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Happy Birthday HRH Princess Chulabhorn
Photo courtesy of the Royal
Household
Born on July 4, 1957, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn
is the youngest child of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen
Sirikit of Thailand.
HRH Princess Chulabhorn has two daughters, Their Royal
Highnesses Princess Siribhachudhabhorn and Princess Adityadornkitikhun.
Her Royal Highness graduated from the Faculty of Science and
Arts at Kasetsart University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organic
Chemistry, First Class Honors, in 1979. Her Royal Highness completed her
doctorate work in organic chemistry in 1985, and received her Doctor of
Philosophy Degree from Mahidol University in July of the same year, and has a
supreme record of academic achievement.
She undertook postdoctoral studies in Germany in 1987 and
has since been a visiting professor at universities in Japan, Germany, and the
United States of America. She holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from no fewer
than nine universities around the world. In 1986, she was appointed as an
Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in London and was awarded the
Einstein Gold Medal of UNESCO.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn is chairperson of the
Working Group on the Chemistry of Natural Products collaborative program
between the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science and the National
Research Council of Thailand.
HRH Princess Chulabhorn has received international
recognition for her scientific accomplishments, in her appointment to various
United Nations posts, namely special advisor to the United Nations Environment
Program and member of the Special High-Level Council for the International
Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of the United Nations.
As a result of her experience as a scientist Princess
Chulabhorn became aware of the difficulties Thai researchers have in obtaining
the necessary funding for their research. In 1987, she established the
Chulabhorn Research Institute to provide a new fundraising agency.
This institute now acts as a focal point for the exchange of
intellectual and other resources in Thailand for the purpose of solving urgent
problems confronting the country in areas of health, environment, and
agriculture.
As president of the Chulabhorn Research Institute, the Princess currently
directs five special research projects; the AIDS program, a program on
restoration and integrated development of the flood-affected areas in Southern
Thailand, seawater irrigation for cultivation of economic marine species and
preservation of mangrove, the rabies eradication program and a special project
for accelerated immunization in five southern provinces in Thailand. Through
these programs the Princess plays an auspicious role in improving the
environment and living standard of the villagers in a number of Thai provinces.
CARAT flies through Eastern Seaboard
 A Royal Thai Navy
S-76 “Huey” helicopter prepares to land aboard USS Rodney M. Davis
(FFG 60) during daylight landing qualifications. The training event took
place during the Thailand phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and
Training (CARAT) 2005. CARAT is a regularly scheduled series of bilateral
military training exercises with several Southeast Asia nations designed to
enhance interoperability of the respective sea services.
(U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Thomas J. Brennan)
(Stories and more photos on page 5 and center pages)
Ambassador: CARAT Thailand skills pay dividendsLt.
Chuck Bell, Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs and Chief
Journalist Melinda Larson, Destroyer Squadron One Public Affairs
U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Ralph L. “Skip” Boyce
helped open the Thailand phase of the 2005 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and
Training (CARAT) exercise series June 20 by praising the Royal Thai Navy’s
tsunami relief efforts, and drawing a parallel with skills enhanced during
past iterations of CARAT.
As U.S.
Ambassador to Thailand Ralph L. “Skip” Boyce looks on, Rear Adm. Kevin
Quinn, Commander Task Force 712 greets Adm. Pirasak Watcharamul, Deputy
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy as he arrives for the opening
ceremony during the Thailand phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness
and Training (CARAT) 2005. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st
Class Thomas J. Brennan)
“CARAT exercises and training events, such as deck
landing qualifications by Royal Thai Navy helicopter pilots aboard U.S.
warships, and challenging command-and-control scenarios, better equipped the
Royal Thai Navy to aid the victims of this disaster,” Boyce told about 300
U.S. Navy Sailors from USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG
60), USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) and USS Safeguard (ARS 50), and their
Royal Thai Navy (RTN) counterparts standing shoulder-to-shoulder during the
phase’s opening ceremony. Officiating the ceremony for the Royal Thai Navy
was its Deputy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Pirasak Watcharamul.
