Millennium baby born in Pattaya

Girl born just after midnight

While the world was concerned with technical Y2K related problems and whether entering the year 2000 was to be a smooth transition or not, Thailand was unsure of its own fate. At the same time there were many expecting mothers wondering if their soon to be born child would be the first baby born in the new millennium.

Mrs. Amporn Prakoblap with her baby girl born just past the hour of midnight on 1 January 2000, at Banglamung Hospital.

As the midnight clock struck, doctors at the Banglamung Hospital were preparing themselves to assist Mrs. Amporn Prakoblap, 30, in delivering her baby. At the auspicious hour of one minute past midnight, the millennium baby was born. The baby girl weighed in at just over 2,000 grams. Both mother and baby are in fine condition.

Mrs. Amporn said that this was her third child and there were no complications at childbirth. She said that she would ask a revered monk to name the baby after she and the baby went home. In any case, reporters present at the hospital immediately dubbed her “Miss Sahasawad” or “Miss Millennium”.

Hospitals in Sri Racha registered two other mothers giving birth in the early morning hours of January 1st, but both missed the mark by three hours.

As far as is known, Mrs. Amporn’s baby girl is the first born in the new millennium, at least in Chonburi and possibly in Thailand.

Four other births were recorded at the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital but each occurred later in the day on 1 January 2000.

Young Amerasian woman gang raped and murdered

Ex-boyfriend prime suspect

The mangled body of 20-year old Angela Long, an American/Thai woman formerly employed at the Lotus Department Store in Bang Lamung, was discovered in an overgrown field in Pong Sub-District, east of Pattaya, on December 24th.

Police surmise the woman had been murdered 7 to 10 days before the body was discovered. Forensics showed that she had been raped repeatedly and strangled. Her hands and feet were also badly mauled by stray dogs.

A local resident discovered the body on his way out to set bird traps in the area earlier in the morning.

The Commander of Chonburi Provincial Police, Maj. Gen. Phanuphong Singhara na Ayudthaya mobilized all police units to assist in the investigation.

Police learned that Miss Angela had a boyfriend named Amnuay Bunchan, age 23. Police went to Amnuay’s residence in Pong Sub-District but he was not home when police arrived. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

Investigators did locate Amnuay’s younger brother, Anucha Bunchan, age 21, who was brought in for questioning on 29 December. During his interrogation, Anucha confessed to participating in the gang rape of Miss Angela Long, along with his older brother Amnuay and seven other men that he identified for police.

The guilty men confessing to involvement in the rape and murder of 20-year-old Amerasian Miss Angela Long.

The others were identified as Wichien and Saifon Naknuan (brothers), Bancha Thamprayod, Wichit Tansian, U-then Saengket, and two others named Kai and Wich whose last names were unknown to Anucha. All the men resided in the Pong Sub-District area. Police arrested six of the men, but three men are still alluding arrest: Amnuay, Kai and Wich.

The men arrested all confessed to participating in the rape and pointed at Amnuay, Miss Angela’s former boyfriend, as the ringleader orchestrating the gang rape. They all also say Amnuay murdered Miss Angela Long by wrapping her bra around her neck, using his legs to pin her down and breaking her neck. The men said they were all drunk and high on amphetamines.

On December 30th, the guilty men were taken to the Nong Prue Temple in Sri Racha where relatives had gathered for Miss Angela’s funeral. The guilty men were forced to endure the stares and glares as the guilty men prostrated themselves, groveling three times to both the remains of Miss Angela and then to the many relatives standing in disbelief.

First arrest made in Thai Oil fire investigation

Three others soon to follow

Control room employee Channarong Amorntheprak was the first Thai Oil employee arrested in connection with the December 2nd fire at the Thai Oil Refinery in Laem Chabang. The explosion and fire resulted in 7 dead and many millions of baht in damages.

Channarong was identified as being responsible for transferring oil into the wrong container, causing the tank to overfill, eventually ending in the explosion.

