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for help. They say they've met with BMA officials at least 10 times, but the problem remains.
According to Khaosod Online, the association provided photographs and video clips as evidence that their claims are true.
Translated from www.khaosod.co.th
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-02 06:39:55
Gambling den 'in railway police area'
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- One of the gambling dens revealed by politician Chuwit Kamolvisit is located in the jurisdiction of the Railway Police, not the Metropolitan Police Bureau, a senior metropolitan police commander said yesterday.
Railway Police have been contacted and informed of the den, said Pol MajGeneral Pachara Bunyasit, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 1. "If there is nothing done [by the Railway Police], MPD 1 will take action against it," he said.
All Bangkokbased police officers were instructed to check out their precincts for gambling dens, after Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit released lists of reported illegal gambling operations. Those who have completed their inspections say they have found none.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, a former police captain, said most permanent dens no longer existed but mobile ones were still operating - but this was not the police's fault. "Police do nothing wrong by not taking action against mobile dens… which are difficult to keep track of," he added.
Chalerm claimed he had been offered hundreds of millions of baht by den operators to turn a blind eye to their operations - but had turned them down. "All I can say is that if I am in position, no dens can operate," he said. He did not say why he did not take action against the socalled den operators for offering bribes.
On Chuwit's revelation, MPD2 commander Pol MajGeneral Samreong Suwannaphong said he had found no dens in his jurisdiction and could not tell whether any had operated there previously. "All dens operating [in the MPD2 jurisdiction] were inundated during the floods," he said.
Bang Khen police said there were no dens in their jurisdiction, as reported by Inspectorgeneral Pol LtGeneral Sathaphorn Laothong, who said he had found a number of dens operating outside Bangkok. They were in the jurisdiction of Regional Police Bureau 1, under operators named as Sor Sommai and Hia Tue.
Deputy Bangkok police chief Pol MajGeneral Nares Nanthachote said police in Bangkok would make inspections for local dens every 10 days starting from yesterday, for a 30day period. They had no plans yet to interview Chuwit over his revelation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- One of the gambling dens revealed by politician Chuwit Kamolvisit is located in the jurisdiction of the Railway Police, not the Metropolitan Police Bureau, a senior metropolitan police commander said yesterday.
Railway Police have been contacted and informed of the den, said Pol MajGeneral Pachara Bunyasit, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 1. "If there is nothing done [by the Railway Police], MPD 1 will take action against it," he said.
All Bangkokbased police officers were instructed to check out their precincts for gambling dens, after Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit released lists of reported illegal gambling operations. Those who have completed their inspections say they have found none.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, a former police captain, said most permanent dens no longer existed but mobile ones were still operating - but this was not the police's fault. "Police do nothing wrong by not taking action against mobile dens… which are difficult to keep track of," he added.
Chalerm claimed he had been offered hundreds of millions of baht by den operators to turn a blind eye to their operations - but had turned them down. "All I can say is that if I am in position, no dens can operate," he said. He did not say why he did not take action against the socalled den operators for offering bribes.
On Chuwit's revelation, MPD2 commander Pol MajGeneral Samreong Suwannaphong said he had found no dens in his jurisdiction and could not tell whether any had operated there previously. "All dens operating [in the MPD2 jurisdiction] were inundated during the floods," he said.
Bang Khen police said there were no dens in their jurisdiction, as reported by Inspectorgeneral Pol LtGeneral Sathaphorn Laothong, who said he had found a number of dens operating outside Bangkok. They were in the jurisdiction of Regional Police Bureau 1, under operators named as Sor Sommai and Hia Tue.
Deputy Bangkok police chief Pol MajGeneral Nares Nanthachote said police in Bangkok would make inspections for local dens every 10 days starting from yesterday, for a 30day period. They had no plans yet to interview Chuwit over his revelation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-02 09:16:45
4 Swedes, 1 Thai dead in horror smash near Phuket
Phuket Gazette
The crash site in Khok Kloy, just over the bridge from Phuket. Photo: Narinthorn Rescue Foundation Phang Nga
The driver of the fish transport truck fled the scene after the accident. He is now being sought by Phuket and Phang Nga Police. Photo: Narinthorn Rescue Foundation Phang Nga
PHUKET: -- Two young Swedish couples and their Thai driver were killed instantly yesterday morning when their rented car was hit head-on by a six-wheel refrigerator truck in Takua Thung District, Phang Nga.
The dead were identified by their ID cards as:
Elin Marita Hedbris, 21
Frida Madeleine Falk, 22
Anders Tobias Larsson, 22
Johan Olof Nikolas Svensson, 22
Wichit Phromluang, 26, from Udon Thani
According to Swedish media reports, the two couples were from the town of Varberg and were on a three-week holiday. They had been staying in Patong.
Swedish consular staff are aware of the crash and will assist the families of the victims.
The bodies of all five victims were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
According to reports, all five were killed instantly when the Honda compact car they were riding in was hit head on by a six-wheel refrigerator truck owned by a fish transport firm Chotepatama Company.
Takua Thung District Police are now hunting the driver, who fled the scene.
The accident happened on the wide stretch of bypass road that runs behind the Thung Pho School in Khok Kloy subdistrict.
According to one report the Swedes were on their way to the popular diving destination of Koh Tao, part of Chumphon Province, when the crash occurred.
It was the worst mass casualty event involving Swedes in Thailand since the 2004 tsunami disaster.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12180.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phuket Gazette
The crash site in Khok Kloy, just over the bridge from Phuket. Photo: Narinthorn Rescue Foundation Phang Nga
The driver of the fish transport truck fled the scene after the accident. He is now being sought by Phuket and Phang Nga Police. Photo: Narinthorn Rescue Foundation Phang Nga
PHUKET: -- Two young Swedish couples and their Thai driver were killed instantly yesterday morning when their rented car was hit head-on by a six-wheel refrigerator truck in Takua Thung District, Phang Nga.
The dead were identified by their ID cards as:
Elin Marita Hedbris, 21
Frida Madeleine Falk, 22
Anders Tobias Larsson, 22
Johan Olof Nikolas Svensson, 22
Wichit Phromluang, 26, from Udon Thani
According to Swedish media reports, the two couples were from the town of Varberg and were on a three-week holiday. They had been staying in Patong.
Swedish consular staff are aware of the crash and will assist the families of the victims.
The bodies of all five victims were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
According to reports, all five were killed instantly when the Honda compact car they were riding in was hit head on by a six-wheel refrigerator truck owned by a fish transport firm Chotepatama Company.
Takua Thung District Police are now hunting the driver, who fled the scene.
The accident happened on the wide stretch of bypass road that runs behind the Thung Pho School in Khok Kloy subdistrict.
According to one report the Swedes were on their way to the popular diving destination of Koh Tao, part of Chumphon Province, when the crash occurred.
It was the worst mass casualty event involving Swedes in Thailand since the 2004 tsunami disaster.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12180.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-02 10:24:39
Drunken Argument about Female Prime Minister Results in Murder
LOP BURI: -- A 53-year old Lop Buri native admitted to hitting and killing his friend in the head with a hammer after a heated argument about having a woman as the prime minister had taken the turn for worse.
Sawai Komsingh, 53-year old man from Lop Buri Province, turned himself in to the police on Tuesday. He admitted to hitting and killing his friend, Chame Nathong, in the head with a hammer on Sunday night.
Sawai confessed to the police that he had known Chame for many years. The two men started drinking at Sawai's home at 11AM. The drinking session went on for over 10 hours. After consuming approximately 3 large bottles of alcohol (2.25 liters), the two friends started arguing about past business transactions. Sawai claimed the victim had angered him by bringing up an old business deal between him and Chame's father. Chame repeatedly claimed Sawai owed him money for a plot of land he had purchased from Chame's father 7 years ago.
Sawai and Chame then went on to discuss about politics. Chame told Sawai that he does not want a woman as the prime minister. Sawai told the police that he suspected Chame became dispassionate about women when his wife left him. The two then became engaged in a heated argument with Sawai claiming Chame was the first to physically attack him.
Sawai confessed, in his drunken stupor, he hit Chame with a hammer in the head. Sawai also claimed he tried to seek medical attention to help Chame but got into a car accident en route to the hospital. Sawai went into hiding for a day before he decided to turn himself in.
Sawai also told the police that he greatly admires PM Yingluck Shinawatra and had participated in several red-shirt gatherings in the past to show his support for the premier.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOP BURI: -- A 53-year old Lop Buri native admitted to hitting and killing his friend in the head with a hammer after a heated argument about having a woman as the prime minister had taken the turn for worse.
Sawai Komsingh, 53-year old man from Lop Buri Province, turned himself in to the police on Tuesday. He admitted to hitting and killing his friend, Chame Nathong, in the head with a hammer on Sunday night.
Sawai confessed to the police that he had known Chame for many years. The two men started drinking at Sawai's home at 11AM. The drinking session went on for over 10 hours. After consuming approximately 3 large bottles of alcohol (2.25 liters), the two friends started arguing about past business transactions. Sawai claimed the victim had angered him by bringing up an old business deal between him and Chame's father. Chame repeatedly claimed Sawai owed him money for a plot of land he had purchased from Chame's father 7 years ago.
Sawai and Chame then went on to discuss about politics. Chame told Sawai that he does not want a woman as the prime minister. Sawai told the police that he suspected Chame became dispassionate about women when his wife left him. The two then became engaged in a heated argument with Sawai claiming Chame was the first to physically attack him.
Sawai confessed, in his drunken stupor, he hit Chame with a hammer in the head. Sawai also claimed he tried to seek medical attention to help Chame but got into a car accident en route to the hospital. Sawai went into hiding for a day before he decided to turn himself in.
