View Full Version : PhuketCrime:Bugbear in the air
Scroll down to the second article, dated Friday, November 11, 2005.
I doubt whether his life will be any safer as a result. Easy to take the wrong turns here. Nakorn gunmen come at a knockdown price. Visit the website for an unforgettable picture. The last sentence quoted below also gives considerable food for farang thought:-
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=3515
PHUKET (Gazette, Kom Chad Luek): A Dutchman turned the tables on two men who allegedly fired a gun at him as he drove his pickup along Chao Fa West Rd yesterday morning, chasing them down and ramming their motorbike into a power pole.
One of the two men was killed, the other seriously injured.
Pol Lt Col Jessada Sangsuree of the Chalong Police Station said that he initially received a report of an accident involving a green Isuzu D-Max pickup and a motorbike on Soi Thanuthep, off Chao Fa West Rd, in Chalong Village 8.
Arriving at the scene with rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation, police found a power pole snapped in half by the truck’s impact. One of the two alleged attackers was still at the scene, moaning for help, with his arm jammed under a broken section of the pole.
Police identified him as Nakhon Sri Thammarat native Sooksamart Dampheng, 21, the driver of the motorbike. He was sent to Wachira Phuket Hospital, where he is still being treated.
The alleged gunmen, 32-year-old Supoj Jaihao, also of Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was rushed to Wachira Phuket Hospital by local residents before police arrived. He later died in the hospital’s emergency ward from internal injuries, his lung having been punctured by a broken bone.
Police noted as evidence in the case one hole in the driver’s side door of the pickup, along with the homemade shotgun allegedly fired by the two assailants.
The driver of the pickup, 47-year-old Dutchman Jen Jensen, identified himself to police as the owner of the Easy Internet shop on Soi Pramote, Chao Fa West Rd.
He said he was driving with his Thai girlfriend about 300 meters from the accident scene when he noticed two men trailing him on a motorbike. They pulled up alongside his vehicle and Suphot drew his weapon and fired, missing his intended victim and hitting the driver’s side door.
The gunmen then attempted to flee but Mr Jensen gave chase. When they slowed to negotiate a corner Jen decided to ram them into the utility pole, he said.
Police are working on the assumption that the attack was the result of a business conflict that arose last August and has resulted in mutual death threats.
Col Jessada said Sooksamart would be charged with attempted murder.
Police are still considering charges against Jensen. These might including negligent driving resulting in another person’s death and committing bodily harm, he added.
The last line basically means:
The Police are still checking out the backgrounds and connections of the gunmen to determine whether the they are connected enough to allow for prosecution of the farang.
Mammoth Chang Noi Scam
One wonders if the real scam was actually selling the story to Komchadleuk. As reported by Phuket Gazette's Queer News:
Friday, May 25, 2007
TAK: Taking a break from bashing his cousins in the Karen National Union, a sergeant major from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) reportedly crossed the Thai border recently with an unusual piece of merchandise, one he came to hawking at an extraordinary price.
Sgt Maj Tinai, from the DKBA 999 Division, claimed to be in possession of none other than a chang nam, or water elephant, which he was trying to sell for 5 million baht in Tak’s Mae Sot District.
Water elephants, at only a few inches long, are much smaller than their land-living cousins. This particular specimen had a trunk, tusks and all four legs, said Sombat Phimpha, Headman of Wang Takinag village, who claimed had met the Burmese soldier.
K. Sombat said that the chang nam was five centimeters long and was caught in a pond near Ko Sae Ni village in Myanmar’s Karen State. The forest surrounding the pond was devoid of all wildlife as all animals, big or small, are afraid of the power of the chang nam, he said.
The specimen brought by Sgt Maj Tinai died seven days after its capture. After its demise, villagers lightly grilled it to prevent it from rotting, K. Sombat explained.
“The villagers who found the chang nam gave it to the Karen Buddhist soldier to sell for them over the border.
They knew Thais would be interested in buying chang nam, as they believe that whoever has one in their possession will have money pouring in and will know no danger, only happiness,” he said.
This is not the first time Mae Sot has hit the news for its chang nam. In May 2003, a restaurant owner in the district achieved local fame when he claimed to have bought one from a Burmese man.
His specimen was 7.5cm tall, 12.5 cm long and had all the features that one would expect to find on a fully-formed elephant. Before it died, again seven days after being captured, it had trumpeted like a full-size elephant, the owner claimed.
Unfortunately, the owner was so worried about the security of his precious possession that he refused to let anyone see it.
Sitthidech Mahawongsakul, Acting Head of the National Elephant Institute’s elephant hospital in Lampang, said that he had never come across a “mini elephant” such as the villagers were claiming to have seen. He dismissed reports of chang nam as a hoax.
“There’s no such thing as water elephants,” declared Chisanu Tiyacharoen, Deputy Chairman of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand.
He challenged anyone who had one to send it in proof, or even just a hair sample, for examination.
If the specimen proved to be a real animal it could be classified. Word of mouth and photos are not enough to prove the existence of water elephants, he said
He then warned people not to believe everything they see.