Chonburi Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Phanuphong Singhara na Ayudthaya has been heading the investigation. After he and his investigating team brought their summarized results to Laem Chabang District Chief Saen Cheunsiwa, the District Chief approved the arrest warrant for Channarong Amorntheprak. The warrant was issued on 27 December.

Channarong was arrested while on duty at the Thai Oil Refinery.

Channarong defended himself by saying on the day of the incident there was an excessive amount of work going on requiring the closure of a number of valves. This, he said, created some confusion as to whether he incorrectly opened the wrong valve or not.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Phanuphong later disclosed that there are at least three other persons who have been identified as also being involved, and all three will soon be arrested. He also said the investigation thus far has not indicated any wrong doing at the managerial level.

The investigation is now looking into the reasons why no operators responded to the alarms in the control room indicating the existing danger.

“Those responsible for the disaster will all be brought to stand trial,” the Provincial Police Commander said. “Bail has yet to be decided, but they will be jailed just as any other suspect arrested for other crimes by the Laem Chabang Municipal Police.”

Breast man arrested for grasping forbidden fruit

Sum tom titty squeeze caper

There are some things one doesn’t do in Thailand; social taboos such as pointing with one’s feet, touching another person’s head, or worse yet, putting one’s feet on another person’s head.

There are also some things one just shouldn’t do anywhere. 33-year-old Englishman John Simon Woodward crossed the social taboo line last week and was promptly arrested.

33-year-old Englishman John Simon Woodward was arrested on New Year’s Day for grabbing the breast of a sum tom seller.

Apparently, on New Year’s Day Woodward became enamored with the breasts of an underage girl selling papaya salad on the 4th floor of the Royal Garden. After ordering a serving of papaya salad and paying the required price of 40 baht, Woodward then sampled the firmness of the sales girl’s breasts.

The young girl, whose name has been withheld due to personal embarrassment, which the girl claims she has suffered enough, screamed out in surprise as a large group of people looked on. The girl said over 100 people witnessed the idiot grasping her breast. Some stepped forward to assist and he finally released his grasp.

Police were summoned; Woodward was arrested and charged with performing an indecent act in public to a minor.

While being questioned by police at the station, Woodward, who was sitting what was thought to be safely “handcuffed” in front of the investigating officer, all of a sudden jumped up and ran from the station. However, a group of officers were congregated near the front door and were able to apprehend him for the second time and bring him back to complete questioning prior to being locked up to await his trial.

A seven-year-old murder case solved

Suspects gives himself up for murdering his wife’s lover

The parents of Chaya Semsombun contacted Pattaya police last month to tell them that their son was prepared to turn himself in for the 1992 murder of Khomsan Wanchai.

The 30-year-old Chaya was arrested at his parents’ home in Moo 9, Nong Prue that evening.

Chaya confessed to the murder and described how he found his wife and Khomsan making love at an address in Moo 12, Thep Prasit Road at 2:00 a.m. on 6 January 1992.

Chaya told police he was unable to control his anger when he found his unfaithful wife in the arms of Khomsan. He said he grabbed a piece of wood and beat the man to death, then fled the area disappearing for seven years.

Police had Chaiya re-enact the crime for police records. He is now in custody waiting to be tried for murder.

Pattaya’s elections heating up

Questionable tactics emerge

Oh, the fun of politics... Many local potential voters were left confused this week after receiving offbeat campaign leaflets from one of the candidates for mayor.

The leaflets clearly state that elections will be held on February 12th. The leaflets also urge voters to cast their vote for independent candidate for city mayor Aphised Saksed and his two candidates for deputy mayor. So far, no problem.

However, what is unclear is that one candidate for deputy mayor has the word “white” written in parenthesis next to his name and the other candidate has the word “black” by his name. In addition, the leaflets have the former mayor of Pattaya Pairat Suttithamrongsawat identified by a pseudonym, with a skull and crossbones on one side and an exploding bomb on the other. So far, no reasonable explanation as to the intended meanings has surfaced.

