Elephant run down by train

Mahout blames himself for carelessness

He said that during his rush to get ready for the wedding he carelessly fastened the chain and Phang Daeng was able to work her way free and wander over to the greener grass near the train tracks, where she was hit by a passing train.

Wichien said he was deeply upset over the loss of his elephant due to his own carelessness.

Wichien brought Phang Daeng to the “Suan Chang” elephant entertainment area three years ago where the two have been employed since.

The management at “Suan Chang” and other mahouts helped with contributions to arrange transportation to remove Phang Daeng from the scene of the accident and prepare her funeral ceremony at the Bang Lamung temple.

Health Ministry wants hotels to supply condoms to guests

Choose Pattaya and Phuket as test areas

The Ministry of Health has come up with a plan to decrease the number of sexually transmitted diseases. The ministry wants hotels to distribute condoms to their customers, and has chosen Pattaya and Phuket to pilot their project.

Somchai Jirawatana from the Chonburi Contagious Disease Control Office said the plan is mainly directed at controlling the spread of AIDS. He expects some agencies and organizations to accept the plan, but concedes the idea may have some negative implications.

Somchai met with members of the Pattaya Hotel Association on November 8 at the Green Park Hotel to explain the plan and clarify the ministry’s position on the matter, and said that it was entirely up to individual businesses whether or not to participate in the plan.

Pattaya Hotel Association Chairman Suwat Praebhiromrat said the plan would certainly be viewed as a positive step in the appropriate direction by most of the community, and a good number of hotel patrons and tourists would realize the importance of the intended purpose.

However, the plan could also be viewed in a negative context that would have a detrimental impact on the city’s reputation and ultimately affect business.

Suwat was also concerned as to how the information may be portrayed in the media. He spoke of the need for special public relations planning and surveying opinions from association members and the public prior to implementation.

Manit Bunchim, TAT’s Pattaya office director, agreed that the matter should be carefully considered given how Pattaya contends with other tourist cities for business.

Rental van driver arrested for murder

Admits to slitting German tourist’s throat

Jurint Khaosa-ad was arrested in Nakorn Sawan on November 10 and brought back to Pattaya to stand trial for the October 24 murder of German tourist Guenter Girresser.

Jurint Khaosa-ad was arrested for the murder of German tourist Guenter Girresser.

Jurint slit Girresser’s throat during a fight at the V.I.P. beer bar on Pattaya-Naklua Road after Girresser allegedly refused to pay Jurint his fee for a rental van. Girresser, 44, died in hospital four days later.

Pattaya tourist police issued an arrest warrant for Jurint Khaosa-ad based on evidence gathered at the scene and testimony from eyewitnesses.

Police Maj. Powaris Lilasiri, chief inspector of tourist police department 3 in Pattaya, led the investigation team that tracked down Jurint, who was hiding out in Nakorn Sawan, an area known in Thai circles for having assassins for hire.

Jurint was apprehended at a roadblock set up by Ladyao municipal police in Nakorn Sawan. He was then turned over to Pattaya tourist police and escorted back to Pattaya.

Jurint admitted to the assault, but told police that he had no intentions of killing Girresser. He said the German’s refusal to pay for the use of his van irritated him and when he tried to collect the fee, the intensity of the argument flared. Jurint said he became enraged further when Girresser pushed him around and used abusive behavior. He said he retaliated by using the ignition key to slash out at Girresser’s head, although witnesses to the assault reported seeing Jurint using a knife.

Jurint said that after he realized what he had done, he fled in fear, not sure of what to do or where to go.

The reasons for Girresser’s refusal to pay for the cost of hiring the van and driver are still unclear, but may become evident when Jurint stands trial.

Jurint has been turned over to Pattaya municipal police for further disposition until going to trial.

Dolphin washes up on Pattaya Beach

Seal mammal disappearing from area waters

Tourists packed along Pattaya Beach near Soi 2 were enjoying the ocean breeze during the noon hour on November 7 when a two-meter long, 200-pound, deceased “monk’s bowl head” dolphin floated up on the shore.

Tourists on Pattaya Beach were confronted with the disturbing sight of a dead dolphin washing up on shore.

The Pattaya Rescue Service, the Pattaya Sanitation Environmental Department and the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation were called in to handle the situation. They transferred the dolphin to the Burapha University Ocean Research Center in Bang Saen for an official examination to determine the cause of death.

Older fishermen and long time residents of Pattaya can attest that dolphins were once abundant in area waters. Monk’s bowl head dolphins and white dolphins often mixed together to play in front of Bali High Point.