The report made no mention of whether Sgt Maj Tinai managed to find a buyer for his pricey specimen.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/queernews/index.asp?id=5718
‘Farang’ robs Karon bank
KARON: Despite an intensive manhunt, police have yet to apprehend the Caucasian man who held up the Siam Commercial Bank branch on Patak Rd in Karon late yesterday afternoon, getting away with 420,000 baht in cash.
At the monthly Phuket Provincial Security Committee meeting held at the ST Hotel in Phuket City this morning, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch said he believed the culprit is still in the Karon area.
Soon after the heist, about 4:30 pm, Chalong Police began checking all guesthouses and motorcycle rental agencies in the area in the hope of tracking down the man, who was confirmed by Gen Decha as being a “farang”.
“I think he has been in Thailand [a while] because he could speak some Thai. I think he may have tried to copy the Dutchman who held up the office at Phuket Villa California recently [and was apprehended the following day].
“Witnesses said the man waited on his motorbike in front of the bank for about 30 minutes before entering,” Gen Decha said.
In carrying out the heist, the thief wore a face mask, a white long-sleeved shirt and black trousers. He entered the bank quickly and promptly held a gun to the head of Branch Manager Thurdsak Chusap and demanded cash.
“Even though he was masked, I believe he was a foreigner because he spoke both Thai and English. He kept shouting ‘ray-o ray-o!’ [faster, faster] and ‘More, more!’. He wasn’t a big guy, though. Actually he was shorter than me at about 160 to 165 centimeters,” K. Thurdsak told the Gazette.
“I was really frightened. Everything happened so fast, it was over in just two minutes and he made off on a Suzuki Step motorbike with 420,000 baht. Fortunately, some people outside got a look at his motorbike. That should provide the police with some valuable clues,” he said.
The robbery was recorded on the bank’s closed-circuit television cameras, but the images were not very clear, he said.
“Our bank is under 24-hour video surveillance and I am not sure if the robber knows that images of him robbing the bank were recorded,” he said.
The robber waited until just before the bank’s 4:30 pm closing time to strike, he noted.
Despite the robbery, the bank was back to business as usual and ready to pay out end-of-the-month salaries due today for many workers on the island, he said.
Chairing this morning’s meeting, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit was clearly exasperated by the second robbery-at-gunpoint by a farang in the same month.
Crime rates were already high enough among Thais and the numerous illegal laborers on the island without tourists getting in on the act, he said.
Gov Niran told the security committee he understood that government officers assigned to Phuket were tired with the constant challenges they face here, but nevertheless encouraged them to redouble their efforts to catch the thief in order to protect Phuket’s image as a safe tourist destination.
Phuket, Thailand
19:34 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5797
http://www.phuketgazette.com/newsimages/bull6302007-5802-1.jpg
[Photo: Phuket Gazette - An artist’s impression of the robber drawn from descriptions by witnesses who saw the man waiting outside before he entered and robbed the bank.]
KARON: Despite an intensive manhunt, police have yet to apprehend the Caucasian man who held up the Siam Commercial Bank branch on Patak Rd in Karon late yesterday afternoon, getting away with 420,000 baht in cash.
At the monthly Phuket Provincial Security Committee meeting held at the ST Hotel in Phuket City this morning, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch said he believed the culprit is still in the Karon area.
.........
Full article:
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5802
http://www.phuketgazette.com/newsimages/bull6302007-5802-1.jpg
[Photo: Phuket Gazette - An artist’s impression of the robber drawn from descriptions by witnesses who saw the man waiting outside before he entered and robbed the bank.]
Full article:
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5802
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Karon bank robber evades police
KARON: Chalong police, still stumped after a farang bank robber made off with 420,000 baht last week, are appealing to owners of motorcycle rental companies in Karon to come forward with information of suspicious individuals who rented black, automatic motorcycles between June 26 and 28.
The perpetrator may have used a Suzuki Step, a Yamaha Mio or Nouvo, or a Honda Click, said Capt Thammasan Boonsong, who admitted his team was still no closer to finding the man who robbed a Siam Commercial Bank branch on Patak Rd.
Several individuals have been investigated and cleared, he added.
The robber is said to be Caucasian, with a short beard or stubble, and between 30 and 40 years old, according to witnesses who saw the man waiting outside the bank before the robbery.
Capt Thammasan urged anybody with information that may lead to the suspect’s arrest to call him at 081-6413007.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5811
This was originally posted as a response to a different issue by another forum member (but since withdrawn by the poster for personal reasons). I have decided to post it here because it is definitely a case that deserves our attention:
Brit charged over child’s death
Curry’s natural father Pissanu Badtharai, a Nepalese national, was outraged to learn that his son’s corpse was covered in bruises and scars as it lay in a casket at Wat Ketho for cremation.
Curry’s natural father Pissanu Badtharai, a Nepalese national, was outraged to learn that his son’s corpse was covered in bruises and scars as it lay in a casket at Wat Ketho for cremation. Inset: Narid “Curry” Budtharai, 8.
KATHU: Englishman David Murray, 37, has been charged over the death of his eight-year-old stepson, Narid “Curry” Budtharai, who allegedly died after his head hit the floor while he was being beaten for being a poor student.
Pol Lt Col Passakorn Sonthikul of Tung Tong Police told the Gazette that the incident occurred at Murray’s condo home in Moo Baan Irawadee, in the Ketho area of Kathu District, about 9 pm July 12.