Sawai also told the police that he greatly admires PM Yingluck Shinawatra and had participated in several red-shirt gatherings in the past to show his support for the premier.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Irish Men Went on Rampage, Stab Two People in Pattaya
Picture from PattayaDailyNews.com
PATTAYA: -- Two Irish men went on a drunken rampage early this morning, stabbing and injuring a total of 4 people. The claimed they were forced to defend themselves after they were attacked by local motorcycle taxi drivers in Pattaya.
At 4.30AM this morning, the Pattaya Police received a report of a public disturbance involving 2 foreign nationals in front of Boom Boom Beer Bar on Pattaya New Plaza Road in Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found a security guard lying on the floor in front of the bar. The guard, Yongyuth Yaiying, 23 years old, sustained a serious injury from being stabbed once on his upper left thigh. He was immediately rushed to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital for treatment. Another victim, 41 year old motorcycle taxi driver Phromma Traisawan, was also stabbed in his torso and neck. He had already been transported to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital by the time the police arrived at the crime scene.
Witnesses at the bar told the police that the 2 men responsible for the stabbing had already fled the scene on a motorcycle. The bar owner identified one of the suspects as Darren Philip Delaney. According to the bar owner, Delaney, 40 years old, had paid for sexual services of 2 bar girls. However, the girls returned to the bar a short time later claiming they feared for their safety once they arrived at Delaney's house, seeing how intoxicated he and his friend, 40-year old Irish national, Thomas Plunkett were.
According to the bar owner, Delaney who seemed badly intoxicated, followed the girl back to the bar and angrily demanded his money back. The bar owner quickly complied to Delaney's request but that did not calm him down. He attacked 2 bar patrons and a handful of motorcycle taxi drivers who tried to restrain him.
Delaney then fled the scene on a motorcycle. The bar owner immediately shut down the bar and accompanied the two patrons to the hospital and filed a police report against Delaney.
Later that night, Delaney, accompanied by his friend, Thomas Plunkett, came back and began to attack the motorcycle taxi drivers and security guards in front of the bar. Witnesses told the police that Plunkett was responsible for stabbing the 2 victims.
Plunkett and Delaney later fled the scene once again.
The police rushed to the place of residence of the two suspects at a house in the South Pattaya area. The two suspects were reportedly badly intoxicated and attempted to resist arrest. The police, however, were unable to recover the knife that was used to stab both the security guard and the motorcycle taxi driver.
Both Delaney and Plunkett claimed they acted out of self-defence after they were attacked by the security guard and the motorcycle taxi drivers. The two are now being interrogated and detained by the Pattaya Police.
Translated from http://www.pattayadailynews.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Libel warning over sharp-tongued chat robot
The Nation
File photo, Source: wikimedia
BANGKOK: -- Users of the SimSimi "chat robot" application who post texts deemed libellous to other persons online face prosecution, even if the offensive remarks are generated by the program, Information and Communications Technology Minister Gp Captain Anudith Nakornthap said yesterday.
"We will monitor the online world and take action against offenders," he said.
He called on people to alert the ICT Ministry if they find libellous messages online.
"You can call our hotline centre at 1212 round the clock," Anudith said.
The SimSimi application, which can be downloaded for free onto iPhones, iPads and Androidbased cellphones, have become a big hit among Thais during the past few weeks. However, the chatrobot application often makes offensive remarks when users mention certain names, particularly those of politicians.
SimSimi also allows users to share their conversations online via media such as Facebook.
As one of its features, the chat robot memorises answers taught to it by users in order to continue conversations automatically.
Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said the ICT Ministry was asked to contact the South Korean developer of the application and seek its cooperation in removing comments deemed rude or inappropriate.
"We can't screen the use of SimSimi the way we monitor the Internet," she said.
Sukumol said that to an extent, the popularity of SimSimi reflected problems in contemporary relationships.
"Why don't people talk to their friends or family members, rather than the chat robot?" she asked.
Association of Thai Language Teachers of Thailand president Kanjana Naksakul, who is also a member of the Royal Institute, expressed concern that using SimSimi would desensitise users to rude words.
"Then, people may come to think that everyone is using the rude words and thus it's okay to use them," she said.
She also pointed out that the SimSimi robot might memorise wrong or inappropriate words and repeat them, making it hard for its users to realise how to use language correctly and properly.
"As Thais, we should campaign for the proper use of the Thai language," Kanjana said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Picture from PattayaDailyNews.com
PATTAYA: -- Two Irish men went on a drunken rampage early this morning, stabbing and injuring a total of 4 people. The claimed they were forced to defend themselves after they were attacked by local motorcycle taxi drivers in Pattaya.
At 4.30AM this morning, the Pattaya Police received a report of a public disturbance involving 2 foreign nationals in front of Boom Boom Beer Bar on Pattaya New Plaza Road in Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found a security guard lying on the floor in front of the bar. The guard, Yongyuth Yaiying, 23 years old, sustained a serious injury from being stabbed once on his upper left thigh. He was immediately rushed to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital for treatment. Another victim, 41 year old motorcycle taxi driver Phromma Traisawan, was also stabbed in his torso and neck. He had already been transported to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital by the time the police arrived at the crime scene.
Witnesses at the bar told the police that the 2 men responsible for the stabbing had already fled the scene on a motorcycle. The bar owner identified one of the suspects as Darren Philip Delaney. According to the bar owner, Delaney, 40 years old, had paid for sexual services of 2 bar girls. However, the girls returned to the bar a short time later claiming they feared for their safety once they arrived at Delaney's house, seeing how intoxicated he and his friend, 40-year old Irish national, Thomas Plunkett were.
According to the bar owner, Delaney who seemed badly intoxicated, followed the girl back to the bar and angrily demanded his money back. The bar owner quickly complied to Delaney's request but that did not calm him down. He attacked 2 bar patrons and a handful of motorcycle taxi drivers who tried to restrain him.
Delaney then fled the scene on a motorcycle. The bar owner immediately shut down the bar and accompanied the two patrons to the hospital and filed a police report against Delaney.
Later that night, Delaney, accompanied by his friend, Thomas Plunkett, came back and began to attack the motorcycle taxi drivers and security guards in front of the bar. Witnesses told the police that Plunkett was responsible for stabbing the 2 victims.
Plunkett and Delaney later fled the scene once again.
The police rushed to the place of residence of the two suspects at a house in the South Pattaya area. The two suspects were reportedly badly intoxicated and attempted to resist arrest. The police, however, were unable to recover the knife that was used to stab both the security guard and the motorcycle taxi driver.
Both Delaney and Plunkett claimed they acted out of self-defence after they were attacked by the security guard and the motorcycle taxi drivers. The two are now being interrogated and detained by the Pattaya Police.
Translated from http://www.pattayadailynews.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Libel warning over sharp-tongued chat robot
The Nation
File photo, Source: wikimedia
BANGKOK: -- Users of the SimSimi "chat robot" application who post texts deemed libellous to other persons online face prosecution, even if the offensive remarks are generated by the program, Information and Communications Technology Minister Gp Captain Anudith Nakornthap said yesterday.
"We will monitor the online world and take action against offenders," he said.
He called on people to alert the ICT Ministry if they find libellous messages online.
"You can call our hotline centre at 1212 round the clock," Anudith said.
The SimSimi application, which can be downloaded for free onto iPhones, iPads and Androidbased cellphones, have become a big hit among Thais during the past few weeks. However, the chatrobot application often makes offensive remarks when users mention certain names, particularly those of politicians.
SimSimi also allows users to share their conversations online via media such as Facebook.
As one of its features, the chat robot memorises answers taught to it by users in order to continue conversations automatically.
Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said the ICT Ministry was asked to contact the South Korean developer of the application and seek its cooperation in removing comments deemed rude or inappropriate.
"We can't screen the use of SimSimi the way we monitor the Internet," she said.
Sukumol said that to an extent, the popularity of SimSimi reflected problems in contemporary relationships.
"Why don't people talk to their friends or family members, rather than the chat robot?" she asked.
Association of Thai Language Teachers of Thailand president Kanjana Naksakul, who is also a member of the Royal Institute, expressed concern that using SimSimi would desensitise users to rude words.
"Then, people may come to think that everyone is using the rude words and thus it's okay to use them," she said.
She also pointed out that the SimSimi robot might memorise wrong or inappropriate words and repeat them, making it hard for its users to realise how to use language correctly and properly.
"As Thais, we should campaign for the proper use of the Thai language," Kanjana said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-06 16:47:29
Austrian falls to his death from North Pattaya Apartment Complex
PATTAYA: -- An Austrian Energy Drink Company Executive has fallen 18 floors to his death from a North Pattaya Apartment Complex.
In the early hours of Monday, Police and Rescue Workers were called to the Saranchol Condo in Soi Wongamart in Naklua by Security Guards who discovered the naked body of Mr. Harald Schmidberger aged 60 from Austria, who is listed as a Managing Director of the Red Bull Company which originates from Austria.
He had fallen from the balcony of his 18th floor apartment and was pronounced dead-at-the-scene. An inspection of his apartment took place and a variety of medications to treat Cancer was found.
Staff at the complex confirmed that Mr. Schmidberger appeared in a depressed state over the last 7 days which they assume is connected to his illness as he lived alone. The Austrian Embassy in Bangkok has been informed.
Source: http://www.pattayaon...rtment-complex/
PATTAYA: -- An Austrian Energy Drink Company Executive has fallen 18 floors to his death from a North Pattaya Apartment Complex.
