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Police arrest
foreign protitutes at the Marine Bar
Was it for overcharging?
Determined to keep South Pattaya as a “Prostitute
Free Zone”, undercover immigration police prepared a plan to expose the
operation by pre-recording banknotes to be used in a Marine Bar
“sting”.
The plan was to arrest the women after ample evidence
was collected, because in the past, women such as these had claimed to be
visiting relatives staying in Pattaya and their passports and visas had
been found to be in order. In these cases, the usual fine was 1,000 baht
but the foreign women were charging 2,000 - 3,000 baht per hour for their
services.
The undercover officers entered the Marine bar singly
and sat drinking beer and observing the situation. Within a short-time,
three women wandering around the bar propositioned each undercover
officer, requesting 2,000 baht in advance before accompanying the clients
to the Marine Mansion. The pre-recorded banknotes were handed over and the
exposure was underway.
Each arrest was made after the women entered the room
and went through the normal routines of undressing before the undercover
officers flashed their badges and announced the deception.
The three arrested women were later identified as
Natlon Usmanova, age 18, and Evgeniya Ireygut, age 21, both from
Uzbekistan, and 19-year old Elena Lyssova from Russia. They were turned
over to the Pattaya Police for initial deposition and fines before
starting deportation procedures.
Court orders
Wolfgang Ulrich to return to Germany
The government of Germany has requested that the Thai
courts return Wolfgang Ulrich to Germany to stand trial for embezzling
funds totaling 500 million baht from an animal protection foundation in
Europe. If he is not returned within three months, he has the right to
appeal within 30 days and could be set free.
 The
order was given on July 19, as prosecutors presented the case in court.
The 55 year old German has been serving a sentence in a Thai prison for
illegally bringing a luxury yacht into Thailand and avoiding taxes. Ulrich
elected to serve a one-year reduced sentence in lieu of paying the 79
million baht fine.
Prosecuting attorneys have been pushing for extradition
since 15 December 1999, with supporting evidence indicating his guilt, and
insisting his return would not be in conflict with existing Thai laws.
No extradition treaty between the two countries exists,
and the German Embassy in Thailand has been officially coordinating the
saga through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ulrich, arrested in May 1999, is currently serving out
his sentence at the Central Prison in Patumthani for illegally importing
and avoiding taxes on the yacht “Last Money”, which was also equipped
with unregistered communication equipment.
Big Queen Go-Go
raided for live sex show
Bar was offering more than just cold beer!
Pattaya Police launched an investigation on the evening
of 27 July after receiving orders from the Royal Thai Police to search for
unacceptable entertainment in Pattaya. The order specified cracking down on
lewd entertainment and live sex shows ruining the country’s reputation.
The crackdown resulted in the arrest of two individuals
performing a live sex show at the “Big Queen Go-Go Bar” in Soi 17’s
Sunee Plaza. The raid was conducted at 11.30 p.m. when police entered the
bar during the main attraction. Police officers ordered the lights turned on
and stopped the performance. The bar was packed with tourists from both
Thailand and abroad.
The two performers were arrested, along with the manager
of the bar. All three were taken to the Pattaya Police station.
Mr. Samreung Kekasut, aged 24, and Miss Pidsamai Pusuwan,
aged 22, told police they were hired to perform the show once each evening,
explaining that they were being paid 500 baht for their hard labor. Soraprom
Chomchyn, the manager of the Big Queen, confessed to organizing the
performance in order to attract business.
The “artistes” were fined 500 baht each and released
with a warning. The manager received a fine of 2,000 baht and was also
released with words of caution.
The Royal Thai Police believe lewd entertainment is going
on in a number of bars in Pattaya, drawing in large crowds of spectators.
This includes shows involving women from Russia who are also involved in
special entertainment and engaging in prostitution.
Two local
students arrested for disturbance at Big C
One was carrying a loaded weapon
After two men caused a disturbance at the Big C
Shopping Center, Security officers gave chase, while police were notified
that one of the two men was armed with a pistol.
 After
creating a disturbance in the Big C Shopping Center, two desperados were
retrieved from the jungle by arresting officers.
Police joined the pursuit in Soi 3 and the two were
chased into a vacant area. Police officers surrounded them and eventually
both were remanded to police custody.
The two were identified as students attending the
Pattaya Aksorn Tech School. Anucha Chairasri, age 18, from Uttaladit
Province, admitted dropping the pistol next to a fence in the overgrown
area in Soi 3. Police took Anucha back to the location where a Smith &
Wesson 9mm automatic, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition was retrieved.
The other man was identified as 17-year old Piyapong
Yasawut from Bang Lamung.
