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Sattahip
warehouse raided
Tons of illegal coral
inside
Sattahip Police last week raided a warehouse in Chong
Samae Sarn, Sattahip and confiscated an estimated six tons of coral.
A warehouse employee, Yun Sukwethi, age 67, was
arrested. Yun told police he was being paid 100 baht a day to look after
the warehouse by the owner, Chumphon Amphomha. Police have issued a
warrant for Chumphon’s arrest.
 Warehouse
employee Yun Sukwethi was arrested in connection with six tons of coral
confiscated in Sattahip.
After receiving information indicating illegal coral
was being bought and sold there, police raided and searched the warehouse
and found 600 sacks of coral. There was also a large mound of coral piled
in one corner of the warehouse, estimated weighing at least two tons.
Police estimated the nearly six tons of coral was worth
millions of baht and was most likely headed for the weekend markets in
Bangkok.
The Sattahip Police Department has contacted the
Coastal Police and various departments located along the coast to be aware
of the illegal trade passing through the area.
The penalty for dealing in coral is a four-year prison
term or 40,000 baht, or both.
A 10-wheel truck was brought in to transfer the confiscated coral to
the police station, which took 10 trips to complete.
Tourist Police
verifying foreigners’ visas
Catch one man with
looooong overstay
The Pattaya Tourist Police are now to conduct an
intensified check of foreigners to verify they have current visas and
passports, and to record their addresses in each officer’s area of
responsibility. Additional orders include the arrest of anyone engaged in
criminal activity.
The objective of this intensive check is a crime
prevention measure to protect tourists coming to Pattaya and to crack down
on foreign Mafia involvement.
 Thorsten
Mills, with his 2 year overstay, was caught in the current police net that
was set to find foreigners without updated visas and passports.
On August 2nd, Tourist Police Officer’s observed a
foreigner near the entrance to Soi Bua Khao in Central Pattaya and
something about the person’s character prompted the police to check his
identity. The man was taken in to the station for further questioning
because he had no passport in his possession.
At the station, Thorsten Mills, age 38, assured police
he had a current passport, which was kept at his apartment in Soi Sakao
Beach. Officers escorted Mills to the Lek Apartment where he produced his
valid and current passport for the officers to examine. The German
passport was current enough, not expiring until the year 2003. However,
his visa had expired over two years ago.
Back at the station, Mills told police that he has not
broken any laws in his country and is not involved with any crime in
Thailand. The reason he has remained in Pattaya with his visa expired is
because he has been living with Mrs. Uthid Tengchan, age 32. Uthid is a
widow who he has been supporting with money sent to him monthly from
relatives in Germany. The two have not married or registered to marry but
he says that he and Uthid have been living together very happily and he
did not want to leave Thailand.
When Uthid arrived at the station and saw Mills, she started crying and
asked police how long before her husband’s trial. Police consoled her by
saying once the trial is over Mills will be able to apply for a new visa
and then stay in Thailand legally. Uthid left the station somewhat
reassured that she will see her husband again.
American sailor
falls from overhead walkway
Bars blamed for not closing
on Buddhist holy days
Late in the evening of July 28th, the Pattaya Police
were called to the Soi Diamond beer bar area in South Pattaya where an
American sailor had fallen from an overhead walkway. The sailor fell from
a height of six meters and was seriously injured.
Coalmine Le Pak (sic), age 25, had both wrists broken
and a serious back injury. He was rushed to the Memorial Hospital in
Central Pattaya.
Sources say that Coalmine was with a group of other
sailors on shore leave, but got separated from his mates. Looking for his
friends, he apparently slipped on the overhead connecting walk-way to the
concrete below.
The city had issued instructions to the various entertainment areas to
refrain from selling spirits during the Buddhist holy days of Asalahabucha
and the beginning of Buddhist Lent (July 27 & 28) as a way of
respecting Buddhist culture. The instructions were ignored and the bars
carried on until this incident occurred.
Police raid Dance
2,000
39 test positive for
drugs
Police raided the Dance 2000 nightclub late last month
and detained 182 customers on suspicion of drug involvement. All 182 were
given urine tests. 39 tested positive for either amphetamines (ya ba) or
ecstasy (ya e).
During the raid, one man from inside identified himself
as a Police Lt. Col. He showed his badge, then took his friend and
departed the area. He was not tested for drugs.
Pattaya police assembled 50 officers, in and out of
uniform, and conducted the raid accompanied by medical technicians from
Banglamung Hospital.
Dance 2,000, located on Soi Bua Khao, is a popular
after hours place frequented by young people just getting off work in the
entertainment areas. It has been closed down twice before.
 Pattaya
Police raided the “Dance 2,000” night club and brought in 182 people
for urine testing. 39 tested positive for amphetamine (ya ba) and
ephedrine (ya "E").
Prior to this raid, police had received information
indicating amphetamines and the drug ecstasy were openly being distributed
inside.
Police used a tour bus to take in for a urine test the
182 “suspects”, 108 males and 74 females, with a number of
unidentifiable thrown in with the girl’s numbers.