In the early hours of Monday, Police and Rescue Workers were called to the Saranchol Condo in Soi Wongamart in Naklua by Security Guards who discovered the naked body of Mr. Harald Schmidberger aged 60 from Austria, who is listed as a Managing Director of the Red Bull Company which originates from Austria.
He had fallen from the balcony of his 18th floor apartment and was pronounced dead-at-the-scene. An inspection of his apartment took place and a variety of medications to treat Cancer was found.
Staff at the complex confirmed that Mr. Schmidberger appeared in a depressed state over the last 7 days which they assume is connected to his illness as he lived alone. The Austrian Embassy in Bangkok has been informed.
Source: http://www.pattayaon...rtment-complex/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-06 17:53:34
Thai police bust Bangkok rare wildlife 'butchers'
BANGKOK, February 6, 2012 (AFP) - Thai police busted a grisly exotic wildlife slaughterhouse in Bangkok when officers caught four men in the act of chopping up a tiger in a residential home, officials said Monday.
Elephant, zebra, wildebeest and lion remains were also found at the suburban property as well as meat kept in a refrigerator that police and wildlife activists said was likely to be destined for human consumption.
"We assume that the meat is from tigers because we found tiger skin and heads. From what I've seen, I think it's two tigers," Thai Nature Crime Police Commander, Police Colonel Norasak Hemnithi, told AFP.
He said police arrested seven men and are hunting another, believed to be the owner of an exotic animal restaurant in Bangkok, which has operated in the capital for a decade.
"We believe that this butchers house is mainly to provide orders for the restaurant, but those arrested said they sometimes shipped meat and stuffed animals to China," he added.
Wildlife anti-trafficking group Freeland, which often works with the Thai police on operations, said local police chanced on the gruesome scene after encountering a man whose hands were covered in blood in Bangkok's Yannawa district.
"Police escorted the man back to a residential building and discovered four others in the midst of chopping up a 400 kilogramme (880 pound) male tiger," the group said.
Freeland director Steven Galster said the group believes some of the animals were "bred in, or laundered through, private zoos in Thailand".
Norasak said he thought the tigers might have been from the wild, but other animals could have been from private zoos.
The arrested men could face four years in jail for the illegal processing of wild and protected animals, he added.
Thailand, a hub of international smuggling, is one of just 13 countries hosting fragile tiger populations. Worldwide, numbers are estimated to have fallen to only 3,200 tigers from approximately 100,000 a century ago.
BANGKOK, February 6, 2012 (AFP) - Thai police busted a grisly exotic wildlife slaughterhouse in Bangkok when officers caught four men in the act of chopping up a tiger in a residential home, officials said Monday.
Elephant, zebra, wildebeest and lion remains were also found at the suburban property as well as meat kept in a refrigerator that police and wildlife activists said was likely to be destined for human consumption.
"We assume that the meat is from tigers because we found tiger skin and heads. From what I've seen, I think it's two tigers," Thai Nature Crime Police Commander, Police Colonel Norasak Hemnithi, told AFP.
He said police arrested seven men and are hunting another, believed to be the owner of an exotic animal restaurant in Bangkok, which has operated in the capital for a decade.
"We believe that this butchers house is mainly to provide orders for the restaurant, but those arrested said they sometimes shipped meat and stuffed animals to China," he added.
Wildlife anti-trafficking group Freeland, which often works with the Thai police on operations, said local police chanced on the gruesome scene after encountering a man whose hands were covered in blood in Bangkok's Yannawa district.
"Police escorted the man back to a residential building and discovered four others in the midst of chopping up a 400 kilogramme (880 pound) male tiger," the group said.
Freeland director Steven Galster said the group believes some of the animals were "bred in, or laundered through, private zoos in Thailand".
Norasak said he thought the tigers might have been from the wild, but other animals could have been from private zoos.
The arrested men could face four years in jail for the illegal processing of wild and protected animals, he added.
Thailand, a hub of international smuggling, is one of just 13 countries hosting fragile tiger populations. Worldwide, numbers are estimated to have fallen to only 3,200 tigers from approximately 100,000 a century ago.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold Shop Owner's Son Cuts up Millions of Baht in Banknotes
CHONBURI: -- Police have interrogated a gold shop owner and his son after the son confessed to cutting up millions of baht in 1,000-baht banknotes in protest of his father as he thought his father loved his older brother more.Chonburi Police yesterday interrogated 30-year-old Worapan Rojsatarat and his father Worapong Rojsatarat, who owns the Rungcharoen gold shop, in Ban Bueng, Chonburi.
Police displayed evidence which consisted of about 1 million baht (US$33,000) in 1,000-baht banknotes which are cut up and burnt and were dumped in a trash can in front of the Sapmongkol store, a pair of scissors, a match box, and money bands from Kasikorn Bank.
The gold shop owner told the police the cutting up, tearing and torching of the banknotes was carried out by his son. His son then dumped the notes in a trash can about 30 meters away from their residence. He said his son was stressed out because he felt his father didn't love his 3 children equally. The father had opened another gold shop for Worapan's older brother and his wife in Pattaya City 2 years ago and would often give 100,000-200,000 baht a month to the older brother because he complained that the gold shop isn't doing well.
Worapan wasn't happy with what happened so he embezzled around 10,000-20,000 baht from the proceeds from his father's gold shop for the past 2-3 years until he accumulated 1 million baht in cash and proceeded to destroy the banknotes and dumped them. However, he saw on the internet that the police were going to pursue the destroyer of the banknotes by lifting fingerprints on them so he got scared and confessed to his father. His father then contacted the police, leading to the press conference.
The police say they won't prosecute Worapan because the banknotes he destroyed belonged to his family. They added there is no cause to prosecute Worapan for lese majeste in destroying banknotes which have an image of the King on it as he didn't have the intention to do so.
Worapan said he felt guilty for what he had done and admitted it stemmed from anger at his father as he thought he loved his children unequally. He was also worried the family's wealth will be drained because the gold shop he is taking care of isn't doing as well too and the family had to take out a bank loan to help with the situation.
-- Tan Network 2012-02-07
CHONBURI: -- Police have interrogated a gold shop owner and his son after the son confessed to cutting up millions of baht in 1,000-baht banknotes in protest of his father as he thought his father loved his older brother more.Chonburi Police yesterday interrogated 30-year-old Worapan Rojsatarat and his father Worapong Rojsatarat, who owns the Rungcharoen gold shop, in Ban Bueng, Chonburi.
Police displayed evidence which consisted of about 1 million baht (US$33,000) in 1,000-baht banknotes which are cut up and burnt and were dumped in a trash can in front of the Sapmongkol store, a pair of scissors, a match box, and money bands from Kasikorn Bank.
The gold shop owner told the police the cutting up, tearing and torching of the banknotes was carried out by his son. His son then dumped the notes in a trash can about 30 meters away from their residence. He said his son was stressed out because he felt his father didn't love his 3 children equally. The father had opened another gold shop for Worapan's older brother and his wife in Pattaya City 2 years ago and would often give 100,000-200,000 baht a month to the older brother because he complained that the gold shop isn't doing well.
Worapan wasn't happy with what happened so he embezzled around 10,000-20,000 baht from the proceeds from his father's gold shop for the past 2-3 years until he accumulated 1 million baht in cash and proceeded to destroy the banknotes and dumped them. However, he saw on the internet that the police were going to pursue the destroyer of the banknotes by lifting fingerprints on them so he got scared and confessed to his father. His father then contacted the police, leading to the press conference.
The police say they won't prosecute Worapan because the banknotes he destroyed belonged to his family. They added there is no cause to prosecute Worapan for lese majeste in destroying banknotes which have an image of the King on it as he didn't have the intention to do so.
Worapan said he felt guilty for what he had done and admitted it stemmed from anger at his father as he thought he loved his children unequally. He was also worried the family's wealth will be drained because the gold shop he is taking care of isn't doing as well too and the family had to take out a bank loan to help with the situation.
-- Tan Network 2012-02-07
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phuket to Rid Itself of Beggars and Homeless People
PHUKET: -- Phuket will be ridding its streets of beggars and homeless people on February 14 to improve its image as a world-class tourist attraction.
Phuket social development and human security officer Chuanchom Chantawong said the number of beggars and homeless people is escalating in the province which doesn't help with the province's effort to become a world-class tourist destination.
The Phuket Social Development and Human Security Office is teaming up with the police, the immigration police, the public health office, local officials and orphanages in taking these people off the streets in 3 districts.
Beggars and the homeless can be seen at tourist attractions, fresh markets and flea markets. Most are from other provinces and come to Phuket to make a living begging or are forced into the human trafficking trade.
They include children, women, the disabled and the elderly and there are both Thai citizens and foreign nationals. Beggars in Phuket earn a good living with some making as much as 500 baht a day.
Last year, Phuket officials were able to arrest 30 beggars. In January alone, 7 crackdowns at Sapanhin, Katu municipality, Chalong Temple, Sam Kong Market, Patong, and Hua Saphan Rasada Market netted 3 Cambodian beggars, one of which is a 7-year-old girl and 2 males. Officials believe the group were brought into the area as part of the human trafficking trade.
Arrested beggars and homeless people who are 18 to 60 years of age will be sent to a shelter in Sichol, Nakhon Si Thammarat to receive training to find another occupation so they don't return to begging. Those under 18 years of age will be returned to their parents with serious reprimands. If they are orphaned, they'll be sent to an orphanage.
Those who are above 60 will be sent to the elderly home while foreign nationals will be taken into custody by the immigration police to be prosecuted and deported. If the homeless or the beggar is mentally-ill or has a contagious disease, the public health office will step in.