Curry’s mother, Ramida Murray, 32, a Thai national, told police that for three years she and Murray had been living together with her two sons from a previous marriage, Tony, 10, and Curry.
Curry, a student at Thairath Wittaya School, had been receiving poor grades for two years, said Col Passakorn, who added that last year Curry’s parents warned their son about getting poor grades at school.
A week before his death, Curry’s parents received a phone call from one of his teachers saying that Curry was having trouble keeping up at school, he said.
“On July 11, Murray repeatedly hit Curry with a length of blue PVC pipe,” Col Passakorn said. “Curry was not allowed to go to school the next day because of his bruises and not allowed any food,” he quoted Ramida as saying.
“Curry wet his bed and for this Murray beat him with the PVC pipe again until the pipe broke,” Col Passakorn said.
“His mother told Curry to apologize for the bed wetting, but he didn’t say a word. This made Murray angry again and he kicked the boy in the chest. Curry fell and was knocked unconscious when his head hit the floor,” he added.
Murray then stopped his attack and tried to revive Curry, but his efforts failed and Ramida took the boy to Phuket International Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
“Murray disappeared, taking some cash and jewelry from his home with him. He later sent an SMS to Ramida about 11 pm that night saying he was sorry for what he had done. He told her he was contemplating suicide,” Col Passakorn said.
Ramida tried to call him back but was unable to get through, he said.
“Ramida said that although David hit the child in anger she didn’t think he intended to seriously injure him,” he added.
On Friday morning, after Ramida was finally able to contact Murray by phone, the Englishman turned himself in at Tung Tong Police Station, where he was charged with murder without intent.
He had spent the night before at a guesthouse in Patong.
At Curry’s cremation at Wat Ketho, Curry’s natural father, Pissanu Badtharai, was outraged by his son’s death. Told by Ramida’s sister that Curry had died in an accident, K. Pissanu only learned of the bruises on his son’s body when he saw Curry’s corpse in the casket ready for cremation.
“I don’t understand why the doctors say that it was an accident. Surely they can see the bruises on my son’s body. I want doctors to perform another autopsy, so I will not let him be cremated,” said K. Pissanu, a Nepalese national.
However, after police showed K. Pissanu that the cause of death reported on the death certificate was “wounds sustained from blows” he allowed the cremation to proceed.
Tuanjai Thubklin, Murray’s neighbor in the same condo block, told the Gazette, “I have known them for a long time. On that day, my husband and I were going to the beach, but I got a call from Ramida saying that her son had died. So I went to see her and we took her son to the hospital.
“I am really shocked about this because Ramida’s family seemed happy. One time, though, I saw them hitting Tony. I told them that if I saw them hurting their sons again I would report them to the police. Ramida told me that their sons are naughty, so they had to punish them,” K. Tuanjai said.
“The boys never spoke about this to other people,” she added.
To substantiate his claims that his sons were being abused, K. Pissanu yesterday showed the Gazette Tony’s back, which was covered in bruises and scars.
“Tony is autistic,” said K. Pissanu. “He cannot talk. He can only make noises.”
Another neighbor, whose children were friends with Curry, told the Gazette that Curry sold keyring dolls outside the local 7-Eleven for pocket money every evening.
“When Prince of Songkhla university held events, he’d also sell the dolls there until 11 pm. He once asked my son to borrow money to buy snacks, but my son had none to lend him so he used some of the money he made from selling the dolls to buy snacks. After he did he asked my son not to tell his mother because he was afraid of how she would react,” she said.
Murray, who has yet to be arraigned, is being held at Phuket Provincial Prison.
Phuket, Thailand
18:55 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5849
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Police raid tea shop, hookahs seized
PHUKET CITY: During a raid of the Khiew-Tong cafe on Thalang Rd yesterday evening, police found 16 minors smoking flavored tobacco through a hookah.
The 10 males and six females, all under 18, were arrested and later released to their parents. The shop owner, Phuket native Veerasak Abdulla, 49, was charged with aiding or abetting a minor to engage in wrongful behavior for commercial gain.
Police entered the downtown tea shop about 9:30 pm and found a full house of smokers. As hookahs are legal, police did not order the venue closed or arrest other patrons.
The police confiscated two water pipes and two packs of tobacco from the shop, which sells fruit-flavored molasses and tobacco packets for 100 baht each.
Lt Somsak Thongklieng of Phuket City Police Station told the Gazette, “We told the shop owner that if we find him serving minors again we will shut down the shop, so we will keep an eye on him.”
Smoking through hookahs has become increasingly popular in Phuket in recent years, due in large part to the increasing popularity of the island among tourists from the Middle East.
Early in his term, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit expressed concern with the custom, saying he feared the water pipes could be also used with illegal drugs such as marijuana and hashish.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5884
01 September 2007
Phuket disapproved gun licenses prior to election campaign
During a monthly meeting of the provincial security committee yesterday, the Phuket Governor, Mr. Niran Kalayanamitr, sought cooperation from all responsible agencies to keep close monitoring and watching as the local election is approaching.
