Boonlua Chatree
A number of bar girls attacked police officers who were patrolling the bars on April 19 to see that no alcohol was being sold during the senate election period.
The police patrol had set out just after midnight to check if any of the beer bars were breaching the law, and acting under orders to arrest anyone selling alcohol. When the officers arrived at the beer bar group near the Lek Hotel on Pattaya Second Road, they found the Meeting Point beer bar was still serving customers, even though other bars and shops were either closed or not selling any alcohol. There were a number of foreign customers at the bar and the bar girls were serving them beer and whiskey, unafraid of the approaching officers.

Cashier Kriangsak Manosert (right) and Wanna Manosert (2nd right) were arrested for obstructing justice and selling alcohol on election day.
Police arrested Kriangsak Manosert, the 21-year-old cashier of the bar, who had seven bills for whiskey for a total of 630 baht, including five bottles of beer that were half empty. He was charged with selling alcohol in an election area, an act prohibited under the Election Code, but as the officers led the cashier from the bar the serving girls set upon them, tearing their uniforms and knocking them down.
The patrol radioed for help, but by the time other officers arrived all the staff had fled except for Kriangsak and 47-year-old Ms Wanna Manosert. The two were escorted to Pattaya police station.
Wanna refused to be interviewed, asking only for the telephone number of a high ranking Chonburi policeman. Her request was denied. Wanna was charged with three offenses: injuring police officers on duty, vandalizing police property, and obstructing the police from escorting a wrongdoer to the police station. She refused to accept the charges, or to sign an acknowledgement. The case continues.

Wife hired two hitmen to shoot New Zealand businessman

Boonlua Chatree
Police have arrested the Thai common-law wife of Stephen Jeffrey Miller, the 40-year-old New Zealand businessman who was shot dead by two assassins on a motorcycle during the morning of April 20, and charged her with murder.

Stephen Miller and Jintana Vichachai during happier times.
They have also arrested a man who has confessed to driving the motorcycle, and are now hunting the gunman, issuing warnings that they will shoot to kill if necessary.
Miller was shot at Soi Chalermprakiat 3, at the front of Saeng Krachang Village in Naklua, while apparently riding his motorcycle back from the gym. A motorcycle taxi driver at the entrance to the soi told police that he heard shots and saw two men wearing black and riding a motorcycle. The driver was wearing a crash helmet hiding his face and the passenger covered his face with a black cloth. They sped out of the soi and headed in the direction of the Central Pattaya Intersection.
On examining the body, police found Miller had been shot once under the left ear. The dead man had been carrying a bag over his shoulder, and police found a wallet containing just over four thousand baht, a Nokia mobile phone, Thai boxing gear and a Muay Thai student membership card for Universe Gym Pattaya. Documents gave his address as “Perfect Place, Pattaya Mansion in North Pattaya”.

Jintana Vichachai in police custody.
Pattaya police superintendent Pol Col Somnuk said that preliminary investigations revealed the victim had a girlfriend, named as Miss Jintana Vichachai, 29, for he carried her telephone number and a photograph of the couple. Police telephoned her and she told officers that she had traveled back to her home in Udon Thani to visit her family during the Songkran festival.
Jintana, who was shocked and crying, told Pol Col Somnuk that before dating her the deceased had another Thai girlfriend named Miss Aen, but had split up from her about six months ago and rarely made contact with her since meeting Jintana.
Jintana said that the victim was a businessman who sold real estate internationally. He had recently purchased land in Huay Yai, Banglamung. She also told him that Miller had been to Pattaya District Court the previous Monday to file a claim for return of the car that he had bought for Aen. She added that she did not know much about the former girlfriend.
At the start of their investigations police narrowed the motive for the killing down to two possibilities - a business conflict or jealousy.
Pol Lt Gen Jongrak Juthanont, Region 2 commander set up four teams of investigators. The first team comprised Pol Lt Col Suchart Pranee, Region 2 deputy commander of investigations and a team of 20 officers who were responsible for finding the killers and their accomplices.
The second team comprised Pol Lt Col Supachai Pliam-manas and a team of 10 officers as the investigative team.
The third team comprised Pol Lt Col Bunrod Angkap of the Tourist Police and a team of 14 officers to carry out investigations among the foreign community.
The fourth team comprised Pol Capt Sompop Khuhawan and a team of 14 officers responsible for gathering clues and evidence.
During investigations the police gathered enough evidence to prove that the killer was his own common-law wife, Jintana Vichachai. She had earlier tearfully asked to see the body at Banglamung Hospital. Under questioning, however, she finally admitted that she hired the killers, who she named as Warathip Khachavong, 24, of Songkla who found the gunman and drove the motorcycle used in the killing; and the gunman, Yearmwut Julaphong, 25 of Phechaboon.
Jintana claimed the reason she arranged the killing was because her New Zealander husband forced her onto a new habit forming substance, and said that he was forever beating her. She said that Miller had bought her a house valued at 700,000 baht but he was a playboy and was cruel to her so she asked her ex-boyfriend, Warathip, to find a hitman to shoot him. After doing so they hid the .357 handgun in a safe at Rainbow Apartment, in room number 515.
After questioning police took Jintana to the apartment where they opened the safe and found the gun and six bullets. There were also two sets of clothing worn by the assassins.
At 2 p.m. on April 23, Pol Lt Gen Jongrak charged Jintana with murder and jointly possessing and carrying a firearm illegally. Police then filed for arrest warrants 439/2005 and 442/2005 with Pattaya District Court for Warathip Khachavong and Yearmwut Julaphong.
Subsequently Pol Lt Col Thanapol Maneepark led a team of Region 2 police officers to an address in Muu 8, Lampong district, Songkla where they found Warathip relaxing. They arrested him and brought him back to Pattaya for questioning. He told officers that he did not pull the trigger, but only drove the motorcycle.
Police led by Pol Capt Sompop coordinated with Phechaboon provincial police and traveled down with the arrest warrant for Yearmwut where they carried out a search of his known address in Lomsak. The killer was not at home and police are still looking for him.
Witnesses told officers that he had been back home after stabbing someone but had gone back into hiding just a few hours before police arrived. Police now believe that he is hiding in the Pattaya area, and believe him to be with a girlfriend. They have issued a public warning to Yearmwut that they are prepared to shoot to kill once they find him, if he does not surrender. Police also announced that anyone sheltering him would also be charged.
Miss Amassika Baukran, 50, Stephen Miller’s elder sister and Miss Kathiryn Baukran paid a visit to Pol Lt Gen Jongrak and presented him with a bouquet of flowers to thank him for bringing the case to such a quick closure. They also said that Jintana was evil and had no sense of gratitude after being taken care of and having a house bought for her.