Police also searched the vehicles parked in the area
and found one 11mm pistol with four rounds of ammunition belonging to a 15
year old male named Suchat Sae-Ueng.
After Dance 2,000 was cleared out police found 20
amphetamine and the drug “E” pills scattered on the floor.
A total of 39 persons, 14 males and 25 females, came up
positive on the urine test and will be awaiting trial. Others without
proper identification were fined and released.
According to the medical technician accompanying the
raid the two drugs, amphetamine and ephedrine can be detected quickly in
urine samples.
Police also discovered that Dance 2,000 was without a
licensed approval to reopen and will be closing it down again for awhile.
The police action was a result of a recent district
meeting of officials who routinely review activities affecting the
stability and security in the area.
Other incidents in the past have included drive by shootings into the
club area by rival gangs.
Royal Thai
Marines commemorate Anniversary
Admiral Manit Deemaak, Marine Commandant of the
Sattahip Naval Base, presided over ceremonies honoring the Marine
Anniversary Day on July 30th.
The marines were established in the Buddhist Year 2367,
under the reign of the 3rd Monarch.
During the first era the marines were a select group of
soldiers performing tasks as the King’s Guard. They also accompanied the
King during visits to foreign countries and various colonies.
 The
ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the Royal Thai marines included
nine Buddhist monks and traditional ceremonies at the monument of Somdej
Krom Luang Chumphorn.
In the year 2475 B.E. the marines took on a change and
were trained as infantry soldiers with the Royal Thai Navy. Their name
changed to “Navik-Yothin” or marines, which was a battalion size unit
stationed in Bangkok.
In the year 2482 B.E. the unit size increased to a
brigade of two battalions stationed at Sattahip Naval Base. During this
era the conflict in Indo-China began flaring up. Marine units were
mobilized to the Thai-Cambodian border to protect the Kingdom from French
colonization.
In the year 2498 B.E. on July 30th, the marines began
training similar to the marines in the United States. The marine force has
been undergoing modernization ever since. In the year 2532 B.E. on August
24th the unit was resized to that equaling a corps.
The marines are now a specialized force capable of
actions on both land and sea, under any conditions. The marines are
usually the first force sent in to any skirmish.
Planting trees to
honor HM the King’s Birthday
Boy Scouts join residents
from Nong Pla Lai in long-lasting project
On July 25th, Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan
presided over a ceremony in Nong Pla Lai Sub-District prior to residents
and boy scouts from six villages planting trees throughout the area in
honour of His Majesty the King’s upcoming sixth cycle, 72nd birthday.
Banglamung District Chief Prasert Thanasetakorn,
Chonburi MP Chansak Chawalitnititham, Banglamung District Provincial
Council Member Rewat Phonluk-In, Nong Pla Lai Sub-District Officer Banjob
Bunkaw, and Company Chairman from the Million Years Stone Park Suan
Phanomwatanakul also participated in the event.
The District Chief commented that the community’s
idea to replace the many disappearing trees was a commendable way of
honouring the Royal Family, the nation, and Buddhism.
The District Forestry Department from Sriracha
supported the tree planting activity by providing two types of tree
saplings: Cassia laburnum and yellow elder or Fecoma stans.
 Chonburi
Governor Sujarit Pachimnan plants a fragrant coconut sapling received as a
momento from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The tree saplings were planted along the streets and
Soi’s, public areas, and in the homes of the boy scouts and residents
participating in the activity.
During the ceremony, Governor Sujarit planted a
fragrant coconut sapling received from the King’s daughter, Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as a momento. The coconut sapling
was planted in front of the Nong Pla Lai Sub-District Office as the rain
came sprinkling down.
Afterwards, the boy scouts and residents spent the rest of the day
planting the trees, which will be remembered for a long time to come.
National police
training seminar held in Jomtien
Move to standardize police
training throughout the Kingdom
The Command Education Division of the National Police
Headquarters held a training seminar at the Jomtien Welcome Hotel.
Seventy-five officers in teaching positions from all nine of the Police
Cadet Schools in the country attended the 5-day training seminar. The
objective was to standardize the police cadet training program throughout
the nine schools to increase the efficiency of the police force.
Up until recently, each school had been making its own
examination standards, but from now on the tests will all be the same.
Each school will now also provide the same curriculum
and afford students the same amount of study time.
The seminar also stressed that instructors are to create more interest
in the class and ensure that the students are completing their
assignments.
Wealthy
businessman enters politics
Surprises many with his sudden change
of charactor
Wealthy Banleu Kunlwanid grew up fit and strong,
attributes that may help him in his new endeavor. Banleu is now jumping
into local politics in Pattaya City.
When people who new him in Pattaya heard the news they
were somewhat amazed because he never gave any previous indications. He
revealed another side of his character rather suddenly when he made his
announcement.
City Council Members must be a bit uneasy after hearing the news of
this prominent businessman’s intentions, with elections on the horizon.
It will be up to the voters, but Banleu is sure to receive a good share of
the votes.
Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek. |
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