The officer urges Phuket residents not to give money to beggars to stem the trade while those who witness human trafficking should call the Prachabodi Center at 1300 to report the activity.
The crackdown will start on February 14 with a taskforce set up for each of the 3 districts to visit areas often frequented by beggars and the homeless.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHUKET: -- Phuket will be ridding its streets of beggars and homeless people on February 14 to improve its image as a world-class tourist attraction.
Phuket social development and human security officer Chuanchom Chantawong said the number of beggars and homeless people is escalating in the province which doesn't help with the province's effort to become a world-class tourist destination.
The Phuket Social Development and Human Security Office is teaming up with the police, the immigration police, the public health office, local officials and orphanages in taking these people off the streets in 3 districts.
Beggars and the homeless can be seen at tourist attractions, fresh markets and flea markets. Most are from other provinces and come to Phuket to make a living begging or are forced into the human trafficking trade.
They include children, women, the disabled and the elderly and there are both Thai citizens and foreign nationals. Beggars in Phuket earn a good living with some making as much as 500 baht a day.
Last year, Phuket officials were able to arrest 30 beggars. In January alone, 7 crackdowns at Sapanhin, Katu municipality, Chalong Temple, Sam Kong Market, Patong, and Hua Saphan Rasada Market netted 3 Cambodian beggars, one of which is a 7-year-old girl and 2 males. Officials believe the group were brought into the area as part of the human trafficking trade.
Arrested beggars and homeless people who are 18 to 60 years of age will be sent to a shelter in Sichol, Nakhon Si Thammarat to receive training to find another occupation so they don't return to begging. Those under 18 years of age will be returned to their parents with serious reprimands. If they are orphaned, they'll be sent to an orphanage.
Those who are above 60 will be sent to the elderly home while foreign nationals will be taken into custody by the immigration police to be prosecuted and deported. If the homeless or the beggar is mentally-ill or has a contagious disease, the public health office will step in.
The officer urges Phuket residents not to give money to beggars to stem the trade while those who witness human trafficking should call the Prachabodi Center at 1300 to report the activity.
The crackdown will start on February 14 with a taskforce set up for each of the 3 districts to visit areas often frequented by beggars and the homeless.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-10 07:03:06
Youth urged to use condoms as Valentine's Day nears
The Nation
One third of sexually active youths in the capital have swapped partners at least once, a recent survey showed.
BANGKOK: -- Conducted last month, the survey covered 1,014 respondents aged between 12 and 24 in Bangkok. Of them, 31 per cent have been sexually active. The study also showed that some Thai boys have had their first sexual experience at the age of 12, while the youngest age for girls was 13.
Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said yesterday that that only 53.2 per cent of the youth used condoms.
The survey was conducted through the collaboration of the Public Health Ministry and Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.
Paijit said that if youngsters continued to have unsafe sex, more people would contract the Aids virus. It is estimated that about 600,000 people have been living with Aids in Thailand now.
Disease Control Department directorgeneral Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said his department would hold a campaign on Valentine's Day at MBK Centre to create a positive image for condom buyers/users.
"Our campaign will be held to prevent the spread of sexuallytransmittable diseases [STD]," he said.
The department has received funds to hand out 60 million condoms across the country for the purpose of preventing STDs.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Assumption University showed that many Bangkok residents were ready to splurge for Valentine's Day. Up to 722 people aged between 18 and 50 filled in questionnaires on the subject between February 5 and 8.
Male respondents said they were planning to spend an average of Bt2,171, while female respondents planned to shell out Bt1,750 for the season of love. Their planned activities include special meals, movies and vacations.
The survey showed that as much as Bt3.723 billion will be spent on Valentine's Day, with up to Bt1.89 billion of it on gifts alone, such as flowers, clothes and accessories, chocolates, cakes and ornaments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nation
One third of sexually active youths in the capital have swapped partners at least once, a recent survey showed.
BANGKOK: -- Conducted last month, the survey covered 1,014 respondents aged between 12 and 24 in Bangkok. Of them, 31 per cent have been sexually active. The study also showed that some Thai boys have had their first sexual experience at the age of 12, while the youngest age for girls was 13.
Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said yesterday that that only 53.2 per cent of the youth used condoms.
The survey was conducted through the collaboration of the Public Health Ministry and Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.
Paijit said that if youngsters continued to have unsafe sex, more people would contract the Aids virus. It is estimated that about 600,000 people have been living with Aids in Thailand now.
Disease Control Department directorgeneral Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said his department would hold a campaign on Valentine's Day at MBK Centre to create a positive image for condom buyers/users.
"Our campaign will be held to prevent the spread of sexuallytransmittable diseases [STD]," he said.
The department has received funds to hand out 60 million condoms across the country for the purpose of preventing STDs.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Assumption University showed that many Bangkok residents were ready to splurge for Valentine's Day. Up to 722 people aged between 18 and 50 filled in questionnaires on the subject between February 5 and 8.
Male respondents said they were planning to spend an average of Bt2,171, while female respondents planned to shell out Bt1,750 for the season of love. Their planned activities include special meals, movies and vacations.
The survey showed that as much as Bt3.723 billion will be spent on Valentine's Day, with up to Bt1.89 billion of it on gifts alone, such as flowers, clothes and accessories, chocolates, cakes and ornaments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Woman Stabbed to Death at Sukhumvit Hotel
BANGKOK: -- The body of an American woman was found stabbed to death at a hotel in the Sukhumvit area. Police believe her Indian boyfriend committed the murder as he's fled the country since last night.At 3.30 P.M. yesterday, police received a call that a foreign woman was found stabbed to death in Fraser Suite Hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11.
In room 1701 on the 17th floor of the 32-storey hotel, police found the body of 52-year-old Wendy S. Albrano, an American national, on the bathroom floor wearing a red bra and black long pants. She was stabbed in the chest several times and there were signs of strangulation around her neck.
The coroner estimated that she died 20 hours ago.
The body has been brought to Chulalongkorn Hospital for an autopsy. The American Embassy has been informed and will contact the victims' relatives.
Police said the victim checked in at the hotel since February 9 and she had made a reservation via the internet. The hotel's closed circuit camera recorded the image of an Indian man aged 25 to 30 staying with her. Their last image was recorded on Sunday and they were seen leaving the hotel before returning at around 7 P.M.
Then the man was spotted leaving the hotel with his luggage at 8 P.M.
The body was discovered by a maid cleaning the room in the afternoon of the following day.
Police added there were no signs of struggle and they still cannot determine if any of her valuables are missing.
They suspect the pair had argued before the man murdered her and fled. Immigration records showed him leaving the country since 11 P.M. on Sunday. Police said they will issue an arrest warrant for the suspect and contact Interpol to pursue him.
-- Tan Network 2012-02-14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANGKOK: -- The body of an American woman was found stabbed to death at a hotel in the Sukhumvit area. Police believe her Indian boyfriend committed the murder as he's fled the country since last night.At 3.30 P.M. yesterday, police received a call that a foreign woman was found stabbed to death in Fraser Suite Hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11.
In room 1701 on the 17th floor of the 32-storey hotel, police found the body of 52-year-old Wendy S. Albrano, an American national, on the bathroom floor wearing a red bra and black long pants. She was stabbed in the chest several times and there were signs of strangulation around her neck.
The coroner estimated that she died 20 hours ago.
The body has been brought to Chulalongkorn Hospital for an autopsy. The American Embassy has been informed and will contact the victims' relatives.
Police said the victim checked in at the hotel since February 9 and she had made a reservation via the internet. The hotel's closed circuit camera recorded the image of an Indian man aged 25 to 30 staying with her. Their last image was recorded on Sunday and they were seen leaving the hotel before returning at around 7 P.M.
Then the man was spotted leaving the hotel with his luggage at 8 P.M.
The body was discovered by a maid cleaning the room in the afternoon of the following day.
Police added there were no signs of struggle and they still cannot determine if any of her valuables are missing.
They suspect the pair had argued before the man murdered her and fled. Immigration records showed him leaving the country since 11 P.M. on Sunday. Police said they will issue an arrest warrant for the suspect and contact Interpol to pursue him.
-- Tan Network 2012-02-14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAKING: 2 explosions near school on Sukhumvit Soi 71 injures four, one foreigner got legs blown off
BREAKING: Explosions at Sukhumvit Soi 71
BANGKOK: -- Two explosions happened in Sukhumvit Soi 71 or Phrakanong, the first one damaging a taxi at Soi Pridi Bhanomyong 31 and injuring the driver and three other people while the second one exploded in front of the Kasem Pittaya School at Soi Pridi Bhanomyong 35.
A foreigner was found with his two legs blown off at the scene of the second explosion.
The road has now been closed off to traffic as police are concerned there may be more bombs hidden in the area. Those living in the area are urged to remain indoors.
All of the injured have been transported to the Kluaynamthai Hospital except for the foreigner who was transported to Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Doctors at Kluaynamthai Hospital said 2 of the injured have ringing in their ears while 2 others have non-life threatening wounds.
Reports claim the foreigner who was injured threw 1st bomb at taxi and attempted to throw 2nd bomb at police but missed and blew off his own legs.
Police found Iranian currency at the scene of the 2nd explosion but they have not confirmed whether the foreigner is an Iranian national. Other reports claim he is of Lebanese descent.
Police also reported another explosion at Pridi Bhanomyong Soi 12, which is said to be the home of the foreigner.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra, who's on a provincial tour, has been informed of the bombings in Bangkok. Defense Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat says he has ordered a check whether the explosions are a terrorist attack.