During Operation Unified Assistance, the multi-national
relief effort in response to the devastating December 2004 tsunami in
Southeast Asia, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) deployed its helicopter carrier
HTMS Chakri Naruebet to provide direct, immediate humanitarian support,
Boyce said. “It is clear that CARAT not only improves the war fighting
capabilities of our nations, but also our ability to assist each other in
times of crisis.”
During the 2005 installment of CARAT Thailand, the U.S.
Navy and RTN continued to refine their ability to work together in a variety
of mission areas.
The multi-faceted exercise challenged the combined forces
at sea, on land, and in the air.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety & Security
Team San Francisco (MSST) shared their skills through various combined
visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercise scenarios pierside and
afloat. Exercise events such as these that contribute to building skills
applicable to the combat of seaborne terrorism and transnational crimes at
sea were a focus of this 11th edition of CARAT.
During the at-sea phase, another highlight of CARAT
Thailand involved Royal Thai Marines conducting amphibious operations from
Fort McHenry via landing craft air-cushion (LCAC).
RTN pilots earned day and night deck landing
qualifications when its pilots landed their Bell 212 and S76 helicopters on
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60).
Diving and salvage operations were conducted with the
crew of USS Safeguard (ARS 50); and a variety of seminars in areas ranging
from damage control to legal issues were also held.
A combined U.S. Navy and RTN command team led the at-sea.
In the midst of the exercise’s many operational events,
participants also found time to interact on a more personal level. The
four-ship U.S. task group arrived here June 17 and since that time Sailors
from both navies have taken part in social and sporting events together.
“Exercises such as CARAT contribute not only to the
operational readiness of all our forces, but also strengthen our
long-standing friendship,” Ambassador Boyce emphasized during his opening
ceremony remarks.
These friendships extend to the local community with U.S.
Navy and RTN sailors working side-by-side during community service projects,
several of which were held during CARAT Thailand. “This example is one of
many that show the public a different aspect of our naval forces and the
dedication of our militaries to community service, a vital part of their
mission,” Boyce said. In addition to scheduled interaction with local
children, the Sailors installed a water filtration system at one school.
Approximately 1,200 U.S. personnel and 1,600 from the RTN
and Royal Thai Marines took part in CARAT Thailand.
In addition to the four-ship U.S. task group, other
elements that took part included a P-3C Orion from Patrol Squadron (VP) 40,
based at Whidbey Island, Wash. and an SH-60 Seahawk aircraft from Helicopter
Anti-submarine Squadron Lite 45 (HSL 45), based at Naval Air Station North
Island, Calif. Mobile Mine Assembly Group (MOMAU) Ten from Okinawa, Japan
and a Drone Detachment from Fleet Activities, Okinawa also participated.
Rear Adm. Kevin M. Quinn, commander of Logistics Group
Western Pacific, who operates from Singapore, was responsible for overall
CARAT coordination for U.S. participants in his executive agent roles as
Commander, Task Force 712.
Capt. Buzz Little, commander of San Diego-based Destroyer
Squadron One, leads the task group and was embarked with his staff in Fort
McHenry. Paul Hamilton is homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Rodney M.
Davis in Everett, Wash. Fort McHenry and Safeguard are forward-deployed to
Sasebo, Japan.
The RTN participants, led by Commander Frigate Squadron One Rear Adm.
Supot Soodprasert, consists of HTMS Phuttayotfachulalok, HTMS Taksin, HTMS
Rattanakosin, HTMS Sichang, and HTMS Bangrachan. Other units include the
RTN’s Underwater Warfare Squadron and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team,
Special Warfare Squadron, and four motor-launch sweeper boats.