In October this year, local elections for eight sub-district administrations will take place. Governor Niran said he was informed there was high competition. He said some local politicians apply for gun licenses, but he disapproved and did not permit them as the province has a policy not to allow any more gun possessions.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter04
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255009010027
Anyone heard of a homemade weapon called a 'chappong' before? The account seems to indicate that a dum-dum bullet was used with a 'chappong' to murder Chaiwat:
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5952
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
One dead after double ride-by shooting
PHUKET CITY: Two ride-by shootings on Sunday night left one dead and two seriously injured in what police believe are gang-related incidents, said Pol Lt Col Somkid Boonrat of Phuket City Police Station.
Chaiwat Jaemjan, 21, was riding his motorcycle on Damrong Rd, when he was shot by a member of a gang of about eight youths on motorcycles, said Col Somkid.
Friends at the scene rushed Chaiwat to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he was admitted at 12:45 am but died later that night.
Col Somkid told the Gazette that Chaiwat was shot in the body when the group of motorcycle riders rode past him.
A second shooting took place at Saphan Hin later that night, injuring 19-year-old Surasak Tenwong and another 15-year-old boy as they congregated with friends on the roadside next to Klong Bangyai behind Saphan Hin Gymnasium.
The pair were admitted to Vachira Phuket Hospital at 1:15am.
Police believe the two shootings may be related as both incidents were carried out in the same way, with the weapon being fired from a gang of passing motorcycle riders.
Both shootings also involved the same kind of homemade gun, locally known as a chappong.
“We already have a description of the culprit from witnesses of the second shooting,” Col Somkid said.
“The offender fits the description of a criminal already on our blacklist. Although we are not sure of his current whereabouts, we are confident he will be apprehended soon,” he added.
The chappong is a homemade gun constructed with two tubes of metal that fire a bullet by using air pressure. It can be any length, but is usually kept short for ease of concealment. According to police, the chappong is favored by young criminals as it is a cheap, simple weapon to make, usually costing around 500 baht.
The bullet that killed K. Chaiwat had such a devastating effect as it was the kind that explodes on impact.
My informant tells me that a 'chappong' is actually quite a traditional weapon, but that it was formerly more the stuff of child's play. It would best be sort of described as something akin to a piston-type bicycle pump made out of bamboo, with large fruit seeds being used as the projectiles. The mention of two pipes being used - as described in the news article - makes me wonder if the traditional design has been modifed to make use of compressed aircans - as used in handheld airhorns.
My informant tells me that a 'chappong' is actually quite a traditional weapon, but that it was formerly more the stuff of child's play. It would best be sort of described as something akin to a piston-type bicycle pump made out of bamboo, with large fruit seeds being used as the projectiles. The mention of two pipes being used - as described in the news article - makes me wonder if the traditional design has been modifed to make use of compressed aircans - as used in handheld airhorns.
Young victim of home-made bamboo cannon may lose eyesight
By : Noor Adzman Baharuddin
SUNGAI PETANI:
An eight-year-old boy here has become the first victim of home-made “meriam buluh” (bamboo cannon) this year, facing the possibility of losing his eyesight.
Mohd Fitri Daud who watched his brother Mohd Ashfar, 10, fire the canon last Sunday, had attempted to do the same.
The cannon exploded in his face and the standard two pupil of SK Bedong hurt his eyes.
His youngest brother, Ahmad Azfar, 6, who was also there with Mohd Ashfar, suffered slight injuries on their hands and face.
A friend of the brothers, Mohd Aulia Mohd Shukri, 10, who had tagged along, was also slightly injured on the hands and face in the incident at about 6.45pm, about half hour before Muslims began to break fast.
Mohd Fitri was warded for serious injuries at the Sultan Abdul Halim Shah Hospital here while the other boys received outpatient treatment.
According to a relative, Mohd Fitri, the seventh of eight siblings, had improvised a home-made cannon, belonging to his elder brother.
The boys' parents were busy preparing for the breaking of fast when the mishap occurred.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20070919193222/Article/index_html
I somehow doubt whether Phuket is the worst place to be a cop in Thailand. Although perhaps many would prefer not to have to deal with fractious farangs in different languages. One wonders if there is something unsaid here. For example, a local police commander disinclined to cut officers some slack in the moonlighting game. Or even perhaps the Provincial Governor, Niran Kalayanamit. I believe I'm correct in saying that Niran is a brother of the controversial General Saprang. Certainly, Niran seems to conduct his job with a fairly high profile - and I suppose this may not endear him to some police officers. He is inclined, for example, to have opinions on security issues.
The article implies that there is a shortage of people coming forward to be policeman in the whole country, and that even the willing often have problems passing the necessary tests:
Friday, September 28, 2007
Phuket police shortage to deteriorate
PHUKET: Some 10% of all police officers in Phuket have applied for transfers out of the province, with many citing overwork as their reason, adding to the problem of Phuket’s already understaffed police force.
Word of the widespread dissatisfaction in the ranks came from Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Paween Pongsirin yesterday.
He said that although the province needs about 500 more police staff to deal with the anticipated influx of tourists during the upcoming high season, several requests to Royal Thai Police headquarters to fill these positions have been denied.
Adding to the problem, some 10% of Phuket’s current police force have requested transfers out of the province for easier postings elsewhere, Col Paween said.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth confirmed that some 100 officers had requested transfers.
Many officers wanted easier assignments elsewhere, while others wanted to return to work in their home provinces, Gen Decha said.