-- Tan Network 2012-02-14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAKING: Explosions at Sukhumvit Soi 71
BANGKOK: -- Two explosions happened in Sukhumvit Soi 71 or Phrakanong, the first one damaging a taxi at Soi Pridi Bhanomyong 31 and injuring the driver and three other people while the second one exploded in front of the Kasem Pittaya School at Soi Pridi Bhanomyong 35.
A foreigner was found with his two legs blown off at the scene of the second explosion.
The road has now been closed off to traffic as police are concerned there may be more bombs hidden in the area. Those living in the area are urged to remain indoors.
All of the injured have been transported to the Kluaynamthai Hospital except for the foreigner who was transported to Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Doctors at Kluaynamthai Hospital said 2 of the injured have ringing in their ears while 2 others have non-life threatening wounds.
Reports claim the foreigner who was injured threw 1st bomb at taxi and attempted to throw 2nd bomb at police but missed and blew off his own legs.
Police found Iranian currency at the scene of the 2nd explosion but they have not confirmed whether the foreigner is an Iranian national. Other reports claim he is of Lebanese descent.
Police also reported another explosion at Pridi Bhanomyong Soi 12, which is said to be the home of the foreigner.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra, who's on a provincial tour, has been informed of the bombings in Bangkok. Defense Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat says he has ordered a check whether the explosions are a terrorist attack.
-- Tan Network 2012-02-14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blasts rattle Bangkok
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Three explosions, six injured; first one goes off at rented house; UK embassy issues warning; iranian lobs bomb at taxi, then at police car, loses his legs in blast; another Iranian arrested
An Iranian man was badly injured and a second Iranian was arrested after a series of grenade attacks caused panic in the capital and left five bystanders injured yesterday.
An Iranian man was badly injured and second Iranian was arrested after a series of grenade attacks that caused panic in the capital and left five bystanders injured yesterday.
A senior official denied any links to terrorism, but police have yet to rule on whether the blasts were part of a terrorist attack, or if they had anything to do with last month's arrest of a Lebanese man with Swedish nationality in an alleged bomb plot.
"So far, we haven't found any links between these two cases," senior police commander Pol General Pansiri Prapawat said.
In related news, the British Embassy in Bangkok issued a travel advisory within hours of the explosions, the first one of which took place at 2pm at a house rented by three Iranians. Police said that after the first explosion, the three men ran from the house, and one of them, initially identified as Saeid Moradi, tried to hail a taxi. When the taxi did not stop to pick him up, he threw a grenade at it, only to have the grenade bounce back and explode, severing his legs. In addition, shrapnel wounded five adult passers-by, but did not harm any students at nearby Kasem Phitthaya School.
Police officers provided conflicting reports about the location and sequence of events. Khlong Tan police chief Pol Colonel Sitthipharb Baiprasert said Moradi ran to the front of a school and aimed a grenade at police officers, but ended up bearing the brunt of the blast himself. However, deputy Bangkok police chief Pol Maj-General Phisit Phisutthisak said the suspect threw the grenade at a taxicab.
Another senior commander, Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangpraphai, was quoted by deputy secretary-general to the PM Thitima Chaisang as saying the suspect was not injured by the grenade he threw at the taxi, but lost one leg and badly injured another when a second grenade aimed at a police vehicle exploded.
A report in the Thai-language Manager website said the suspect tried to slit his own throat with a sharp piece of glass, but was stopped by police.
Doctors at Chulalongkorn Hospital said the suspect had lost his right leg and sustained injuries to an eye and abdomen. They have also had to amputate his left leg. "He has serious wounds but he should survive," deputy director Dr Ratthaphlee Phak-at said.
Police later said they arrested Mohammad Hazaei, 42, one of the Iranian men, at Suvarnabhumi Airport as he was about to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur. He is under interrogation. The third man remains at large.
A search at the rented house turned up an unspecified amount of C-4 explosive and some home-made bombs, Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong said.
In Moradi's backpack, police found clothing; receipts issued to a Yasef Moradi by a hotel in Pattaya; Bt8,500 and US$2,800 in cash; and a large amount of cash in Iranian currency.
Thitima denied the incidents were acts of terrorism, saying: "This is not sabotage or related to the travel advisories issued [after last month's terrorism scare] by many countries. Police now know where the [suspect is].
"Intelligence analysis said [the suspects] were arguing with one another, and the incidents are being treated as normal crimes."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Thanee Thongphakdee said an official conclusion on the incidents would be made soon to determine the specific nature of the crimes. "Don't jump to the conclusion that it was an act of terrorism," he said.
A briefing by the National Security Council will be held at 9am today at Government House.
Thitima said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had instructed the Foreign Ministry to contact the Iranian Embassy to discuss the issue and obtain details about the three men.
Police last month arrested Atris Hussein, a Lebanese man with Swedish nationality whom they said had ties with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group based in Lebanon, and suggested he might have been involved in setting up a terror plot in Thailand. Hezbollah later denied links with Hussein.
Taxi driver Sanchai Bunsoongnern said the suspect had tried many times to hail a taxi but none stopped. "He threw a grenade at me. It dropped on the hood, fell on the road and rolled underneath my taxi, and went off. I stopped and helped to chase him," he said.
"A police car then showed up, before the suspect took something out of his pocket, followed by a loud bang, severing his legs. I was 15 metres away from the second blast, and suffered no injuries, but my ears are ringing."
-- The Nation 2012-02-15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Three explosions, six injured; first one goes off at rented house; UK embassy issues warning; iranian lobs bomb at taxi, then at police car, loses his legs in blast; another Iranian arrested
An Iranian man was badly injured and a second Iranian was arrested after a series of grenade attacks caused panic in the capital and left five bystanders injured yesterday.
An Iranian man was badly injured and second Iranian was arrested after a series of grenade attacks that caused panic in the capital and left five bystanders injured yesterday.
A senior official denied any links to terrorism, but police have yet to rule on whether the blasts were part of a terrorist attack, or if they had anything to do with last month's arrest of a Lebanese man with Swedish nationality in an alleged bomb plot.
"So far, we haven't found any links between these two cases," senior police commander Pol General Pansiri Prapawat said.
In related news, the British Embassy in Bangkok issued a travel advisory within hours of the explosions, the first one of which took place at 2pm at a house rented by three Iranians. Police said that after the first explosion, the three men ran from the house, and one of them, initially identified as Saeid Moradi, tried to hail a taxi. When the taxi did not stop to pick him up, he threw a grenade at it, only to have the grenade bounce back and explode, severing his legs. In addition, shrapnel wounded five adult passers-by, but did not harm any students at nearby Kasem Phitthaya School.
Police officers provided conflicting reports about the location and sequence of events. Khlong Tan police chief Pol Colonel Sitthipharb Baiprasert said Moradi ran to the front of a school and aimed a grenade at police officers, but ended up bearing the brunt of the blast himself. However, deputy Bangkok police chief Pol Maj-General Phisit Phisutthisak said the suspect threw the grenade at a taxicab.
Another senior commander, Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangpraphai, was quoted by deputy secretary-general to the PM Thitima Chaisang as saying the suspect was not injured by the grenade he threw at the taxi, but lost one leg and badly injured another when a second grenade aimed at a police vehicle exploded.
A report in the Thai-language Manager website said the suspect tried to slit his own throat with a sharp piece of glass, but was stopped by police.
Doctors at Chulalongkorn Hospital said the suspect had lost his right leg and sustained injuries to an eye and abdomen. They have also had to amputate his left leg. "He has serious wounds but he should survive," deputy director Dr Ratthaphlee Phak-at said.
Police later said they arrested Mohammad Hazaei, 42, one of the Iranian men, at Suvarnabhumi Airport as he was about to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur. He is under interrogation. The third man remains at large.
A search at the rented house turned up an unspecified amount of C-4 explosive and some home-made bombs, Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong said.
In Moradi's backpack, police found clothing; receipts issued to a Yasef Moradi by a hotel in Pattaya; Bt8,500 and US$2,800 in cash; and a large amount of cash in Iranian currency.
Thitima denied the incidents were acts of terrorism, saying: "This is not sabotage or related to the travel advisories issued [after last month's terrorism scare] by many countries. Police now know where the [suspect is].
"Intelligence analysis said [the suspects] were arguing with one another, and the incidents are being treated as normal crimes."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Thanee Thongphakdee said an official conclusion on the incidents would be made soon to determine the specific nature of the crimes. "Don't jump to the conclusion that it was an act of terrorism," he said.
A briefing by the National Security Council will be held at 9am today at Government House.
Thitima said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had instructed the Foreign Ministry to contact the Iranian Embassy to discuss the issue and obtain details about the three men.
Police last month arrested Atris Hussein, a Lebanese man with Swedish nationality whom they said had ties with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group based in Lebanon, and suggested he might have been involved in setting up a terror plot in Thailand. Hezbollah later denied links with Hussein.
Taxi driver Sanchai Bunsoongnern said the suspect had tried many times to hail a taxi but none stopped. "He threw a grenade at me. It dropped on the hood, fell on the road and rolled underneath my taxi, and went off. I stopped and helped to chase him," he said.
"A police car then showed up, before the suspect took something out of his pocket, followed by a loud bang, severing his legs. I was 15 metres away from the second blast, and suffered no injuries, but my ears are ringing."
-- The Nation 2012-02-15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lampang Monk Disrobed After Being Discovered in Bed with Woman
LAMPANG: -- A famous monk, who's the head monk of the Tung Ngam Subdistrict in Lampang, was disrobed after being found in bed with a woman.Around 200 villagers surrounded the 45-year-old Phra Kru Wisit Sathukarn's 10-million baht golden teak wood accommodation late at night at Ban Mua Temple earlier this week to catch him in bed with a woman. Upon opening the door to his bedroom, villagers found him naked in bed with 35-year-old Saipin Chumti which resulted in an immediate disrobing of the monk.