Elderly man hacks to death step-granddaughter

Wife seriously injured

Seventy-nine year old Pornma Charoensuk, aka Pek, described by neighbors as a “mean old drunk”, took a scythe and hacked his 19-year-old step-granddaughter to death. During the gruesome crime he also severely cut the arm of his 82-year-old wife, Mrs. Thawil Mali.

Seventy-nine year old Pornma Charoensuk took a scythe and hacked his 19-year-old step-granddaughter to death.

Pek then escaped into the darkness prompting a massive police manhunt for his capture and arrest.

This murder took place in Ban Tungkha, Huay Yai on November 12.

When police and Sawang Boriboon Rescue personnel arrived on the scene, 19-year-old Yuphin Mali lay dead on a cement bench in front of the house. Yuphin’s grandmother had already been transported to Bang Lamung Hospital.

Witnesses described Pek as a worthless drunk with a mean disposition who had taken up with Mrs. Thawil about three years ago.

One witness told police she overheard Pek and Yuphin engaged in a heated argument. When she went to see what was going on, she witnessed Pek walking from the back of the house with a heavy curved knife in hand. He then struck Yuphin with the knife over her head several times. When Mrs. Thawil jumped in to prevent the senseless act, she nearly had her arm severed.

Police searched the dense area behind the house all through the night. By early morning he was found cowering about two kilometers away.

Pek was taken to the Bang Lamung police station where he gave his account of what took place, saying that he became totally enraged when Miss Yuphin told him to turn the radio down while cursing him for his drunken idle ways. He said he was unable to accept Yuphin’s disrespectful accusations and he seized the curved knife and took out his drunken frustrations on her.

Pek has been charged with homicide and attempted homicide for injuring Mrs. Thawil. Mrs. Thawil was later reported to be in stable condition at Bang Lamung Hospital.

Pregnant woman pilfers Swedish tourists’ holiday money

Grabbed the loot from Bangkok to Pattaya bus

A 33-year-old woman, nearly nine months pregnant, snatched a money belt containing 8,500 baht and over 4,000 dollars in Swedish currency from Hans Axel Gunnar Forssell when the Bangkok to Pattaya bus stopped at the North Pattaya station on November 5.

Pattaya tourist police foiled her getaway, however, when they managed to corner her as she was trying to escape.

Tim Wongsiri, nearly nine months pregnant, in an act of desperation tried to steal traveling money from a pair of Swedish tourists.

The woman was identified as Tim Wongsiri from Suphanburi. She told police she was sitting on the bus near Forssell and his traveling companion, Ms. Monika Goj, and observed the large amount of cash in the money belt. She said she was on her way to see the father of her unborn child in Pattaya, and desperately in need of money to help pay for the baby’s delivery, she said she seized the opportunity to steal the belt full of money.

She was charged for attempted robbery and turned over to the Pattaya municipal police for further disposition.

The money was returned to Forssell.

Pattaya City officials visit Koh Larn Community

Vaccinate children, provide community services

Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Reumkijitkarn and a team of officials from city hall visited Koh Larn Island in order to provide services to the community. Officers from the Environmental and Health department tested food and drinks in various establishments, and a team of doctors vaccinated some 400 children on the island, while veterinarians sterilized some of the island’s stray animals.

About 400 children on Larn Island received vaccinations as part of a Pattaya City community service project.

A beach cleaning program was implemented to remove unsightly garbage and improve the image of the island, making it more attractive for the tourist trade.

The Deputy mayor said, “ In the past, Koh Larn was difficult to access and now with a population of over 1000, it is necessary to implement such a program.”

The city will provide a regular service to the Koh Larn Community every 3 months.

Candidates to be announced soon

The general election for members of parliament and a new prime minister has been scheduled for January 6, 2001, after His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great approved dissolution of the house on November 9.

The general election is in accordance with the 1997 constitution stipulating the responsibility of the Thai people to take advantage of their voting rights according to voting districts and party list candidates.

The various parties are finalizing party lists and those not already announced should be publicizing their completed lists by November 19. They will then divide their lists into respective voting areas from November 20-24.

The election commission will disseminate lists of eligible voters to voting stations 20 days prior to election day.

Overseas voting is scheduled to take place from December 5-7 and voters reaching the age of 18 by January 1, 2001 are eligible to vote in advance from December 29-30. Official results from the January 6 election should be announced on February 5, 2001.

In order to make the general election completely fair and just, the constitutional court decided to give the election commission the authority to deprive election rights of candidates found guilty of illegal conduct both prior to and following the announcement of election results.

The election commission also has the authority to nullify all ballots electing a candidate or political party proven to be involved in altering the election outcome. However, no action will be taken against voters who elect candidates found guilty of corrupt practices.