Fuel truck accident causes big scare in North Pattaya

16,000 liters of flammable fuel spills into intersection

Firefighters pumped fire-retarding foam onto the fuel spill to try to keep it from igniting and causing what could have been a major disaster. All traffic was diverted and residents from the area were evacuated.

When Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan and Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat arrived on the scene, they immediately ordered extra foam from Laem Chabang.

The driver of the fuel truck was identified as Bunsong Yodbun. When questioned by police, Bunsong said he was delivering the fuel to Naklua during heavy traffic and rain, and said his the brakes locked on him while going down hill, approaching the intersection. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Luckily, the feared explosion never happened, but it took eight hours before firefighters were willing to give the "all-clear" signal that the danger had passed and the intersection was returned to normal.

The accident occurred during rush hour traffic at 4:00 p.m. on October 10. Officials on the scene said it was extremely fortunate that the fuel didn’t explode, as deaths could have been in the hundreds.

UK national butted for contraband cigarettes and drugs

Admits to cigarettes, denies knowledge of drugs

Kevin Quill from Halifax, UK was arrested outside the Duu Dee noodle shop on 3rd Road last week for carrying contraband cigarettes and methamphetamines.

Kevin Quill (center) from Halifax, UK watches anxiously as police examine the contraband found in his SUV.

Quill and his Thai driver were arrested while sitting in a Mercedes Benz sport utility vehicle with Bangkok license plates that police had suspected was being used to transport illegal drugs and contraband cigarettes.

Arresting police found and confiscated two large black bags containing 170 cartons of Benson & Hedges cigarettes from inside the vehicle.

During a thorough search of the contents of the bags, police noticed that one of the cartons appeared to be altered. Upon closer inspection, police found 100 methamphetamine pills, type orange, concealed inside a packet of cigarettes.

Quill, age 38, admitted to charges of possessing contraband cigarettes and evading Thai import tax, saying he intended to transport the 170 cartons to England for sale in local markets. However, he denied knowledge of the 100-methamphetamine pills found with the cigarettes.

The Bang Lamung excise officer set the fine for possessing the 170 cartons of contraband cigarettes at 637,762 baht. Quill was also charged with possession of methamphetamines, which is a class 1 crime.

German cop chases down thieving katoeys

Local police called in, given trouble entering thieves’ room

Rainer Dieter Hesse, a German police captain, most likely didn’t think he would need to use his police skills, much less in such an unusual way, whilst on holiday in Pattaya. Neither did he probably imagine the bizarre scene that he suddenly found himself in the middle of on a dark Pattaya night.

Nikhom Wichanpreecha and Chokiat Thapsit, both "women of the second category", were arrested for pilfering a German tourist’s wallet.

Hesse told police two katoeys confronted him whilst he was on his way back to his hotel room. The two slight-of-hand katoeys quickly lifted his wallet and took off flitting down the street, heels clicking loudly, in an attempt to get away. Hesse said he chased after them and managed to keep up all the way to their apartment. Once there, however, the burly yet effeminate pickpockets refused to answer the door.

Pattaya police responded to the call at 374/12 Soi Khanomwan in South Pattaya, where Hesse was waiting at the apartment door, wanting police to force the two katoeys to come out and give up his wallet.

Officers knocked at the door, but received no response either, and spent the next 30 minutes trying to talk the occupants into opening up. They finally did open the door after police said they would stand guard all night until they obtained a warrant in the morning, at which time they would force the door open if necessary. A subsequent search of the room produced Rainer’s property.

The two katoeys, Nikhom Wichanpreecha, age 32, from Singburi and Chokiat Thapsit, age 43, a former Nakhorn Sawan resident, were then taken in for questioning.

Nikhom admitted to holding up tourists and pilfering their wallets, but the older Chokiat denied having anything to do with the incident. Chokiat’s story failed to impress police, however, and both were charged with robbery.