Police briefs

Cambodian man killed in road accident
A Cambodian man was knocked down by a car and killed during the afternoon of April 13 in an accident on Sukhumvit Road in Central Pattaya.
Police officers arriving at the scene found a blue Toyota with a broken windshield. The driver of the car was Suchat Choochoun, an employee of a karaoke bar on Soi Day-Night in South Pattaya. The dead man was identified as Ra Bua, a 33-year-old Cambodian national. He had died from head injuries. Officials from Sawang Boriboon Foundation transferred the body to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
Suchat stated that the deceased had crossed the road in front of his car and that he had been unable to avoid him. The vehicle struck the man heavily, causing him to hurtle over the car roof. Police charged Suchat with careless driving resulting in the loss of a person’s life.
19-year-old man hangs himself at Koh Larn house
A 19-year-old man was found hanged at his home on Koh Larn on April 12. A Koh Larn police officer advised Pattaya police station of the death, and officers went to the scene with officials from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation.
The body was transferred from the island to Bali Hai Pier and then to Banglamung Hospital. A neighbor told police that the man’s name was Wutthinan Phaetkrathok, and that he was a factory worker in Sriracha. He had returned to his home on Koh Larn two days previously.
Wutthinan had used a nylon rope to hang himself from a beam in the house. Police found one sealed envelope. His mother found the body at about 9 a.m. on April 12, and took it down before notifying Koh Larn police. Investigators have discovered the deceased had a lover named Ms Pung, and they had one child together. A neighbor said they frequently argued and that recently the couple had separated.
Two men arrested for carrying gun and ammo
Police on routine patrol around the Naklua entertainment areas on April 17 stopped and searched two men riding a black Honda Wave motorcycle in front of the Nongyai Temple at Soi Photisarn and found them to be carrying a gun and ammunition.
Taweep Chanhom, 31, was in possession of the .38 caliber weapon, and had three bullets tucked into his waistband. The motorcycle passenger, Ekachai Komutmart, age 19, had no illegal objects on his person.
The two men said they were returning from a karaoke bar in Soi Photisarn. They said they had bought the gun for 5,000 baht, and that it was for self-protection. Police charged them with illegal possession and carrying of a firearm and ammunition.

Navy Wives Association presents awards in silkworm breeding project

Patcharapol Panrak
Navy Wives Association chairwoman Mrs Pornpen Kaeyanon together with a number of association members on April 19 visited the Eri silkworm project at Air and Coastal Defense Department Region 1, in Rayong.
Commander-in-chief Maj Gen Chaiwat Iamsamut welcomed the group, and Maj Gen Roengrit Bunsongprasert, commander-in-chief of the Naval Civil Affairs Department reported on progress of the project, which involves 100 families working on a program inspired by His Majesty the King’s encouragement of self-sufficiency within the economy.

The Navy Wives Association, led by Mrs Pornpen Kaeyanon, visited the Eri silkworm project at Air and Coastal Defense Department Region 1, in Rayong.