Since the campaigning for Pattaya’s mayor and city council positions began with registrations ending on 28 December, many people have entered the race. Some candidates have engaged in one on one debates, whilst others are independently pursuing votes.

Three candidates have registered for city mayor: Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Aphised Saksed, and Songsak Yomjinda, names voters are familiar with. However, there are those who wonder which candidates running for mayor are campaigning for spite or actually do want the position.

Y2K complaint centers set up

Dealing with non-compliant businesses

The Consumer Protection Commission has set up Y2K Consumer Complaint Centers for consumers not receiving justifiable support from manufacturers regardingY2K problems.

The complaint centers, set up in conjunction with the Chonburi Consumer Protection Subcommittee, are servicing consumers in Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Sri Racha and Muang District.

The Chonburi Consumer Protection Subcommittee met with local businessmen at the Pattaya Merlin Hotel.

Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan has been appointed as the Chairman of the Chonburi Consumer Protection Subcommittee. The subcommittee consists of members from associated agencies and government offices, including various members of Pattaya’s business community.

The subcommittee will also handle all types of consumer problems, including copyright violations and consumer fraud. The subcommittee has already singled out a handful of local businesses for investigation.

Consumers with complaints can contact Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan or the Office of the Prime Minister at Post Office 99, Bangkok or Hotline 1166. Additionally, consumers discovering manufactured goods still being sold after the expiration dates are asked to report this information to the Consumer Protection Commission, and the required action will be taken.

It is still unknown the extent of Y2K related problems, so the Y2K Consumer Complaint Centers will remain operational until February or March, and may be extended longer if necessary.

The Consumer Complaint Commission will be the focal point for action. Complaints requiring legal action will be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.

Former deputy city manager to run for mayor

Becomes 3rd candidate on the ballot

Former deputy city manager Songsak Yomjinda has thrown his hat into the ring, becoming the third candidate to run for mayor. Songsak entered the race on December 27th, just one day prior to the registration deadline.

Former deputy city manager Songsak Yomjinda registered as the third candidate running for mayor in Pattaya.

The two other candidates are former mayors Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and Abhised Saksek.

Songsak Yomjinda is considered to be a fully capable politician with the appropriate background in education and experience in office. As he made his announcement to campaign for mayor he said his intentions were to provide the Pattaya community with another option when going to the poles.

Beach boy rescues Finland tourist

Quick action saves his life

57-year-old Finnish tourist Antero Kansnaho had a much better Christmas, thanks to the quick work of 39-year-old Bunsyyb Wongsri.

Bunsyyb, who rents out beach mats to tourists on Jomtien Beach, told reporters that on December 21st he was idly watching the tourists swimming in the area when, at about 3.00 p.m. he heard a call for help. He said he ran to assist (Antero) as he was going down under the water. Bunsyyb said he hauled the large man back ashore and told others to call the hospital while he began pumping the unconscious man’s lungs.

Another good Samaritan in the area alerted the emergency room at the Pattaya Memorial Hospital.

Antero was rushed to the hospital where he remained in critical condition for a number of minutes before doctors were able to revive him.

In pursuit of life

Mrs. Phasuk Sri Muang at her roadside stand selling Thai sweets called “khanom khrok”.

Mrs. Phasuk is 36 years old. She is from Chonburi and has three children attending school. Her oldest child is in technical college, while her two younger children are in primary and secondary schools. While her husband hires out doing odd jobs, Mrs. Phasuk works at her roadside stand selling Thai sweets called “khanom khrok” everyday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. She and her husband combined make from 200-300 baht a day.

When asked if it is enough, Phasuk replies, “We get by, but the family has to go without a lot of usual necessities to make ends meet. (Our) three children were taught from the beginning that if it’s not necessary we don’t buy it. The children understand how to economize and help out each day making life easier, and they manage to get along.”

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