Council’s dysfunctional telephone system to be replaced by new numbers

 Narisa Nitikarn

Pattaya City council’s erratic telephone system should soon be functioning correctly, following a meeting of department heads and deputy mayors, and chaired by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn.

Niran said that 300 direct line telephone numbers TOT allocated to the council should be distributed systematically to the various department heads and divisions. He added that the number changes should be carried out as a matter of urgency, as complaints have been received from the public that it is very difficult to contact certain departments.

Callers say that the line is either engaged or nobody answers when it isn’t engaged. Transferring calls to other departments is also problematic due to internal technical problems that have so far gone unresolved. The relevant officials have been instructed by the mayor to contact TOT and have them come in and rectify the problems.

At the same meeting, Sittiphap Muangkhum, Pattaya district chief said that new security measures being implemented would prevent outsiders entering the district office after official hours. ID cards will be used for access and personal identification numbers (PINs) will also have to be entered to gain access.

Administrators and department heads will have access to all departments, whilst lower ranking officials would only have access to their own departments. The public will have access from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

American envoy expresses concern over casualty rate of US nationals

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

An American envoy has expressed his concern to Pattaya City authorities on the number of US nationals who die in Pattaya each year.

Jeremy Nathan, second secretary political affairs at the US Embassy in Bangkok, met on November 16 with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Deputy Mayor Weerawat Khakhai, and other city hall officials.

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn (right) talks with Jeremy Nathan (left), second secretary political affairs for the American Embassy in Thailand.

Nathan had traveled to Pattaya to express his concern over aspects of security here in light of the increasing severity in natural and man-made disasters all regions in the world are experiencing.

He said that Pattaya is experiencing problems of crime, with many of the crimes committed against tourists. Part of the problem is that there is a large amount of migrant labor in Pattaya, which often results in problems, including drugs.

Presently about four million Americans come to visit or reside in Pattaya annually. From 100 to 150 Americans die in Pattaya each year, a number second in Thailand only to Bangkok. The reasons are many with deaths resulting from criminal acts, drugs, accidents or old age.

Nathan said that after speaking with members of the police force, Pattaya City Council, the press and Americans, he has a better understanding of Pattaya. He added that, other than the problems discussed, Pattaya still has great potential and is one of the region’s major tourist centers as well as one of the world’s major tourist destinations.

“The reason for my visit to Pattaya is to compile information for the central database, and the information will be both good and bad. Pattaya still has a good image in all areas in the eyes of the American public ... and Americans will be advised on how to spend their time in Pattaya,” the second secretary said.

Mayor Niran said police are responsible for implementing measures to ease the problems. Pattaya City Council has provided a 1 million baht budget to each of the local police stations in the area to improve efficiency and better facilitate foreign nationals and make them feel safe. Pattaya City Council also has budgets set aside to purchase equipment needed for police stations. The government, private sector and the public have to cooperate with each other to remedy problems and keep an eye on things.

Policeman shot dead in drugs ambush

Gang members flee in pickup truck

Boonlua Chatree

A police officer was shot dead during a drugs sting operation that went wrong when the dealers tried to shoot their way out of the trap.

Banglamung police officer Aekaphong Thomcharoen was killed whilst on duty during a drug sting operation.

The operation had begun at 1 a.m. on November 17 when Banglamung police discovered 20-year-old Viroj Yuusabai carrying 50 amphetamine pills at Naklua Market. Viroj said he bought the pills from a local gang going by the name of Takian- Tia, and led by a local youth named Phongsakorn Niampipat, age 18.

Police put a plan into action, instructing Viroj to order 600 pills by telephone and take the delivery at the front of Wat Kratinglai, in Nong Plalai. Six undercover police officers hid themselves around the area to make the arrest.

A Toyota pickup arrived at the meeting point with four gang members sat in the cab. The gang drove around the area a few times to assess the situation. Police blocked their path with a saloon car and officers on motorcycles approached from the rear to block off the exit. The gang was quick to react and started shooting with an 11 mm handgun, and police returned fire before the gang made their getaway.

Officer Aekaphong Thomcharoen, 38, inspector of investigations at Banglamung Police Station suffered a wound to the left shoulder and was taken to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital where he died of his injuries.

Police followed the pickup and radioed for roadblocks to be set up. The gang had headed towards the Kratinglai-Rayong Highway. Police found the pickup hidden in bushes near the home of Chaipat Niampipat, 34, at Tae Tian Tia. The house belonged to Phongsakorn’s uncle.

Officers found that the front left tire had been shot out and the pickup had been hit 12 times by police bullets. Phongsakorn was in the front passenger seat barely breathing. He had suffered many bullet wounds and was in critical condition. The seat was covered in blood. The three other gang members comprising two men named Aek and Pae and a young unidentified female had made their escape into the forest. It is suspected that they were injured too.

Officers found 600 amphetamine pills in a plastic bag hidden under the front left passenger seat. They also found an ID card belonging to a Miss Rattana Phimpha, 24, of Khon Kaen; it is suspected that she is one of the gang members. Police know the identification of the other gang members and none is over 25 years old. Arrests are expected soon.