Villagers said they've suspected his sexual activities for quite some time and have even asked his relatives to warn him to stop but he refused to listen to them so they had to take matters into their own hands and catch him in the act.
The monk confessed to being sexually involved with the woman for over a year and apologized to the villagers for betraying their trust.
The following day the elderly in the village conducted a ceremony to ward off misfortune from the monk's behavior.
The monk is a famous preacher with a lot of followers. He did so well with donations that he was able to construct a golden teak wood accommodation for himself with a budget of 10 million baht.
He entered the monkhood since the age of 12 and has always been at the Ban Mua Temple until he was named the head monk of the subdistrict.
The woman in question lived close to the temple and started her affair with the monk after being separated from her husband.
Translated from Thairath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAMPANG: -- A famous monk, who's the head monk of the Tung Ngam Subdistrict in Lampang, was disrobed after being found in bed with a woman.Around 200 villagers surrounded the 45-year-old Phra Kru Wisit Sathukarn's 10-million baht golden teak wood accommodation late at night at Ban Mua Temple earlier this week to catch him in bed with a woman. Upon opening the door to his bedroom, villagers found him naked in bed with 35-year-old Saipin Chumti which resulted in an immediate disrobing of the monk.
Villagers said they've suspected his sexual activities for quite some time and have even asked his relatives to warn him to stop but he refused to listen to them so they had to take matters into their own hands and catch him in the act.
The monk confessed to being sexually involved with the woman for over a year and apologized to the villagers for betraying their trust.
The following day the elderly in the village conducted a ceremony to ward off misfortune from the monk's behavior.
The monk is a famous preacher with a lot of followers. He did so well with donations that he was able to construct a golden teak wood accommodation for himself with a budget of 10 million baht.
He entered the monkhood since the age of 12 and has always been at the Ban Mua Temple until he was named the head monk of the subdistrict.
The woman in question lived close to the temple and started her affair with the monk after being separated from her husband.
Translated from Thairath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FATF
Thailand on money-laundering blacklist
The Nation
PARIS: -- The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), an international money-laundering watchdog, on Thursday added Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Ghana and Tanzaniato its blacklist of nations that fail to meet international standards.
According to www.wisegeek.com, being on this list can have serious consequences, as financial transactions originating in or traveling to those countries are subject to more intense scrutiny and can make it difficult to do business internationally for those governments and their citizens.
Founded in 1989 on the initiative of the Group of 7 (G7), the FATF aims to develop policies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The FATF Secretariat is housed at the headquarters of the OECD in Paris.
The body can make recommendations to any of the 36 countries that have signed a membership charter, as well as other nations, but it has no power to carry out sanctions.
A Reuters report on Feb 17 quotes executive secretary, Rick McDonell, told journalists, as saying that FATF has found that those five countries were flaunting recommendations made to them toward fighting money-laundering and financing terrorism.
In this round, no countries were taken off the blacklist, but Honduras and Paraguay were removed from an intermediary "gray-list" of countries found to be falling behind on international standards despite having committed to them.
"We are looking exclusively at the implementation of the standards," McDonell told journalists at a FATF meeting in Paris. "Countries that we look at wind up on the list because they have not implemented them."
The FATF blacklist now includes 17 countries. Aside from the five new ones, they are: Bolivia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Sri Lanka, Syria and Turkey.
The gray-list includes 22 countries: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Sudan, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
-- The Nation 2012-02-17
Thailand on money-laundering blacklist
The Nation
PARIS: -- The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), an international money-laundering watchdog, on Thursday added Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Ghana and Tanzaniato its blacklist of nations that fail to meet international standards.
According to www.wisegeek.com, being on this list can have serious consequences, as financial transactions originating in or traveling to those countries are subject to more intense scrutiny and can make it difficult to do business internationally for those governments and their citizens.
Founded in 1989 on the initiative of the Group of 7 (G7), the FATF aims to develop policies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The FATF Secretariat is housed at the headquarters of the OECD in Paris.
The body can make recommendations to any of the 36 countries that have signed a membership charter, as well as other nations, but it has no power to carry out sanctions.
A Reuters report on Feb 17 quotes executive secretary, Rick McDonell, told journalists, as saying that FATF has found that those five countries were flaunting recommendations made to them toward fighting money-laundering and financing terrorism.
In this round, no countries were taken off the blacklist, but Honduras and Paraguay were removed from an intermediary "gray-list" of countries found to be falling behind on international standards despite having committed to them.
"We are looking exclusively at the implementation of the standards," McDonell told journalists at a FATF meeting in Paris. "Countries that we look at wind up on the list because they have not implemented them."
The FATF blacklist now includes 17 countries. Aside from the five new ones, they are: Bolivia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Sri Lanka, Syria and Turkey.
The gray-list includes 22 countries: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Sudan, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
-- The Nation 2012-02-17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INN: Chlorine mixing container at Phuket Orchid Resort explodes causing injuries to 30 who've been transported to Patong Hospital
-- Tan Network 2012-02-18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Tan Network 2012-02-18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THAILAND's 'OPEN-DOOR' VISA POLICY QUESTIONED
Thailand Fears More Terror – May Change Visa Policy
BANGKOK: -- After last week’s bombings in Bangkok and the arrest of a Lebanese-Swede last month the country of smiles are now considering their ‘open-door’ visa policy.
Thailand has annual revenue derived from tourism of $25 billion per year, and the country receives more than 12 million foreign tourists.
Tougher visa policy
The tourism industry makes for 6 percent of the Thai economy, but according to the Philstar, Thai officials are now considering a tougher visa policy, because of the incidents in the last months.
"We have to admit that there are threats all over the world, and our country is a weak link," said National Security Council chief Wichean Potephosree to the Philstar, without being to precise on how he sees the visa policy in the future.
The statement comes after authorities have found similarities between the bombs in Bangkok and India last week.
Visa on arrival for Middle East countries put on hold
Within days of the terror scare, the Thai Tourism Ministry put on hold a plan to allow visas on arrival to citizens of Middle Eastern countries, including Iran. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said he would order immigration authorities to "closely check people who enter the country, especially from countries that might have problems."
Since the bombings the security in all Thai airports, train stations and major streets has been strengthened.
Source 1: http://www.ajc.com/t...or-1355047.html
Source 2: http://www.scandasia...p?news_id=10186
-- thaivisa.com 2012-02-20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thailand Fears More Terror – May Change Visa Policy
BANGKOK: -- After last week’s bombings in Bangkok and the arrest of a Lebanese-Swede last month the country of smiles are now considering their ‘open-door’ visa policy.
Thailand has annual revenue derived from tourism of $25 billion per year, and the country receives more than 12 million foreign tourists.
Tougher visa policy
The tourism industry makes for 6 percent of the Thai economy, but according to the Philstar, Thai officials are now considering a tougher visa policy, because of the incidents in the last months.
"We have to admit that there are threats all over the world, and our country is a weak link," said National Security Council chief Wichean Potephosree to the Philstar, without being to precise on how he sees the visa policy in the future.
The statement comes after authorities have found similarities between the bombs in Bangkok and India last week.
Visa on arrival for Middle East countries put on hold
Within days of the terror scare, the Thai Tourism Ministry put on hold a plan to allow visas on arrival to citizens of Middle Eastern countries, including Iran. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said he would order immigration authorities to "closely check people who enter the country, especially from countries that might have problems."
Since the bombings the security in all Thai airports, train stations and major streets has been strengthened.
Source 1: http://www.ajc.com/t...or-1355047.html
Source 2: http://www.scandasia...p?news_id=10186
-- thaivisa.com 2012-02-20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-23 10:49:02
Pregnant Aussie teenager beaten, robbed in Phuket ladyboy attack
Phuket Gazette
The attack reportedly occurred in a dark street near the east end of Soi Bangla. Photo: Gazette file
PHUKET: -- A pregnant Australian teenager was beaten and robbed by four Thai ladyboys in Patong early yesterday morning.
The victim, 19-year-old “Bonnie May”, asked that the Phuket Gazette use only her nickname out of fear or reprisal by the gang of ladyboys, who she said attacked her for no reason after she asked them for directions.
Speaking to the Gazette at Bangkok Hospital Phuket while awaiting a medical checkup yesterday afternoon, five-months-pregnant Bonnie May recounted her ordeal.
“At about 1am I was walking alone back to my hotel from Soi Bangla and tried to make a shortcut through a small alley.
“I saw four ladyboys and I asked them the way to the main road. They were yelling something I did not understand, so I asked them again the way to the main road.
“Then they started to attack me, punching my arm, hitting my face, pulling my hair and kicking my back. I cried out that I was pregnant, but they did not listen. They kept attacking me. They were also touching my vagina and kicking my belly. They took my bag, which had an iPhone and camera inside, and pulled my gold ring off my finger,” she said.
The only reason she was not robbed of cash was that she had none on her at the time, she said.
“Three of them attacked me while the fourth acted as a sort of sentry, telling people to keep away. There were a few people around, but nobody came to help me,” added Bonnie.
“I was crying and screaming, so they tried to cover my mouth to keep me quiet. Every time I made a noise they would slap my face, so I stopped moving, pretending I had given up. Then they kicked me a few times before running away,” she said.
After the attack she rushed to the bar at the hotel where she was staying with her 24-year-old boyfriend. Bonnie said she could not remember the name of the street where the attack took place, but a source familiar with the case told the Gazette that it was “near Tai Pan, a popular nightclub on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road near the Bangla Road intersection.