Pattaya police officer arrested during drug sting operation

Proclaims innocence, but evidence is damaging

Police Warrant Officer Praman Rangsimantuwong, an administration officer at the Pattaya municipal police station, was arrested for possession with intent to sell over 100 methamphetamine pills. 35-year old Ms. Sawuay Niyomthai was also arrested.

Police Warrant Officer Praman Rangsimantuwong is led to the interrogation room after being arrested during a drug sting.

Praman’s arrest came during a police sting operation organized by Police Major Mana Intpitak, a Pattaya municipal police inspector. The orders for the sting were given after information was received from outside sources and disseminated down the chain of command.

An undercover police officer, provided with 2,500 baht in pre-recorded banknotes, was sent to the Dukkae community in Soi Kophai to purchase 50 methamphetamine pills just before midnight on October 7.

After the transaction was completed, a group of police officers moved in to make the arrest and were taken aback when recognizing Police Warrant Officer Praman Rangsimantuwong.

A search of the house produced the 2,500 baht in recorded banknotes. Another 60 methamphetamine pills were found buried outside next to the house.

The warrant officer denied charges of selling the class 1 illegal narcotics, saying he was at the house receiving a cure for a long time ailment. As for Sawuay, she accepted the charges and identified herself as Praman’s girlfriend.

"The evidence against Praman is probably enough to make charges stick," said Pol. Lt. Col. Anthapol Namnat, Pattaya Municipal Police Asst. Superintendent. "The information collected prior to the raid indicated a police officer was involved in the sale of methamphetamines to youth in the area from the address given in Soi Kophai."

The undercover officer described how he had purchased the drugs from Praman, how Praman had taken the money and handed it over to Sawuay, and how he had given him the methamphetamines in return. "It will be difficult for him to prove in court he was not involved in the transaction, when he should have been making the arrest," Pol. Lt. Col. Anthapol said.

In addition to the drug possession and distribution charge, Praman was also charged with neglect of duty. The arrest report has been forwarded through the chain of command to take the necessary steps for relieving Praman from police duty in preparation for trial.

Ex-wife hires kids to shoot ex-husband’s new wife and make it look like a robbery

New wife survives, all miscreants caught

Kato Kozo, 60, a regular Japanese tourist to Pattaya, said he underestimated the vengeance of his scorned ex-wife. Whilst sitting in a Naklua hotel with his new wife Subhaporn, 32, three juveniles forced their way into the room, knocked Subhaporn on the head with a revolver, then shot her, tied up Kato and ransacked the room, making off with a 5-baht weight gold bracelet, a 1-baht weight gold necklace, a Nokia mobile phone, a gold ring, two 1000-yen banknotes and 8,000 baht in cash.

Having a good description of the vehicle used in the robbery/shooting, Banglamung police were able to track down the 16-year old boy, 17-year old boy and 14-year-old girl at the Love Hotel in Soi Inter-Rama in Central Pattaya. All three were sleeping when police entered the room and were easily apprehended. A search of the room produced all of the stolen articles minus the mobile phone and some of the cash.

The three youths admitted to the robbery and shooting, but said that Wanchai Muanpong, a 41-year old male and Riam Suwanbha, a 39-year old woman had hired them to commit the crime. They said that they had already returned the .38 revolver to them.

Riam and Wanchai were later arrested in Ratanakorn Village in Soi Khao Noi. The gun used in the crime was found at that location. It was still loaded, with one of the six rounds having been fired.

Riam admitted that she planned the robbery and shooting, using the three juveniles to get even with Subhaporn, who was once her friend, but who had taken her former husband away from her.

Kozo acknowledged that he once lived with Riam as husband and wife but called the arrangement off when he discovered she was not only unfaithful but also giving his money away to her boyfriend.

Start-up day approaches for Pattaya’s water treatment plant

Contractor says, “No problems anticipated”

After 8 long years of planning and building, it appears that Pattaya’s new 1.8 billion baht wastewater treatment plant may actually be ready by the end of November.

Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan (center), Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (far right) and Sirithan Pairojboribun from the Pollution Control Department in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment announce Pattaya’s 1.8 billion baht wastewater treatment plant is nearly ready to go on line.

Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan made the announcement at a press conference held at city hall earlier this month. The governor also said that the contractor will be subject to fines amounting to 1.7 million baht per day should the plant’s operation be delayed.

Accompanying the governor at the press conference were Sirithan Pairojboribun from the Pollution Control Department in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat.

The governor said that according to the construction contractor, no problems are anticipated and testing will begin on November 30.

Planning for the wastewater treatment plant began in 1992, after Pattaya was officially identified as a pollution control area by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.

The main concern now is how the city will meet the estimated 30-50 million baht operational costs to keep the plant running. There are 49 other water treatment facilities in Thailand. Many have become mere monuments because the operational costs were too high and consumers opposed the increase on their water bills.

The city administration is still trying to decide on a system to collect operational costs, whilst trying to minimize the impact on consumers. However, problems are anticipated if the initial cost is more than expected.

The current plan estimates that residential homes will be charged an average of 2.5 baht per cubic meter of water usage. Small businesses will be charged 3 baht, and large businesses will be charged an average rate of 3.5 baht. The new charges will take affect in January 2001.

City continues to address traffic situation

Minibus service still a possibility

City hall is busy planning and implementing projects to help alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety on Pattaya’s roads.

To date, the city has widened the road at the intersection of Center Road and Pattaya 2nd Road to allow easier turning for large size vehicles. However, hazards involving baht buses stopping to pick up passengers in front of the new Tops store still exist.

The city has also made the decision to turn 2nd Road into a one-way street from South Pattaya Road all the way to the Dolphin Circle on North Pattaya Road, although no date has been released as to when this will come into effect.

The city also plans to correct the dangerous conditions at the Sukhumvit and Central Pattaya Road intersection where motorcyclists continue to make illegal left turns from Central Pattaya heading to Soi Nern Plab Wan.

Additionally, city hall has decided to prohibit motorbike rental businesses from parking vehicles on 2nd, 3rd and Beach Roads during holidays and weekends. Motorcycle taxi drivers are included in the ban. Under the plan, motorcycle taxi drivers are to set up stands inside intersecting streets and off of the three main roads.

City hall has talked with Pattaya’s Song Taew (baht bus) Federation about implementing driver’s training programs for the drivers of its fleet of 700 baht buses. The training would include establishing set rates and designating routes with a color-coding system.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Micro-Bus Company Ltd. is researching the possibility of operating its air-conditioned service in Pattaya. Details have not yet been released.

Squatters must be removed first

Pattaya City has submitted a budget request to the central government to support a tourism development plan at Saem and Tawaen Beaches covering the next three years.

Combined with Chonburi provincial support and private investment, overall investment could reach as much as 2 billion baht.

Bhinyo Tanwiset (left), Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization (PAO) president and a group of PAO members accompanied Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat to Larn Island to survey potential tourism development.

Private businesses are displaying interest in developing the island to its full potential and the Chonburi PAO is prepared to support private investments with budgeted funds for road improvements, running water, electrical lines and other support.

Other possible projects include underwater museums, rest areas, and possibly a casino on another part of the island. One project involves building a water distilling operation, turning seawater into drinking water similar to the system in place on Sichang Island. A wastewater treatment plant is also being planned at a tentative cost of 30 million baht.

Sewage and trash disposal are major concerns on the island, and an additional 60 million baht in OECF funds from Japan are earmarked for purchasing a trash incinerator, as well as making road improvements and for the construction of a water reservoir.

Another problem identified on Saem Beach is the large number of squatters who have invaded the beach. PAO President Bhinyo Tanwiset said coordination was underway with the Pattaya City administration to take legal action against trespassers located on the land. The city administration and members from the Larn Island community committee agree that the problem of clearing out the vendors encroaching on the beaches should be solved before actual development begins.