Both men were charged with causing an unlawful
disturbance. Anucha was also charged with carrying a loaded weapon.
German tourist
found dead
Examination indicates heart attack
The body of Siegfried Robert Zape, age 50, was found by
the management of a hotel on Second Road, who notified police.
The hotel cleaning lady had tried to enter the room for
daily cleaning, but after receiving no response notified the front desk.
Investigating police found no evidence of violence in
the room or any unusual marks on the body. Four containers of unidentified
medications were found in the room and collected as evidence.
The police notified the Banglamung Hospital and the
Sawang Boriboon Rescue Unit. Examination of the body by hospital personnel
and the rescue unit team would suggest that the man died from a heart
attack.
Police arranged for transfer of the body to the police
forensic lab for further examination.
Fire blazes
behind the Chaimongkol Temple in South Pattaya
Damages assessed at 50,000 baht
Pattaya firefighters were called in at 9.00 p.m. on
July 25 to contain a fire that had broken out in a wooden structure in Moo
12.
 A
herbal mixture store broke out in flames, resulting in 50,000 baht in
damages.
Two fire trucks responded to the call and found
neighbours busily retrieving items from two wooden structures build next
to each other, whilst others were pouring water onto the flames. Fire
fighters had the blaze under control within minutes and later assessed the
damages at 50,000 baht.
The burning structure was identified as a store that
sold herbal mixtures.
The owner of the house next door told investigators he
noticed the smell of smoke. Soon afterwards, he saw the flames and called
for help.
The owner of the store had closed down two months ago
to make improvements and luckily there were no occupants inside.
The cause of the fire was initially presumed to have
resulted from faulty electrical wiring.
Brutal murder in
Bang Lamung
College student's murderer barely escapes
lynching party
Bang Lamung Police were called to the Takiangtia
sub-district after the body of a young girl was discovered inside her
parent’s home. The girl, identified as Miss Kanakawan Sucheu, aged 19,
was found lying on the floor in front of a table full of Buddha images and
other religious items. The body had extensive head injuries and a wooden
stick was found stained with blood.
 An
angry mob of friends and relatives demanding immediate revenge was barely
contained by barred windows as Somsak Sinjit reenacted his crime for
police.
Wanida Sukbhaporn, who discovered the body, told police
she came to visit Kanakawan’s parents and found the house wide open. She
found Kanakawan’s body lying on the floor and she ran out of the house
calling to neighbours for help.
Mrs. Chalom, the mother of the dead girl, was
questioned but she was too distraught to continue. Other relatives told
police the young girl was well behaved and a good student who was
attending her second year of college in Bangkok.
The brutality involved caused fear amongst the
community and the fact that the evil person murdered Kanakawan in front of
the religious altar added to the anxiety.
Police followed up leads, and with coordination among
the neighboring provincial police force, an arrest was made, bringing in
23-year old Somsak Sinjit from the same community in Bang Lamung.
Somsak was charged with attempted robbery resulting in
murder. During Somsak’s confession, he described how he saw Miss
Kanakawan whilst driving his motorcycle and determined she was alone. He
waited for her to enter the house and followed her, threatening her to
give up the gold jewelry she was wearing. Somsak said her refusal enraged
him and he struck her in the face with his fist knocking her to the floor.
He then grabbed a nearby walking stick and continually struck her about
the head until she died. Somsak said he took her jewelry and then fled.
Somsak claimed he had no intentions of committing
murder but her refusal brought on his insane actions. Somsak later claimed
he was afflicted with AIDS and needed the money for medicine.
Police believe his story was concocted in an attempt to
solicit sympathy for his horrific crime, and additionally suspect Somsak
had intentions of rape.
He was escorted by more than 50 police officers back to
the community to re-enact the crime, but there were not enough officers to
keep back the angry crowd who wanted immediate revenge. In an attempt to
quell the crowd, police brought Somsak before the parents and relatives of
the dead girl. He prostrated himself, but his trivial performance only
brought on more tears and anger. The crowd began grabbing sticks and
stones prompting police to hurriedly depart with the murderer in tow.
City officials
continue inspecting pork sold in local markets
Regulations to be implemented
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkichakarn in his capacity as
environmental sanitation official recently led a team of sanitation
inspectors and environmental specialists to slaughterhouses located in
Naklua after closing down 16 of them last June.
The closure in Nong Prue was the result of poor
sanitation conditions found in the slaughterhouses and the discovery of
borax used to excess in preserving the meat.
The follow-up inspection in Naklua was conducted to
ensure sanitation was up to certified standards and at the same time
reassure the community that the pork sold in local markets was consumable.