Governor calls meeting as water crisis deepens
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
As Chonburi province’s water supply problems become
more acute, Governor Pisit Ketphasook and Deputy Governor Wirawit
Wiwattanvanich called a meeting to discuss the crisis with local
administrators, water authorities and representatives from Eastwater Plc and
the Eastern Region Artificial Rain Operations Centre.
The aim was to follow up on current progress in the
region, particularly the artificial rain project, which has had some
success.
Tawee Kanchana, director of the Eastern Region Artificial
Rain Operations Centre, said the centre has recently received an additional
two aircraft from the prime minister, bringing the total to six.
“We have two main responsibilities - the artificial
rain project for the Eastern Seaboard to boost water levels in Chonburi and
Rayong, the second to create rain in Srakaew with the main aim at providing
water for the agricultural sector,” said Tawee.
“In the past we have had to face a number of obstacles
and problems such as water to clean the aircraft and staff to release the
cloud seeding chemicals as well as transport vehicles for the chemicals.”
The governor ordered Sattahip municipality to coordinate
with the relevant offices to solve the problems with invoices for fuel,
etc., to be paid for by the district office where they can later be
reimbursed by the provincial administration.
The amount of water produced on a daily basis has been
decreased in order to stretch levels until August, a time that in theory is
the height of the rainy season.
In Pattaya, the previous 96,000 cubic metres per day
production has been reduced to 85,000 cu m/day under the direction of the
Department of Irrigation. The government has asked for assistance from
Eastwater to transport an extra 100,000 cu m per day with 40,000 each going
to Pattaya and Laem Chabang and 20,000 to Sriracha. However, Eastwater has
been producing only 80,000 cu m/day.
The governor has requested the water authorities to
cooperate with the company and local administrations to find a standard and
ensure there is enough water for the future, particularly in Pattaya.
Justice minister and police tour nightspots looking for drug users
Fiasco ensues after minister leaves
Boonlua Chatree
Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop toured Pattaya’s
nightclubs shortly after midnight last Friday evening, accompanied by senior
drug suppression police and forensic officers.
Justice
Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, senior drug suppression police and forensic
officers toured Pattaya’s entertainment venues looking for drugs.
Their first stop was the Star Dice in Naklua. Police
blocked the doors and began testing all 400 people inside for drug use. Only
one person tested positive, namely Cheng Chang Ko, 31, from Hong Kong, who
tests revealed was on methamphetamines.
Another tourist from Hong Kong, in a drunken state, began
to create a scene and police moved in to detain him, placing handcuffs on
him. He was later released when he had quieted down.
The justice minister was then led to Walking Street where
a number of venues were inspected before he returned to Bangkok.
Police remained in Walking Street, however, and entered Lucifer
Discotheque. Inside 400 people were herded together for drug testing. Club
management turned off the air conditioning and the overheated atmosphere
sent desperate clubbers gasping for the door. The result was broken glass
and damage to the property as 10 police officers failed to hold their ground
and test the frustrated crowd.
Water supply officials lambasted by deputy PMs for current threat to industrial production
Boreholes to be drilled and reservoirs connected
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A high-level government tour of Rayong’s water supply
sources on June 24 has resulted in an order to drill boreholes and connect
the reservoirs to ensure immediate supplies to the industrial estates.
Somkid Jatusripitak, finance minister and deputy prime
minister, and Phinij Jarusombat, deputy prime minister, were joined by
government department heads as they inspected the main water reservoirs that
supply the province’s industrial estates, namely the Nongplalai and the
Dokkrai reservoirs.
 Somkid
Jatusripitak (right), finance minister and deputy prime minister, and Phinij
Jarusombat (left), deputy prime minister, say the government must support
and look after the industrial sector as best they can, “There is no
government policy of reducing production.”
An urgent meeting was called, attended by government
officials charged with solving the water shortage, and representatives from
the Eastwater Company and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.