“There is so much going on all the time because Phuket is so popular with tourists. This makes it very hard to work here, so I understand their reasons for wanting to leave,” he said.
The Royal Thai Police is unable to grant all the transfers at the same time because Phuket is already suffering a police manpower shortage, he added.
Part of the reason that his requests for an additional 500 staff has been continually refused by police headquarters in Bangkok stems from dwindling numbers of new recruits nationwide. An insufficient number of new recruits pass the police civil service exam each year end and enter the force, Gen Decha explained.
Currently there are about 1,050 police in Phuket, far fewer than the 1,600 officers needed, he said.
Gen Decha has applied to establish a new police station in Karon, which is geographically far from Chalong Police Station, which is currently responsible for the Kata-Karon area. This request, along with an application to make Tah Chat Chai Station independent of the Thalang Police, also has yet to be granted.
“The Royal Thai Police has yet to approve the transfer requests for the 100 who have applied, but I think they may begin to do so gradually, on a case-by-case basis. This will affect our operational capacity in the upcoming high season because we certainly won’t have enough officers,” he said.
The shortage of law enforcement officers is thought to be due in part to Phuket’s registered population, just over 300,000, being roughly only half the number of Thais actually living in the province, according to figures provided by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit.
The island’s high-season population likely exceeds 1 million, when occupancy at the island’s 580 registered accommodation establishments is high. Scores of expatriate residents and foreign laborers – legally registered and otherwise – also call Phuket home.
Although Phuket does have special tourist and immigration police units, the number of regular police officers stationed largely reflects the registered population – not the reported one.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5987
See also previous post. It seems the local police chief has a rather more tolerant view of this issue than the local Provincial Governor. That said, I think the Governor is more than justified in his concerns. Ordinary citizens are very susceptible to attacks at night by teenage gangs these days. This being Thailand, I doubt he is envisaging anything too draconian:
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Governor calls for parental punishments
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has called for stricter punishments to be enforced on the parents of unruly teenagers who consistently break the law, after a spate of robberies by a gang of youths.
At a Security Committee Meeting at Katina Hotel on Thursday, Phuket Provincial Police Superintendent of General Staff Pol Col Peerayut Karajedee reported to Governor Niran on the robberies of three 7-Eleven stores and one local gas station by a gang in the Cherng Talay and Kamala areas.
“They live in Village 3 Cherng Talay and Village 3 Kamala. On September 12, three of them robbed two 7-Elevens in Cherng Talay and one in Kamala, as well as a local gas station in Bang Tao,” said Cherng Talay Police Station Superintendent Lt Col Veerawat Chantaravijit.
The three teenagers, part of a gang of five all aged between 14 and 17 years old, were arrested by police the next day.
The gang used a replica handgun and a one-meter long knife to steal cash, cigarettes and phone cards, added Lt Col Veerawat.
“The robberies occurred after midnight, and we had already warned shop owners in the area to install CCTV cameras. Most shop owners lock their stores after midnight, but the gang sent in someone well-dressed to pose as a customer, then the other gang members would enter and rob the store,” said Col Veerawat.
Governor Niran said, “I think these teenagers are behaving like bandits, not youths any more. Even though they are still young, they have broken the law many times, which makes them outlaws.
“After the police arrest them and they go to juvenile court, they always get out after minimal punishment or on bail when its requested by their parents.
“We need to look at imposing a law that punishes parents who continually refuse to take good care of their children,” he added.
Pol Col Chalit Tintanee, deputy commander of Phuket Provincial Police, said that the teenagers are not bad people, just immature. “Everyone has to work together now to stop this, starting with the schools and the families of the youths,” he said.
Members of the teenage gang are currently out on bail.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5992
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6214
Friday, January 11, 2008
Frogman killed in Kata Bay fracas
http://www.phuketgazette.com/newsimages/bull1112008-6214-1.jpg
[Photo: Phuket Gazette - Maj Gen Tavat Boonfueng holds up a photo of Mr Oberson with his family. Mr Oberson is recovering in the ICU at Phuket International Hospital. In the foreground is his unknown attacker’s homemade gun, which has led police to suspect that Mr Oberson’s assailant may have been a weapons expert or international terrorist.]
KARON: Chalong Police are investigating the bizarre killing, apparently in self-defense, of an unknown frogman who attacked a Swiss yacht owner and a Thai woman late Wednesday night.
The details of the case, as provided to the media at a press conference yesterday afternoon by Chalong Police Superintendent Col Saman Chainarong, are based on the eye-witness account of 25-year-old Trat native Porntip Pradit.
Also present at the press conference were Police Region 8 Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Tavat Boonfueng and Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Paween Pongsirin.
Col Samarn told the media that K. Porntip called police about 11:30 pm on Wednesday from a yacht anchored about 500 meters offshore from the Club Med Resort at Kata Beach.
Speaking in a panicked voice, she told police that Swiss national Pierre-Alain Oberson, 50, who had been shot in his left shoulder, was in urgent need of medical assistance, Col Samarn said.
Chalong Police responded to the distress call by arranging for a longtail boat to take them to the vessel.
K. Porntip fired three flares from the boat to inform police of her location.
Mr Oberson was rushed to Phuket International Hospital, where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit.
It will be at least five days before he can be questioned, Col Samarn said.