Pornpen presented awards to the winners of a kitchen garden planting competition, with Chief Warrant Officer Somboon Onthong of the Royal Thai Marine Corps taking first prize, Lt Manop Praimee of the Royal Thai Fleet first runner-up, and Jr Lt Kitcha Pannet of the Air and Coastal Defense Command and Chief Warrant Officer Banchong Phetchakan of Sattahip Naval Base also taking awards.
With the success of the 100 families of officers from the Navy Fleet, Royal Thai Marine Corps, Sattahip Naval Base, Air and Coastal Defense Department and Naval Ordinance Department in this kitchen garden planting project, the intention now is to extend the concept to the families of lower ranking officers.
The Eri silkworm culture project is designed to increase the strain of this silkworm in the Eastern region.

It’s a girl, trumpets Nong Nooch Elephant Garden

Father sets a record with 17 offspring in four years

Patcharapol Panrak
Nong Nooch Elephant Village has had a special Songkran gift with the birth of a female elephant to one of their star attractions, 20-year-old Pang Buathong.
Pang Buathong, who dances, plays football and carries visitors on rides around the park, had mated with Plai Bird, a 29-year-old thoroughbred. On March 31 she had become moody, had lost her appetite, and was showing signs of going into labor. Her mahout, Wichai Kaeklangdon, and other mahouts tethered her in a thicket and organized shifts to look after her day and night.

It’s a girl!
By April 11, a total of 22 months and two days after conception, Pang Buathong started to give birth, the baby being born at 2:49 a.m. on April 12. The newborn female is healthy, and was a cause of celebration amongst elephant owners and mahouts, as she will in turn make her contribution to the elephant population.
Nong Nooch Garden director Kampon Tansacha said that Nong Nooch Elephant Village was the first certified Elephant Village in the Eastern region. Plai Bird was the perfect choice for a breeder elephant, and has set a record since 2002. In that year he sired five baby elephants, the following year six, there were three in 2004, one in 2005 and two so far this year. With a total of 17 to his credit, there are several other female elephants pregnant by him, and waiting to give birth.

Cobra Gold 2006 Announced

Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and the United States recently announced their participation in the Cobra Gold exercise to be held in Thailand from May 15-26, 2006.
Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled joint and combined multi-national exercise hosted annually by the Kingdom of Thailand. Cobra Gold 2006 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. This exercise marks the 25th anniversary of this regionally significant training event.
Training will consist of a computer-simulated staff exercise, field training exercises, and humanitarian/civic assistance projects.
The exercise will combine Thai, U.S., and Singaporean armed forces in a combined task force headquarters computer simulated staff exercise. Thailand and the United States will conduct field training exercises. Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Japan, and Indonesia will participate in a computer simulation exercise designed around a United Nations multi-national peace keeping scenario.
Thailand, the United States, and Singapore will participate in humanitarian/civic assistance projects, designed to improve quality of life and local infrastructure for the host Thai people; Japan will participate in the humanitarian/civic assistance projects as an observer. Concurrently, the United States and Thailand will conduct a peace support operations field training exercise in support of the United Nations Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI).
In addition to the five main participating countries, the Royal Thai Government has invited several nations to participate in various roles during the exercise. The following countries have been invited: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, China, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Russia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

Umbrella-deckchair providers ask for price increase and promise better service

Piyavadee Suvannahong
President of the Jomtien Beach Umbrella-Deckchair Association Amnuay Somphongtham and deputy mayors Verawat Khakhay and Ronakit Ekasingh held a meting on April 12 to discuss ways of improving the order and appearance of the facilities at Jomtien and to resolve problems that have long been reflecting unfavorably on the image of the resort.

Amnuay Somphongtham, president of the Jomtien Beach Umbrella - Deckchair Association.

Ronakit said that most tourists who come to Pattaya visit the beach and the first service they use is that offered by the umbrella-deckchair providers. The service providers therefore bear a considerable responsibility in making visitors feel welcome, and encouraging thoughts of a return visit.
Amnuay said that the operators wish to increase service charges from 20 baht to 30 baht as deckchair prices had increased and there is a lot of competition between providers. The chairman (no pun intended) said that if most providers wished to increase service charges he would take the request to the next meeting of Pattaya City Council but the operators must erect signs stating that the 30 baht service fee is an all-day charge. A resolution was reached that the issue be taken to Pattaya City Council.
Amnuay added that in the past umbrella-deckchair providers had taken advantage by over-extending the area allotted by Pattaya City Council to each individual operator as well as putting out umbrellas and deckchairs exceeding the number fixed by the council as determined in the Pattaya Services Act of 1999. From now on the city will carry out strict inspections; first-time offenders will be fined 500 baht, second-time offenders will be suspended for seven days and third-time offenders will be suspended for 30 days. Fourth-time offenders will have their licenses permanently revoked. All actions will be interpreted under the existing regulations.
Some operators were worried that the police would abuse their power, said Amnuay. On this Ronakit said that if any operator was ordered to close operations he would carry out investigations personally and if any operator felt that he had been treated unfairly the matter should be reported to Pattaya City Council.
Twenty-six service providers operating from behind Pattaya Park Hotel to Pratamnak are not yet members of the association and are being asked to join in order to oversee regulatory control and performance as well as order.