Fingers were pointed in various directions as to who was ultimately
responsible for the current crisis, after it was revealed that businesses
were urged to conserve up to 40 percent of their water consumption. The
trickle down effect has led to a slowing in production.
“Whether it rains or not, we must do what can be done
to ensure there is enough water until mid August,” said Somkid. “The
government does not have a policy of decreasing production in the industrial
sector. This is to ensure confidence among investors.
“I now order those responsible to begin drilling water
bores and complete them within seven days to ensure that there enough water
that the industrial sector is not affected. They must have at least 200,000
cubic metres per day to use.
“There must be a pipe connecting the Nongplalai
reservoir and Klongyai reservoir that can provide at least 10 million cubic
metres of water to last at least through July,” said the finance minister.
Somkid said that relevant departments, the department of
irrigation and Eastwater must work together to solve the short-term
problems, regardless of rainfall.
“You will also not charge the private sector for this,
at all!” he declared. “They have invested in the region and we must look
after them, not wait until there is a problem and ask them to reduce
production.”
Rayong Governor Samoe Jantra told the meeting there was
enough water in the various reservoirs, including Namdokklai and Nongplalai,
to supply the industrial estates until August 15, if nothing else is done.
The levels in the Dokkrai reservoir are down 11.02 million cubic metres from
their 2004 level of 60 million cubic metres. Nongplalai has just 21.3
million cubic metres.
The department of irrigation is coordinating with the
Artificial Rain Operation Centre for the Eastern Seaboard and agricultural
sector to attempt to increase levels in both reservoirs as well as the
Bangpra and other main water supplies in Rayong and Chonburi. The project
began on June 1 this year.
Jakramont Phasookwanich, Ministry of Industry permanent
secretary urged that the project of connecting the various reservoirs must
be completed within the next two years, not four as planned.
“This must yield at least 1 billion cubic metres of water, which is
four times the amount needed currently, to avoid the same problems occurring
in the future,” said Jakramont.
Pattaya Immigration office now open on Saturday morning
Narisa
Nitikarn
The Immigration Department’s Pattaya office is now open
on Saturday mornings in addition to its existing Monday-Friday service.
 Police
Colonel Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai, superintendent of Pattaya Immigration
Police, announces half-day service for Saturdays.
Superintendent of Pattaya Immigration Police, Police
Colonel Ittipol Itthisarnronnachai, said that the additional opening hours
were necessary to provide greater convenience for the large number of
foreigners in the city who require their visas extended and other support
services.
Pattaya is the first of 54 Immigration checkpoints to
provide Saturday morning service. The hours are from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Pol Col Ittipol said that the Immigration Department has also added an
internet service for hotels, who can now declare their foreign guests faster.
Usually the hotels report to the Immigration office, but now they send the
information via the internet.
Mayor orders removal of illegal structure on Pratamnak Hill
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
An illegal structure built on Pratamnak Hill, near the
Large Buddha Temple, is to be removed on the instructions of city hall.
The decision follows a site visit by Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and city councillors and
officers on June 22.
The
mayor and his entourage inspect the area where building on public land has
been carried out illegally.
The building, which is unfinished, is on public land and
has been erected without authorisation. An order to halt work was given on
April 21 this year, but building continued.
The mayor and his entourage inspected the area in order
to negotiate with the builder to remove the offending structure, giving the
persons responsible the opportunity to redeem themselves before the city
takes legal action. If the building is not removed, the city will dismantle
the building, invoice those responsible and proceed with prosecution
through the court system. The land has been designated to build a monument
to King Taksin.
City council chairman Tawit Chaisawangwong told
reporters that the city administration has slated an improvement project
for the land that includes a public park and the monument. The project is
aimed at boosting the city’s number of public parks for residents and
tourists alike.
“The city council has approved a 5 million baht budget
for the project and the final considerations for the monument are now with
the Office of the Royal Household. Once the approval comes through the
project will be completed relatively quickly,” said Tawit.