About 70 meters from the vessel, police recovered the body of a lightly bearded, middle-aged Caucasian male wearing a black diving suit, complete with swim goggles and fins. He had sustained two large wounds: one to his left eye and the other to his left wrist.
Doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital had confirmed that the cause of death was blood loss from the wound to his wrist, Col Samarn said.
He explained that under questioning K. Porntip had told police that she and Mr Oberson were aboard the yacht that night when they noticed a man with a bag swimming toward the vessel.
Intrigued, they began to talk with the man and then invited him aboard. The man said he enjoyed swimming and diving at night, he said.
The man remained aboard for about one hour, during which time the group drank beer and coffee together while the man inspected the vessel. “He stayed about one hour and then said, ‘I have to go.’ Then he said goodbye,” Col Samarn quoted the woman as saying.
Rather than leave, the man reached into his bag and pulled out a homemade gun and a knife. With the gun in one hand and the knife in the other, the man ordered K. Porntip to tie up Mr Oberson with rope and gag him with black electrical tape, said Col Samarn.
As she began to do so, both she and Mr Oberson exchanged glances before simultaneously charging at the man. In the ensuing fight, the man was hit twice by Mr Oberson with a boat hook, he added.
The man then fired his gun once, hitting Mr Oberson in his left shoulder, before jumping overboard.
Police are still seeking leads to discover the identity of the intruder and are especially interested in his homemade gun, recovered from the seabed by Marine Police around noon yesterday.
As the gun was unlike any they had seen before – it fired with a switch rather than a conventional trigger – they suspect the man may have been a weapons expert and will contact Interpol to see if his description matches the profile of a known international terrorist, Col Samarn said.
Immigration are also trying to identify the man, he said.
Anyone with information that could help in his identification is urged to contact Capt Theerawut Thep-Luen at Chalong Police Station, he added.
Col Samarn said that Mr Oberson had come to Thailand with his wife and two young children, a boy and a girl, all three of whom were staying at a resort on Koh Racha Yai when the incident took place, he said.
Suspicious that the unknown diver might have been the same man who robbed the Karon branch of Siam Commercial Bank of 420,000 baht last June, police presented photos of the man to staff there.
He did not fit the description of the bank robber, Col Samarn said.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Slain frogman identified
KARON: After days of intense speculation, Chalong Police investigating the bizarre death of a frogman who attacked a Swiss yacht owner and a Thai woman on the night of January 9 have finally identified the attacker as German national Peter Michael Schmid, aged 35.
The investigation by Chalong Police included showing pictures of the deceased frogman to hotel employees in Kata-Karon and Rawai.
Chalong Police Superintendent Col Samarn Chainarong told the Gazette that police still believe the attack was a botched robbery because Schmid had a gun, knife and black electrical tape with him when he boarded the vessel, a 10-meter sailboat named Maria.
Schmid was also thought to have been suffering from stomach cancer at the time of his death, Col Samarn added.
(See previous post for details of the attack)
After the attack, Schmid’s body was recovered by police and rescue workers about 70 meters from Maria. He had sustained two large wounds: one to under his left eye and the other to his left wrist, inflicted by a gaff, or boat hook, kept aboard Maria.
Doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital confirmed that the cause of death was blood loss from the wound to his wrist, Col Samarn said.
The victim Mr Oberson, 50, was rushed to Phuket International Hospital, where he was initially kept in the Intensive Care Unit for a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
He was released on Saturday, before he could be questioned by police.
Chalong Police say they know where Mr Oberson is and that they plan to question him soon. They will have to file murder charges against him as a matter of procedure, though they expect the charges to be dropped eventually because all of the available evidence indicates that he was acting in self-defense.
Mr Oberson had come to Thailand with his wife and two young children, a boy and a girl, all three of whom were staying at a resort on Koh Racha Yai when the incident took place, Col Samarn said.
Col Samarn confirmed reports that Schmid was wearing a wetsuit bearing the name and logo of Dive Asia, a local dive tour operator, at the time of his death.
A spokesperson for Dive Asia confirmed that a man named Peter Michael Schmid completed a dive course with the operator within the past three years, but declined to give additional information.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6223
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Intharat calls for SorPorKor probe
http://www.phuketgazette.com/newsimages/bull5222008-6494-1.jpg
[Photo: Phuket Gazette - Gen Intharat Yodbangtoey during his inspection tour of the Kamala Hills on Sunday.]
PHUKET: Gen Intarat Yodbangtoey, in his capacity as "special adviser" to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Anongwan Thepsutin, led an inspection tour on Sunday of properties believed to be illegally owned by virtue of their location on agricultural reform (SorPorKor) land. The properties are located on hillsides in Kamala, Kalim and Patong hillsides on Sunday.
On Saturday, Gen Intarat and his team inspected other building sites as well, including some on Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga, which Forest Department surveys also show to be SorPorKor land, degraded public forest land intended for agricultural use by poor farmers.
The two-day inspection tour followed a meeting chaired by Gen Intarat at Phuket City Municipality offices on Friday.
At that meeting, Gen Intarat proposed a two-prong attack to reclaim public land for the state.
“The are two main types of encroachment: those squatting on public forest land to plant rubber, and [certain] cases where land titles have been [improperly] issued for public land,” he said.