Asked why she was walking alone at the time, she said she went to meet someone on Soi Bangla while her boyfriend stayed at the hotel with a friend.
“Our hotel is not far from Soi Bangla,” she said.
The couple arrived at Patong Hospital at about 3:30am, after which time an ambulance transported Bonnie to the better-equipped Bangkok Hospital Phuket, a private hospital in Phuket Town.
Bonnie’s greatest fear was that kicks to her stomach could have injured her unborn baby.
“They kicked my belly, and my belly did not move all day after that,” she said.
Once the medical checkup was complete, Bonnie said her next stop would be Patong Police Station to file a complaint against her assailants.
“I can identify all four of them, especially the tall, skinny leader, who had long hair and a protruding jaw,” she said.
“They are so scary and nasty. I did not do anything wrong,” she said.
Her boyfriend, who declined to give his name, said the couple arrived in Thailand on February 17 and were scheduled to leave on March 3.
“We stayed in Bangkok for seven days before coming down to Phuket,” Bonnie said.
“We would like to talk with the embassy first. I’m so scared. This is the first time I have ever experienced anything like this," she said.
Bonnie said she didn’t think she would ever return to Phuket.
After a 40-minute evaluation by a hospital physician, Bonnie emerged from the examination with her boyfriend.
“The fetus is fine and we are going to have a baby girl,” she told the Gazette with a smile on her face.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12394.html
-- Phuket Gazette 2012-02-23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phuket Gazette
The attack reportedly occurred in a dark street near the east end of Soi Bangla. Photo: Gazette file
PHUKET: -- A pregnant Australian teenager was beaten and robbed by four Thai ladyboys in Patong early yesterday morning.
The victim, 19-year-old “Bonnie May”, asked that the Phuket Gazette use only her nickname out of fear or reprisal by the gang of ladyboys, who she said attacked her for no reason after she asked them for directions.
Speaking to the Gazette at Bangkok Hospital Phuket while awaiting a medical checkup yesterday afternoon, five-months-pregnant Bonnie May recounted her ordeal.
“At about 1am I was walking alone back to my hotel from Soi Bangla and tried to make a shortcut through a small alley.
“I saw four ladyboys and I asked them the way to the main road. They were yelling something I did not understand, so I asked them again the way to the main road.
“Then they started to attack me, punching my arm, hitting my face, pulling my hair and kicking my back. I cried out that I was pregnant, but they did not listen. They kept attacking me. They were also touching my vagina and kicking my belly. They took my bag, which had an iPhone and camera inside, and pulled my gold ring off my finger,” she said.
The only reason she was not robbed of cash was that she had none on her at the time, she said.
“Three of them attacked me while the fourth acted as a sort of sentry, telling people to keep away. There were a few people around, but nobody came to help me,” added Bonnie.
“I was crying and screaming, so they tried to cover my mouth to keep me quiet. Every time I made a noise they would slap my face, so I stopped moving, pretending I had given up. Then they kicked me a few times before running away,” she said.
After the attack she rushed to the bar at the hotel where she was staying with her 24-year-old boyfriend. Bonnie said she could not remember the name of the street where the attack took place, but a source familiar with the case told the Gazette that it was “near Tai Pan, a popular nightclub on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road near the Bangla Road intersection.
Asked why she was walking alone at the time, she said she went to meet someone on Soi Bangla while her boyfriend stayed at the hotel with a friend.
“Our hotel is not far from Soi Bangla,” she said.
The couple arrived at Patong Hospital at about 3:30am, after which time an ambulance transported Bonnie to the better-equipped Bangkok Hospital Phuket, a private hospital in Phuket Town.
Bonnie’s greatest fear was that kicks to her stomach could have injured her unborn baby.
“They kicked my belly, and my belly did not move all day after that,” she said.
Once the medical checkup was complete, Bonnie said her next stop would be Patong Police Station to file a complaint against her assailants.
“I can identify all four of them, especially the tall, skinny leader, who had long hair and a protruding jaw,” she said.
“They are so scary and nasty. I did not do anything wrong,” she said.
Her boyfriend, who declined to give his name, said the couple arrived in Thailand on February 17 and were scheduled to leave on March 3.
“We stayed in Bangkok for seven days before coming down to Phuket,” Bonnie said.
“We would like to talk with the embassy first. I’m so scared. This is the first time I have ever experienced anything like this," she said.
Bonnie said she didn’t think she would ever return to Phuket.
After a 40-minute evaluation by a hospital physician, Bonnie emerged from the examination with her boyfriend.
“The fetus is fine and we are going to have a baby girl,” she told the Gazette with a smile on her face.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12394.html
-- Phuket Gazette 2012-02-23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-24 17:25:25
Taxi Driver Poses as Military Officer, Robs Foreign Passengers
BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver claimed he was a military officer and used a tyre iron to threaten and rob two foreign passengers in front of Rama IX Soi 62. He was later arrested by the Hua Mak Police who were able to identified the driver from the number plate taken down by the victims of the robbery.
Earlier this afternoon, Hua Mak Police arrested Pitakpong Piewsoi, 23 year old taxi driver, from Roi Ed Province. The police have charged him with armed robbery.
On Monday night Hammed Hassan, a 36 year-old Bangladesh national, filed a report with the police. Hassan told the police he got into a taxi, with his sister, in front of the MBK center in Siam area. Hassan said the taxi driver was driving usually fast. According to his testimony, the taxi driver kept alleging that there are many mafias in Thailand and claimed that he is a military official.
When they reached the front of Rama IX Soi 62, Pitakpong used a tyre iron to threaten Hassan, demanding he give up money and other valuables. Pitakpong forcibly took Hassan's bag which contained approximately US1,000 (Bt30,600) and Bt400 Thai baht. Hassan and his sister was then told to get out of the car.
Hassen had memorized Pitakpong's number plate and reported the robbery to the police.
Upon his arrest, Pitakpong confessed to the police that he had done this once before. He claimed he had no intention of assaulting the passengers he robbed. He said he used the money from the robberies to buy a bed and had already spent it all.
Pitakpong is now in the Hua Mak Police's custody.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver claimed he was a military officer and used a tyre iron to threaten and rob two foreign passengers in front of Rama IX Soi 62. He was later arrested by the Hua Mak Police who were able to identified the driver from the number plate taken down by the victims of the robbery.
Earlier this afternoon, Hua Mak Police arrested Pitakpong Piewsoi, 23 year old taxi driver, from Roi Ed Province. The police have charged him with armed robbery.
On Monday night Hammed Hassan, a 36 year-old Bangladesh national, filed a report with the police. Hassan told the police he got into a taxi, with his sister, in front of the MBK center in Siam area. Hassan said the taxi driver was driving usually fast. According to his testimony, the taxi driver kept alleging that there are many mafias in Thailand and claimed that he is a military official.
When they reached the front of Rama IX Soi 62, Pitakpong used a tyre iron to threaten Hassan, demanding he give up money and other valuables. Pitakpong forcibly took Hassan's bag which contained approximately US1,000 (Bt30,600) and Bt400 Thai baht. Hassan and his sister was then told to get out of the car.
Hassen had memorized Pitakpong's number plate and reported the robbery to the police.
Upon his arrest, Pitakpong confessed to the police that he had done this once before. He claimed he had no intention of assaulting the passengers he robbed. He said he used the money from the robberies to buy a bed and had already spent it all.
Pitakpong is now in the Hua Mak Police's custody.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-28 10:32:45
NESDB: Facebook partly cause of teen pregnancies
BANGKOK, 28 February 2012 (NNT) - According to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the famous social networking site, facebook, has partly contributed to the cause of unwanted teen pregnancies.
The NESDB has revealed that people in the age group of 18-24 are the biggest group of facebook users, accounting for 40% of all users.
The Board said that the social media growth is partly to blame for the teen pregnancy problems as some youngsters post seducing messages or video clips online.
According to the NESDB, Thai mothers under 20 years old accounted for 14% of all mothers who delivered babies in 2009 and 2010. From this percentage, the UNICEF has placed Thailand on top of the list of teen pregnancy in Asia.
The public health survey in 2010 indicated that out of 760,000 babies born, 411,000 had died. The NESDB said that the figure shows that a number of mothers decided to have abortion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANGKOK, 28 February 2012 (NNT) - According to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the famous social networking site, facebook, has partly contributed to the cause of unwanted teen pregnancies.
The NESDB has revealed that people in the age group of 18-24 are the biggest group of facebook users, accounting for 40% of all users.
The Board said that the social media growth is partly to blame for the teen pregnancy problems as some youngsters post seducing messages or video clips online.
According to the NESDB, Thai mothers under 20 years old accounted for 14% of all mothers who delivered babies in 2009 and 2010. From this percentage, the UNICEF has placed Thailand on top of the list of teen pregnancy in Asia.
The public health survey in 2010 indicated that out of 760,000 babies born, 411,000 had died. The NESDB said that the figure shows that a number of mothers decided to have abortion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-29 16:00:00
2 Africans Nabbed in Ladprao Drug Raid
BANGKOK: -- Thai police and US anti-drug officials raided a suspected hideout of foreign drug dealers at an apartment in the Ladprao area and seized five kilograms of marijuana sticks along with some ice pills. Two suspects were arrested, one of whom broke his leg while fleeing.
Some 50 narcotics suppression and immigration police, along with US Drug Enforcement Administration officials, raided an apartment located at Soi Ladprao 132 in Bangkapi District after a tip-off that a number of African men suspected of drug-dealing were hiding there.
The police searched all ten rooms that were rented by the suspected drug dealers and found traces of illicit drugs, five kilograms of marijuana sticks and some crystal meth in a small plastic bag left in a toilet bowl.