“As for land reclamation, the city has notified the Royal Thai Navy,
which holds the deeds to the land, that the city is reclaiming the area for
public use and the area that has been selected will have the least negative
affect on residents. The system is to ensure order and equality in dealing
with cases such as this.”
Deputy mayor faces barrage of complaints from Jomtien residents
Narisa Nitikarn
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh found himself facing a
barrage of complaints on June 21 when he visited the Jomtien Soi 4 community
to inspect the proposed construction site of a new entrance to the soi.
As he made his way around the area, the deputy mayor
received a multitude of gripes from vendors and residents on subjects ranging
from garbage through to footpaths and poor drainage.
Ronakit
Ekasingh, Pattaya deputy mayor, ordered immediate removal of this sign, as it
was in direct conflict with city regulations.
The deputy mayor inspected documents and proposed building
plans by Jack Daigle, chairman of the Soi Nirvana Community Association. The
proposed construction of an elaborate entrance to the soi had been submitted
to the city for approval, with Daigle offering to pay for it. His reasoning,
as told to the deputy mayor, was to improve the image of the soi and Jomtien
Beach. Once completed the structure would be handed over to the city as public
property.
Daigle voiced concerns over the lack of cooperation from
vendors and residents in the area. The vendors themselves appeared upset the
city was considering the proposal, with one vendor claiming that they didn’t
see the point of the idea and that it could be construed as a self-promoting
project.
Ronakit reassured them that the structure was for the
benefit of the community and not for personal or business reasons and that
Daigle intended to pay for the construction.
Fifty metres inside the soi, officials were pointed in the
direction of a signpost stating only Soi 4 customers could park in the area.
Ronakit ordered immediate removal of the sign as it was in direct conflict
with city regulations. Daigle told the deputy mayor he was only trying to
create some sort of order in the soi.
Shortly thereafter residents from Soi Wat Boon converged on
the deputy mayor calling for help from the city in creating a footpath to
Beach Road after house and shop owners blocked off the area.
Officials inspected the section of road only to tell those
calling for assistance that the house and shop owners were within their right
to do so as it was on their property. The city was unable to help them as the
building design had already been approved many years ago.
Upon returning to Jomtien Soi 4 to further discuss the
proposed construction, residents from Soi 5 approached the deputy mayor and
called for assistance in clearing blocked drains that smelled and which
overflowed each time it rained. Soi 4 residents meanwhile called for garbage
bins to be installed in the area since there were none.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit promised the issues would be taken care of, and, “As
for the construction project causing problems for vendors and residents, the
issue will be put to the council for further discussion,” said the deputy
mayor.
Drugs dealer nabbed with 100kg sack of ganja
Boonlua Chatree
A drugs dealer driving a car bearing police stickers and
with a cargo of fertiliser in addition to a large sack of compressed ganja
weighing 100kg with a street value of over 1 million baht, was arrested
after a tip-off by a minor dealer on the lam.
Somboon
(An) Klomkaew (front left) looks down as police sort through their haul.
Police armed with a warrant were in pursuit of Sompong
Yoosabai, 40, for possession of 100 grams of a class 5 drug, namely dried
ganja. Sompong had eluded them for several months, but he was eventually
tracked down to a field beside the Niran Condo on Soi Arunothai, where he
was tending a buffalo.
Sompong admitted he had been a ganja dealer but said that
since he escaped arrest he had not done any dealing, instead ordering the
drug from an agent for his own use. Following a police suggestion, Sompong
called his dealer and arranged for a delivery. The drop-off point was to be
next to the Public Health Centre on Soi Nern Plabwan. The dealer said he
would be driving a red Mazda with red license plates.
When the car hove into view, Sompong stepped forward. So
did the police. They detained the driver, Somboon (An) Klomkaew, and
searched the car where they found two blue urea sacks and one white
fertiliser sack. Inside was a clear plastic pack with a total of 98 bars of
dried ganja, weighing in total 100kg.