Gen Intarat proposed that rubber plantation squatters could be charged rent and allowed to continue to farm the land. “They could pay rent to the governor and continue to farm their existing plantation, but they would not be allowed to expand their plantations or cut down any more of the natural forest,” he said.
However, for public land on which titles have been issued, Gen Intarat proposed that the government reclaim the land and restore it to its natural state as preserved forest.
“Land that local people have encroached on so that they can farm will be handed back to the Forestry Department and restored to natural forest, but other encroachers could face minimum jail sentences of 10 years,” he warned.
While ready to reclaim public land for which people may have government-issued titles, Gen Intarat left the door open for some plots to be developed for tourism by government offices and the local administrative bodies where they are located.
“For forestry land that can be used as a public park or a tourist attraction, we are pleased to support and protect our natural resources to support tourism in Phuket,” he said.
Aongart Chanachanmongkol, chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), reported that of the 339,396 rai that comprises Phuket, 108,581 rai is state forest land.
Some 41,200 rai in Phuket is titled as SorPorKor land. Of this, occupancy rights (Tor Por 4 titles) have been issued for 21,182 rai, he said.
K. Aongart reported that so far this year, the Phuket MNRE office had discovered 23 cases of encroachment on state land: 15 cases in state forest, six cases in protected mangrove forests, and two cases of illegal logging.
Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima proposed handling encroachment cases locally. “If any local [administration] organization discovers encroachment in their area, they can report it to the governor,” he said.
Also at the meeting was Monthon “Palad Rambo” Chartsuwan, the MNRE official responsible for investigating law-enforcement issues in the South.
K. Monton made headlines last month when he filed a police complaint at the Phuket City Police Station charging Land Department Director Chairerk Dissaya-amnaj for dereliction of duty in failing to revoke an illegally issued land ownership deed on protected mangrove forest in Rassada.
“There are many cases of encroachment – about 20 construction sites – from Kamala to Kalim, and some in the outskirts of Patong, that the DSI will investigate,” he said.
On Tuesday, Pongpayome Vasaputi, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Interior, met Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha, and local authorities to discuss encroachment issues.
“Around the nation, about 6 million rai of SorPorKor land has been encroached upon. That is a lot of land,” said K. Pongpayome, who served as Governor of Phuket from October 2000 until September 2003.
“Since 1997, we have taken legal action against 11 people in Phuket who had claimed 20 plots covering 500 rai. By the end of 2006, the Supreme Court had heard the cases against five of those people – and had decided against all of them, ordering 11 plots covering 300 rai to be returned to the state,” he said.
Among those who lost SorPorKor land under the Supreme Court rulings is current Phuket MP Tossaporn Thepabutr.
“Much of the SorPorKor land returned to the state is in Patong and Kamala, which are very beautiful areas. So I have come to Phuket to inspect those areas with the primary goal of protecting them against encroachment.
“I received a report from the Phuket governor that many local OrBorTor [tambon administration organizations] are ready to provide funds to develop their areas. We can develop the land for public use or allocate it for farming. It depends on what provincial officers decide to do with it. I will follow up on these issues later,” Pongpayome added.
Send Letter to Gazette Editor
Phuket, Thailand
20:26 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6492
Subtitled perhaps, "Would you trust someone with this surname with your health, security, safety and justice?":
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Secret list of ‘influential people’ drawn up
PHUKET: A confidential blacklist of “influential people” in Phuket’s criminal underworld has been drawn up as part of a nationwide government campaign to monitor individuals who “pose a threat to society”.
Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday met senior provincial officers at Provincial Hall to finalize the list before sending it to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit for approval.
The final list was compiled based on whether individuals are known to be involved in any of 18 criminal activities, including offenses related to drugs, gambling, illegal migrant laborers, smuggling, hiring hitmen and Phuket’s taxi “mafia”, said V/Gov Tri.
“To be on the list, an individual must also have a network of people working for him or her, or be known to have the support of a powerful person, such as a government officer,” he added.
It was not revealed how many names are on the list or whether those blacklisted have been convicted of crimes.
The district chief and police superintendents of each of Phuket’s three districts – Muang, Thalang and Kathu – compiled and passed on to the provincial committee a list of known “influential people” in their respective districts.
“The governor and the provincial police commander must now sign and confirm the list,” he said.
“We will be monitoring all of the people on the list so that if there are any crimes we think they are involved in, we can easily arrest them,” he added.
Although the list will not be released to the media, V/Gov Tri confirmed that all the people on the list live in Phuket.
The list is similar to blacklists drawn up by the government during Thailand’s war on drugs under the Thaksin regime. Blacklisted individuals were targeted as part of an intensive nationwide crackdown on drugs, which saw extra-judicial killings by police of more than 2,000 alleged drug dealers.
Thailand’s latest war on drugs began on April 2 this year, although neither Governor Niran nor V/Gov Tri were available to confirm or deny a link to this latest blacklist.
Phuket, Thailand
16:36 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6507
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6507
What the hell was this cop doing on the loose anyway!:
Note the suspicion at the end of this article that this case might have some connection to either and/or both the 'new' Phuket 'Blacklist' (see previous posts) and the recent tragic deaths of 54 illegal Burmese workers (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=3225) while in transit to work in Phuket:
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Ex-cop executed in Patong
PATONG: A former Kathu Police sergeant, dismissed for involvement in human trafficking and blacklisted as a threat to society, was shot dead early yesterday morning outside his home in Patong.