Officer Aekaphong Thomcharoen graduated from the Chonburi Police Academy in class 28. After graduating he was assigned to border patrol duties in Chanthaburi. He was transferred to municipal police duties 18 years ago, being stationed at Sattahip under the jurisdiction of Banglamung.

One schoolboy shot dead and two wounded in Loy Krathong violence

Boonlua Chatree

A 15-year-old schoolboy was shot dead over the Loy Krathong holiday and two of his friends wounded by unknown assailants.

Police were called out at 1 a.m. on November 17 to Wat Wuttiwararam, where they found the body of Sompop Patisama, a 15-year-old second year secondary student at Pattaya School #1 lying in the temple yard. He was wearing blue jeans and a red t-shirt. He had been shot in the left side of his body by a 9 mm handgun. Officers transferred the body to the Department of Forensic Medicine.

Officers inspected the area and found three 9 mm shells and one bullet on the ground near the body. About one meter away lay a red Honda Wave motorcycle.

Police questioned witnesses who told the officers that two other boys had also been shot and had been taken to Banglamung Hospital by a passer-by. The officers proceeded to the hospital where they found Ithiphol Kaewsa-aad, 15, a third year secondary student who had been shot once in the left arm by a 9 mm handgun, and Vichai Dechachiva, 15, also a third year secondary school student who had been shot once in the middle of the back, again by a 9 mm handgun.

The boys told officers that they had gone to celebrate Loy Krathong at Jomtien Beach. On the way home the three boys set off fireworks at intervals, making loud noises along the way. When they reached Wat Wuttiwararam a black Isuzu pickup and a motorcycle appeared, closed in on them and someone started shooting.

Sompop lost control of the motorcycle and the other two boys made a run for it. Unable to get away, Sompop kneeled down in the temple yard with his hands raised in a wai and begged for his life, but the killers cold bloodedly shot him before making their escape. They are still at large.

Former boxer stabs trainer in front of horrified tourists

Attacker admits to killing gay man two days earlier

Boonlua Chatree

A former boxer who stabbed a gay man to death and escaped undetected was arrested two days later when he stabbed another man at the Siren Beer Bar on Walking Street.

As part of his confession, Bampen Taweepol reenacts his crime for the police.

The second attack happened in the evening of November 15. When police arrived at the scene they found tables and chairs in disarray and a 49-year-old boxing trainer, Somdet In-Udom, critically injured with 10 wounds from a “Sparta” weapon to his head and body. Police immediately transferred him to hospital.

His attacker had been pinned to the ground at the scene by the bar boxers. He was taken to Pattaya police station where he was identified as Bampen Taweepol, age 29, an ex-boxer who fought under the name of Roj Sit Por Kae.

Witnesses said that Somdet, a trainer from Pet Rungruang Boxing Camp, had been arranging boxers on the platform for the tourist show at the Siren Bar, when suddenly Bampen came in with a Sparta sword and without saying a word attacked Somdet. The tourists shouted and scattered in alarm but Bampen paid no attention and continued to slash and stab at Somdet until the victim dropped to the ground in front of the horrified crowd. Eventually the other boxers managed to subdue Bampen and the police were called.

Bampen told police that a few days previously Somdet contacted him to perform oral sex with a tourist for 500 baht. He accepted because he had run out of money, but Somdet had a hidden camera and filmed everything for a video. Bampen was ashamed and wanted to kill Somdet to get even with him.

He also said that two days previously he had killed a gay man, Wichan Somkanae, at a rented room in a row house on Pratamnak Road because he was the accomplice for the lewd video distribution.

Bampen said he had ridden a motorcycle to Wichan’s apartment. He knocked on the door and entered the room. He asked Wichan why he had done such a thing. He then stabbed Wichan through the heart, and rode away on the motorcycle.

Mystery of the handcuffed drunk found lying in Walking Street

Boonlua Chatree

A foreign national was found lying in the middle of Walking Street at 2:30 a.m. on 20 November, drunk, incapable and inexplicably handcuffed.

Handcuffed and incoherent, this scene remains a mystery.

Traffic, allowed into the pedestrian area at that time, was blocked. Police arrived and removed the handcuffs while the unidentified man, who was aged about 40, started to strip off in front of a bemused crowd.

Police do not know how the tourist became handcuffed but are looking for the culprits and will press charges. As for the foreign national, after being freed he got up and disappeared into one of the bars without giving any information.

Narisa Nitikarn

Pattaya Moslems celebrated the end of Ramadan at a ceremony at Masjid Toatillah School in South Pattaya on November 19.

(From left) Masud Khan, president of Bangladeshi Residents of Pattaya, HE Shahed Akhthar, Ambassador of Bangladesh and Hajeemussa Toha, inman of Masjid Toatillah Mosque.

Hajeemussa Toha, inman of Masjid Toatillah Mosque and Masud Khan, president of Bangladeshi Residents of Pattaya, welcomed the Ambassador of Bangladesh Shahed Akhthar to the event.

Hajeemussaa said that Ramadan this year had occurred between October 3 and November 2. Moslems from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Pattaya attended the November 19 celebrations, which are held every year.