Somboon, 30, said he had bought the ganja from a man
named Oude, family named unknown, for the price of 10,000 baht per kilogram
and was selling it at a price of between 15,000 and 30,000 baht per
kilogram.
Police also noted that the Mazda was bearing Royal Police stickers on its
front and back windscreens. The car has been traced back to an owner in the
Klong Toey area.
Tattooed two attempt resale of stolen motorcycle
Boonlua Chatree
Tattooed thieves who stole a motorcycle and then
attempted to sell it back to its owner have been arrested.
Manat Lapanit, 42, complained to police that two men had
stolen his black Yamaha Nouvo motorcycle from where he had parked it on
Walking Street. They had then contacted him and offered to sell the bike
back for 5,000 baht.
 Nawapol
Parot and Wutthipong Saithaisong said they stole the motorcycle because the
owner had left his keys in the ignition.
The police suggested he make an appointment with the
thieves, and he arranged a rendezvous on Sukhumvit Road at the entrance to
Soi Siam Country Club. Officers swooped when the thieves arrived with the
motorbike.
The men were identified as Nawapol Parot and Wutthipong
Saithaisong, both aged 22 and both heavily tattooed on their backs. They
said they had stolen Manat’s motorcycle because he had left the keys in
the ignition. Police charged them with theft.
Jet ski champion accidentally shot
Boonlua Chatree
Junior jet ski champion Supadet (Tam) Thansai was
accidentally shot and injured while driving home on a motorcycle.
Police on June 17 received a call from Bangkok Pattaya
Hospital that Supadet was in their care after having been struck by a .22
calibre bullet.
At the hospital, officers found Supadet, aged 18 and
junior jet ski champion for Thailand in the 800 cc class, undergoing surgery
to remove the bullet from his back.
He told officers that he and his friend, 20-year-old
Choengchai (Boy) Thongdeenok, were riding along Sukhumvit Road. Choengchai
was playing with a gun, which he accidentally discharged, the bullet
striking Supadet. Choengchai fled the scene, leaving Supadet to seek help
from passers-by.
Choengchai was arrested and charged with illegal
possession and carrying of a firearm, and with causing injury. Supadet told
police he didn’t want to pursue the case because he wants to continue
racing in the USA and was afraid he would lose his rights of competing if
the matter was made public.
Police on full alert after
3-year old girl is raped
Boonlua Chatree
A three-year-old girl was rushed to Banglamung Hospital
after she was raped and beaten by an unknown assailant near the entrance to
Pattaya Park Beach Resort.
The crime happened on June 18, when Pattaya police
station received a call from Kan Cheankrachan, 37, saying that her adopted
daughter had been attacked while she and her partner Ten Pringproh, 53, were
away from home.
Officers went to the hospital where they found the girl,
alias Om, in the intensive care unit. The child was unconscious. The sexual
attack had torn her skin, and her skull had been fractured. She was on an
intravenous drip and was being supplied with oxygen.
Kan and Ten were in the waiting room. They told police
that while they were away they let the girl stay with her grandfather, Kroh
Cheankrachan, 67. When they returned home they saw a neighbour carrying the
girl out from the bushes, covered in blood.
At the crime scene Kroh led police to a mango tree some
100 metres from the family residence, where blood was found. He said the
child had been left in his care when the couple went out to work. He let the
girl play in front of the house alone. Kroh said he didn’t know she had
been taken away until a neighbour saw her by the bushes, covered in blood.
Kroh said the assailant was probably a worker from a
nearby construction site. The girl didn’t dare go with anybody, and
wasn’t crying to annoy anybody. Whoever the attacker was, he had banged
the girl’s head against the tree after raping her, knocking her
unconscious.
Police are now on full alert and warning residents that
the man may strike again.