After receiving a call at about 4:30 am, Kathu Police officers found the body of Decho Kaewnabon, 37, also known as “Sia Decho” or “Sergent Decho”, beside his car in Soi Kuan Khok Yang, off Pra Barami Rd. K. Decho’s long-term lover, “K. Orn”, was at the scene.
Paramedics from Patong Hospital pronounced K. Decho dead at the scene. He had been shot three times in the back and once in the head, allegedly with a .38 handgun that had been fired by a man who made his getaway by car.
Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak, who is leading the investigation, told the Gazette that K. Decho had been a sergeant at Kathu Police Station but was dismissed five years ago after being caught and charged for involvement with the illegal trafficking of alien workers.
“While K. Decho was a police sergeant, he was caught transporting unregistered Burmese workers to a construction site in Phuket. He was dismissed from the police force and charges were brought against him. However, court hearings were still underway at the time of his death,” Col Grissak said.
Col Grissak added that investigations will be overseen by Phuket Police Commander Maj Gen Apirak Hongthong as the killing involves a former police officer and a link to human trafficking.
“We are looking at three possible motives for the killing. It may be due to a conflict with another human-trafficking ring or conflict over construction contracts. We are also looking into adultery being a factor,” said Col Grissak.
Reports in Thai-language news media have linked K. Decho to the deaths of 54 Burmese workers who suffocated while being transported in a cold-storage truck from Ranong to Phuket in April.
He was also suspected of being listed on the government’s secret blacklist as one of Phuket’s influential figures.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6546
Thread on the numerous other examples of serious misconduct in the police:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2305
What do you call a green or yellow Kancil Konvertible? .......... A Wheelybin! ;)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Perodua_Kancil_%28first_generation%2C_third_faceli ft%29_%28front%29%2C_Seri_Kembangan.jpg/250px-Perodua_Kancil_%28first_generation%2C_third_faceli ft%29_%28front%29%2C_Seri_Kembangan.jpg
[Photo: Wikipedia - NOT one of the actual cars described below. Just an example. Easily smuggled through the chainlinks in the border fence by the looks of things.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perodua_Kancil
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Abandoned Kancils baffle Customs officers
CHALONG: The discovery of two Perodua Kancil cars, found abandoned at two different locations on the island last week, have sparked a search by Customs officers for the people who left them behind.
Customs officers found one of the Malaysian-made cars hidden in a rubber plantation on Sakdidet Rd, Wichit, on July 8.
The white four-door Perodua Kancil was not fitted with any number plates.
The next day, Customs officers found another white Perodua Kancil, also without registration plates, in thick grass at Baan Maneekram housing estate on Kwang Rd in Chalong and valued the car at about 370,000 baht.
Customs investigators are now trying to find the smugglers who brought them to Phuket.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6639
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6492
Friday, July 18, 2008
Intarat takes to the air
KARON: Maj Gen Intarat Yodbangtoey, special adviser to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Anongwan Thepsutin, wrapped up his two-day visit to Phuket yesterday with a helicopter inspection tour of suspected illegally acquired land plots on Phuket.
“About 20 construction sites believed to be illegal are under investigation by the DSI [Department of Special Investigations]. We expect the DSI to announce the results of their investigations soon,” Gen Intarat said.
After his aerial tour, Gen Intarat said he had noticed there were many construction sites on Forestry Department land in the hills at Tri Trang, Patong and Kamala.
Following his meeting with Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit to discuss the role of Phuket provincial government officers in preventing encroachment on Forestry Department land, Gen Intarat said, “We may investigate local administration organizations, too. We have selected special officers to investigate encroachment cases, with the team headed by Monthon “Palad Rambo” Chartsuwan.
“We are inspecting plots with deeds that were approved in 2002 by a former Land Department officer,” Gen Intarat said, referring to Thawatchai Anukul, a former registrar of the Phuket Provincial Land Office.
In 2003, the Criminal Court in Bangkok issued arrest warrants for Thawatchai and fellow Land Office official Uru Thipthep of the Kathu District Land Office.
Uru was arrested that same year, though Thawatchai avoided capture and has been a fugitive since.
“Approved deeds for land in Phuket were a particular problem in 2002 and 2003, when about 3,000 plots were approved,” Gen Intarat said.
To guard against future illegal developments on the island, he said, “We plan to send the rules for approving deeds for land in Phuket to the DSI, embassies, the Land Office and the Royal Thai Police and warn them to check Phuket deeds carefully before approving them.
He added that illegal projects on hillsides posed a danger to people’s safety, particularly those in landslide risk areas. “Investors should know where exactly they are allowed to build, but there are many people who sell illegal land plots and this could be dangerous for people living in Phuket,” he said.
“Influential persons” were often involved in such illegal dealings, he added.
Gen Intarat also said that he had received requests to change the ban on building 80 meters above sea level to 120m above sea level. “This will affect land prices and result in more construction sites [in the hills],” he said.
“I worry about more construction sites on hills because even a small earthquake could lead to serious damage,” he added.
Phuket, Thailand
12:51 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=6644
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.