Officials conducted inspections on 27 July and took
samples of pork being sold to consumers from local markets. Three markets
located in Naklua were inspected and samples were taken from 20 vendors. The
results of the tests identified one vendor still using the borax
preservative. The vendor was fined and the owner was given instruction on
the hazards to consumers caused from the use of the preservative.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak said the city administration is in
the process of implementing measures to protect consumers by preventing the
use of the chemical preservative. The program includes plans to identify
vendors selling pork under sanitary and safe conditions.
Other plans include implementing city regulations to
control the sale of pork in local markets and imposing strict fines and
legal action against vendors not in compliance. Initially, the city plans to
meet with vendors and proprietors involved in the pork business to emphasize
the prescribed standards.
Pattaya brainstorms
tourism development
New TAT Region 3 Director introduced
City leaders met at City Hall on July 19 to discuss the
development of tourism in Pattaya. Over 30 members from the community
attended, including city officials and business owners. The new TAT Region
3 (Pattaya) Director Manid Bunchim was also introduced at the meeting.
 City
officials, local business owners, and TAT Region 3 Director Manit Bunchim
discussed the future direction of tourism in Pattaya.
The group discussed the results of previous programs
and projects and all agreed that tourism to Pattaya has increased, but not
to desirable levels. They also agreed that developmental planning was
needed to establish a new direction.
A number of plans are prepared for improvements in the
city and are scheduled to begin in the near future. New TAT Region 3
Director Manid Bunchim suggested contracting a professional private
enterprise to take over the public relations functions of developing
tourism in Pattaya. However, the limited budget of 5-10 million baht may
not be adequate to contract private companies to assist in furthering the
developmental plans.
Deputy Mayor Nirand Watanasadsatorn broached the
subject of the Pattaya Annual Festival and suggested that a new concept be
introduced to schedule the festival during the low season.
Council Member Pilai Panomwan agreed to the idea, but
perhaps undermined its intent by suggesting that it would be appropriate
as long as the traditional “Songkran” custom and “Water Festival”
celebrations were maintained.
The remainder of the meeting centered on organizing a
committee to finalize the direction for tourism development in Pattaya.
Mayor meets with
Walking Street Commitee
Discuss ongoing problems
The Chairman of the Walking Street Committee, Naris
Pedcharat and his committee members met with the city administration and
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat at City Hall on 26 July.
The discussions revolved around the usual topic of
trash collection along Walking Street, identifying a number of businesses
still not complying with directives. Eleven locations in which to position
the new trash receptacles were designated.
Also discussed was the collection of funds to pay for
the new walkway that was inlaid last year. A number of businesses still
delinquent in contributing towards this operation became a major concern
for discussion.
Other topics included traffic and parking problems and
a new problem was identified concerning businesses posting unacceptable
pictures to lure tourists inside their establishments.
Mayor Pairat said that the trash collection problem was
still in a phase of development and further coordination between business
owners is necessary. The problem concerning the collection of funds for
the Walking Street re-surfacing should be coordinated with the appropriate
city office.
The committee members are to continue talks amongst the
businesses in Walking Street, stressing the needed improvements are for
the ultimate benefit of everyone concerned.
Members at the meeting decided to draft a document
identifying the problems in Walking Street. The draft would specify
procedures for parking, trash collection, and unacceptable practices that
are not in accordance with Thai traditions. The committee was tasked with
drafting the document, which will be presented to the mayor and discussed
during a meeting with the Pattaya Municipal Police scheduled to have taken
place on 3 August.
PBTA reviews
street children problem
To ask ministries for help
The members of the Pattaya Business and Tourism
Association met at the Green Fork Resort on July 20 to review methods of
resolving the street children problem. Mrs. Sopin Thappajug, Chonburi
Associate Judge in the Juvenile Family Court, identified the program’s
progress in her capacity as the chairman of the program.
 PBTA
President Surat Mekawarakul (2nd from left) and TAT Region 3 (Pattaya)
Director Manit Bunchim (2nd from right) during a meeting discussing the
problem of street children in Pattaya.
The project is the combined efforts of the Chonburi
Children Assistance Center, Rayong’s Huay Pong Correctional Facility and
police agencies in Pattaya. The operation started in May of this year and
thus far has conducted three sweeps collecting minors found roaming the
streets of Pattaya during the late hours.
The results of the sweeps conducted on 9 and 24 May,
and 13 July brought in 29 Thai children and 37 children from neighboring
countries. The children from Cambodia and Burma were turned over to the
Immigration Police and the Thai children were sent to the Huay Pong
Correctional Facility and the Redemptorist Children’s Home.
The problem stems from many different causes that
surround the current economic situation in Thailand and its neighboring
countries. The many street children roaming Pattaya begging and selling
flowers and candy have continued to portray a poor image to tourists.