Om has since recovered but is under medical care for her
head injuries. A semen sample was taken from her vaginal area for DNA
testing.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Man struck in karaoke bar
quarrel dies from injuries
A 24-year old man struck in the face while drinking with
a group of friends in front of Jenjira Karaoke at Phothisarn Market died at
the scene from his injuries. A karaoke bar owner later admitted to the
assault.
Police called to the scene on June 20 found Jenjira
employees and passers-by crowded around the body of the dead man, identified
by the ID card in his wallet as Bunthan Torlobram, a resident of Khon Kaen.
He was lying on his back, and had blood coming from his right eye. He had
been struck across the nose, which was broken and impacted, and the right
eye socket was broken and bleeding.
Witnesses at the scene declined to co-operate, saying
they did not know what had happened. However, one person, who refused to
give a name or formal statement, told officers in private that Bunthan had
been drinking with four or five other men and that a dispute had arisen. One
of the men hit him hard in the face with the handle of a gun, and Bunthan
fell off his chair. The group drove away in a bronze coloured pickup, but
before leaving they warned that they would shoot anyone who co-operated with
the police. They had also stepped on the face of the deceased as they left.
At about 2 a.m. on the following day, June 21, Pattaya
police station received a call from a man named Chansak Upachai, 25, of
Kumpawapee district, Udon Thani province. Chansak said he was the owner of a
nearby karaoke bar and wanted to surrender himself over the killing of
Bunthan.
Chansak said he was drinking with his friends. They were
drunk and became incensed over something the deceased was saying. They dared
him to fight. Chansak hit the deceased one time and saw that he had lost
consciousness. He said he didn’t hit him with a gun. When he realised that
Bunthan was dead, Chansak went to ground in his hometown. His family advised
him it was better to surrender himself than to flee, and so he contacted the
police. He has been charged with manslaughter.
Goldsmith embezzled gold
and diamonds to make jewellery for his private customers
A gold shop owner reported her own goldsmith for using
the shop’s gold and diamonds to make jewellery for his private customers.
Somjit Srap-Aram, 46, owner of the Thong Heng Gold Shop
in South Pattaya Road, claimed that Prasomsilp Bunprom, 34, had taken 40
diamonds and 30 grams of gold.
Checking back on receipts, Somjit had realised there was
a discrepancy of 10,300 baht. She said that if the money was not repaid she
would file for embezzlement.
Police invited Prasomsilp in for questioning. He admitted
that he took the gold and diamonds from Somjit’s shop, but said he had no
money to give back at this moment and that the owner should wait for a
while.
Somjit was angry at this, stating that she had hired
Prasomsilp because he is a very good goldsmith, but that he is dishonest.
Prasomsilp promised to reimburse the money and the police released him.
Illegal gun ‘only for
self-protection’
Police on routine patrol in the early hours of the
morning on June 18 spotted a suspicious looking man riding a black Honda
Wave motorcycle on Soi Korphai, at Thepprasit Road.
Identified as Witsanu Saekhow, age 33, the man was found
to be carrying a gun with four rounds of ammunition. The gun was
unregistered. Witsanu told police he was carrying the weapon for
self-protection. A friend had given it to him for free, and he had paid only
for the ammunition, at 35 baht apiece. He said he had never used the gun to
injure anyone.
Witsanu was charged with possessing the gun and
ammunition and with carrying them in a public place.
Illegal Cambodian
labourers seized on building site
Immigration police raided a commercial building under
construction in Soi Sophon Cable TV on Pattaya Third Road and discovered
about 100 Cambodian labourers working there illegally.
The workers fled in panic as the officers arrived, but 47
were caught. Taken to the Immigration Bureau, the 11 men and 36 women said
they were brought into Thailand clandestinely by bus at the Aranyapratet
border, and had worked for only one month. They earned 180 baht per day
each, but hadn’t received any pay yet because the police had stopped them.
They were charged with working without a permit, and sent
back across the border. Police are now investigating the building foreman
and the owner of the property with a view to pressing charges.
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