Two suspects were arrested, namely 28-year-old Guinean national Lawuvic Uwadiegwu and 32-year-old Nigerian Chukwudi Onwuka.
Uwadiegwu broke his leg after jumping from his room to escape the police and is currently in hospital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANGKOK: -- Thai police and US anti-drug officials raided a suspected hideout of foreign drug dealers at an apartment in the Ladprao area and seized five kilograms of marijuana sticks along with some ice pills. Two suspects were arrested, one of whom broke his leg while fleeing.
Some 50 narcotics suppression and immigration police, along with US Drug Enforcement Administration officials, raided an apartment located at Soi Ladprao 132 in Bangkapi District after a tip-off that a number of African men suspected of drug-dealing were hiding there.
The police searched all ten rooms that were rented by the suspected drug dealers and found traces of illicit drugs, five kilograms of marijuana sticks and some crystal meth in a small plastic bag left in a toilet bowl.
Two suspects were arrested, namely 28-year-old Guinean national Lawuvic Uwadiegwu and 32-year-old Nigerian Chukwudi Onwuka.
Uwadiegwu broke his leg after jumping from his room to escape the police and is currently in hospital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 2012-02-29 19:28:24
Norwegian man confesses to "accidentally killing" Phuket girlfriend
Phuket Gazette
Dokset has confessed to "accidentally killing' his girlfriend of nine years. Her body was found decomposing in a trash bin locked away in the downstairs bathroom. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo
Alleged victim, Rungnapa Suktong (left).
PHUKET: -- The Norwegian man arrested last night after the gruesome remains of a human body were found in his Phuket home has confessed to “accidentally killing” Rungnapa Suktong, his girlfriend of nine years.
Stein Havard Dokset, a 50-year-old retired car dealer from Oslo, Norway confessed to officers at Chalong Police Station today.
“I did it, but it was an accident,” he said.
“We had an argument. She pushed me and then I pushed her, and she fell down the stairs. I checked her pulse and she was not breathing… I didn’t know what to do. I was scared, so I hid her body,” he told police.
Mr Dokset was arrested at his house off Soi Koktanode in Kata last night when officers from Crime Suppression Division, Sub Division 5, in Bangkok, arrived in force along with Chalong Police and Phuket Provincial Police.
About 20 officers were involved in the raid, the Phuket Gazette was told.
The raid was coordinated after a tip-off from a Bangkok law firm who were working on a missing person report filed by Mrs Rungnapa’s family in Surat Thani two years ago.
She was last seen a year before her family reported her as missing, said Pol Col Atip Tannin, superintendent of Crime Suppression Division Subdivision 5, who led the raid on the house.
In the downstairs bathroom, which was locked, police found a plastic trash bin belonging to Karon Municipality.
Inside the bin police found pieces of flesh and a hip bone they believed were human. The flesh was so decayed that police could not learn any more from their gruesome discovery.
The officers immediately dispatched the remains to Surat Thani for examination last night.
The results, returned today, confirmed their fears: the flesh and bone were human.
The coroner in Surat Thani also reported that the decay of the remains had been accelerated by some form of acid.
The coroner is now conducting DNA tests to confirm whether or not the remains are those of Mrs Rungnapa, police said.
Police also found in the bathroom a woman’s purse, one 9mm pistol and 58 bullets.
A check of the registered owner of the gun confirmed that it belonged to Mrs Rungnapa.
Police officers then scoured the house for more clues, including a pump room. Believing that more remains might have been hidden in the septic tank, police ordered for the tank to be emptied.
A search of the tank’s contents, however, revealed nothing other than the obvious.
Parichat Sriraksa, a 30-year-old cousin of Mrs Rungnapa, told the Gazette that Mrs Rungnapa worked as a maid in Patong.
“She was Mr Dokset’s girlfriend for nine years. They lived together in his house for six years,” she said.
Mrs Rungnapa left Mr Dokset and started a relationship with a new boyfriend, a police officer in Patong. The policeman – who police have yet to name – and Mrs Rungnapa married and had one son, but Mrs Rungnapa sent her son to stay with her family in Surat Thani, Miss Parichat explained.
Mrs Rungnapa, who on marriage stopped using her maiden name Ratsombat and assumed her policeman husband’s family name Suktong, was reported missing one year after she left Mr Dokset, which was more than two years ago, said Miss Parichat.
“Rungnapa had two other sons, 12 and 14 years old, both of whom are from her marriage from before she met Mr Dokset or the policeman,” she said.
Those sons and more than 10 relatives from Surat Thani were at the house today.
“We had reported Rungnapa as missing to the Patong Police before,” Miss Parichat said.
“We always suspected that she was murdered. We saw blood stains in her car when the bank came to repossess it after no payments were made since she went missing,” she added.
“Patong police promised to take care of the case, but they didn’t really take any action. So we decided to ask for help from the media and everyone else we could possibly get. Finally we got Crime Suppression Division to help find my cousin,” Miss Parichat said.
Mr Dokset initially denied the charges against him.
Up until his confession this afternoon, Mr Dokset was being held on charges of hiding the body and possession of a firearm, Chalong Police confirmed.
He said knew nothing about the body parts in his house, Chalong Police told the Gazette this morning.
Mr Dokset also debunked reports that he was a doctor. He told police that he went to a medical school for two years, but did not graduate.
During his time in Phuket, Mr Dokset rented out his own properties for income.
Police are continuing their investigation to gather more evidence in the case.
Souce: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12452.html
Phuket Gazette
Dokset has confessed to "accidentally killing' his girlfriend of nine years. Her body was found decomposing in a trash bin locked away in the downstairs bathroom. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo
Alleged victim, Rungnapa Suktong (left).
PHUKET: -- The Norwegian man arrested last night after the gruesome remains of a human body were found in his Phuket home has confessed to “accidentally killing” Rungnapa Suktong, his girlfriend of nine years.
Stein Havard Dokset, a 50-year-old retired car dealer from Oslo, Norway confessed to officers at Chalong Police Station today.
“I did it, but it was an accident,” he said.
“We had an argument. She pushed me and then I pushed her, and she fell down the stairs. I checked her pulse and she was not breathing… I didn’t know what to do. I was scared, so I hid her body,” he told police.
Mr Dokset was arrested at his house off Soi Koktanode in Kata last night when officers from Crime Suppression Division, Sub Division 5, in Bangkok, arrived in force along with Chalong Police and Phuket Provincial Police.
About 20 officers were involved in the raid, the Phuket Gazette was told.
The raid was coordinated after a tip-off from a Bangkok law firm who were working on a missing person report filed by Mrs Rungnapa’s family in Surat Thani two years ago.
She was last seen a year before her family reported her as missing, said Pol Col Atip Tannin, superintendent of Crime Suppression Division Subdivision 5, who led the raid on the house.
In the downstairs bathroom, which was locked, police found a plastic trash bin belonging to Karon Municipality.
Inside the bin police found pieces of flesh and a hip bone they believed were human. The flesh was so decayed that police could not learn any more from their gruesome discovery.
The officers immediately dispatched the remains to Surat Thani for examination last night.
The results, returned today, confirmed their fears: the flesh and bone were human.
The coroner in Surat Thani also reported that the decay of the remains had been accelerated by some form of acid.
The coroner is now conducting DNA tests to confirm whether or not the remains are those of Mrs Rungnapa, police said.
Police also found in the bathroom a woman’s purse, one 9mm pistol and 58 bullets.
A check of the registered owner of the gun confirmed that it belonged to Mrs Rungnapa.
Police officers then scoured the house for more clues, including a pump room. Believing that more remains might have been hidden in the septic tank, police ordered for the tank to be emptied.
A search of the tank’s contents, however, revealed nothing other than the obvious.
Parichat Sriraksa, a 30-year-old cousin of Mrs Rungnapa, told the Gazette that Mrs Rungnapa worked as a maid in Patong.
“She was Mr Dokset’s girlfriend for nine years. They lived together in his house for six years,” she said.
Mrs Rungnapa left Mr Dokset and started a relationship with a new boyfriend, a police officer in Patong. The policeman – who police have yet to name – and Mrs Rungnapa married and had one son, but Mrs Rungnapa sent her son to stay with her family in Surat Thani, Miss Parichat explained.
Mrs Rungnapa, who on marriage stopped using her maiden name Ratsombat and assumed her policeman husband’s family name Suktong, was reported missing one year after she left Mr Dokset, which was more than two years ago, said Miss Parichat.
“Rungnapa had two other sons, 12 and 14 years old, both of whom are from her marriage from before she met Mr Dokset or the policeman,” she said.
Those sons and more than 10 relatives from Surat Thani were at the house today.
“We had reported Rungnapa as missing to the Patong Police before,” Miss Parichat said.
“We always suspected that she was murdered. We saw blood stains in her car when the bank came to repossess it after no payments were made since she went missing,” she added.
“Patong police promised to take care of the case, but they didn’t really take any action. So we decided to ask for help from the media and everyone else we could possibly get. Finally we got Crime Suppression Division to help find my cousin,” Miss Parichat said.
Mr Dokset initially denied the charges against him.
Up until his confession this afternoon, Mr Dokset was being held on charges of hiding the body and possession of a firearm, Chalong Police confirmed.
He said knew nothing about the body parts in his house, Chalong Police told the Gazette this morning.
Mr Dokset also debunked reports that he was a doctor. He told police that he went to a medical school for two years, but did not graduate.
During his time in Phuket, Mr Dokset rented out his own properties for income.
Police are continuing their investigation to gather more evidence in the case.
Souce: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12452.html
No comments:
Post a Comment