Pattaya attracts many people from both Burma and Cambodia who try to
escape from the poor economic conditions and look for opportunities in
Thailand, with a large number drifting to Pattaya.
Mrs. Sopin said other children are from disadvantage
families in Thailand and end up on the streets trying to make money for
their parents who have no other means of support. Some children are caught
up in an ugly scheme controlled by ruthless people who pay off their
parents by bringing the children to Pattaya to engage in nightly sales for
personal profit. A third category involves a number of children from
broken homes who were abandoned, while a number of children choose to
leave on their own accord, escaping unbearable conditions at home.
Mrs. Sopin said one other area compounding the street
children problem concerns parents and guardians who are unaware of
regulations prohibiting minors on the streets. Some parents are against
this regulation claiming it is too strict. These parents and guardians now
receive counseling on the dangers involved.
Members at the meeting decided to draft a letter
addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting assistance in
relating these problems to neighboring countries to enlist their support
in preventing economic refugees from coming into Thailand. PBTA members
also intend to relate the problem to the Standing Committee on Tourism of
the House of Representatives, emphasizing the need to correct the street
children problem.
Annual Border
Community Self-Defense Program Seminar held
Creating a safe border environment
Army General Sommai Wichaworn, the Deputy Chief of the
General Staff, opened an annual seminar on the “Border Community
Self-Defense Program” at the Royal Twin Palace Hotel on the morning 27
July.
The 150 representatives attending the seminar were from
both the military and civilian community, and included the four Military
Regional Border Development Centers and Border Police Divisions from
Chantaburi and Trat. Also attending were representatives from the
Ministries of Agriculture, Interior, Health, Education, Industry,
Commerce, Labor, Communications, the Office of National Security and the
Office of the Secretary of the Director for Internal Security.
The seminar was based on the third iteration of the
Border Community Self-Defense Program. The meeting convenes annually to
discuss progress and to discern problem areas requiring adjustments. The
meeting also includes the opportunity to exchange ideas from persons
assigned to different areas with specific problems and operational
methods.
The problems associated with Thailand’s border areas
are complicated and found in many different forms that have increased over
the years. However, the many responsible agencies and officials involved
are determined to provide peace and safety to the communities along the
border. This can be achieved by combining the efforts of individual
communities to participate in providing security and maintaining national
security. Inhabitants along border areas remain in unstable readiness and
are not prepared for the important task of creating a safe living
environment, which requires continual attention and developmental
improvements.
CARAT closes in
Thailand
by Lt. Jane Tyler, Task Group 712.0 Public Affairs
Adm. Preecha Phungsuwan, Deputy Commander in Chief of
the Royal Thai Navy, bid farewell to U.S. naval forces of CARAT 2000
during the exercise’s closing ceremony. “We have been through seven
days of intensive training and everybody has put in their best effort. ...
The exercise was a success and both sides have gained a lot of experience
in the process,” Preecha said.
 Adm.
Preecha Phungsuwan, Deputy Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Navy and
Major Gen. Joseph T. Anderson, Commanding General for the US 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing shake hands, signaling the close of CARAT 2000 exercises in
Thailand.
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training is a series
of bilateral exercises taking place in Southeast Asia this summer. Sailors
and Marines of USS Sides (FFG 14), USS Mount Vernon (LSD 39), USS
Germantown (LSD 42), USS Reuben James (FFG 57) and Landing Force CARAT
worked with their Thai counterparts during the exercise.
“This exercise has also proven how important it is
that we continue to work together and share ideas,” said Major Gen.
Joseph T. Anderson, Commanding General for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
The CARAT Task Group traveled to Surabaya, Indonesia
for the next phase of the exercise.
Supplementary
employment training given in Nong Yai
Residents learn ways to help make ends meet
Sixty residents from the Nong Yai sub-district area
attended a five-day training session on making funeral flowers and wreath
arrangements out of discarded materials.
 Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat presided over the opening of “Supplemental
Employment Training” at the Wad Thamasamakkee Volunteer Health Center on
26 July.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat opened the
“Supplemental Employment Training” at the Wad Thamasamakkee Volunteer
Health Center on the morning of July 26.
The training was conducted to provide family members
with skills that will bring them additional income during the country’s
current economic situation.
People from the Community Volunteer Health Center also
received the training. They in turn will become trainers who will later
present these instructions to other people in the community.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Reumkichakan introduced
professional trainers to present the project, which is supported by a
government budget allocation of 46,000 baht.
The training is part of a monthly plan offering courses
in various skills to residents in and around the Pattaya area to
supplement their income.
Copyright 2000 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]
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