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Suspected armed robber surrenders
Bancha “Nung” Kosee, an alleged accomplice in
the December 28 armed robbery of an armored van, has turned himself in to
police.
Boonlua Chatree
The fourth suspect in the armed robbery of five million baht from
the Samco Company’s money transport vehicle last December has surrendered to
police, fearing that he would be murdered by two other accomplices still at
large with most of the money.
Bancha “Nung” Kosee, 36, was brought in by police to Pol Col Somnuk
Changate, superintendent at the Banglamung Police Station, on January 20 and
charged with armed robbery.
Police said Bancha gave himself up and allegedly pleaded guilty to all
charges due to being afraid that he would be killed by the remaining members
of the robbery gang, Piak and Chai, to silence him.
Three other suspected robbers, Peerapong “Tom” Jiaranai, Somyot “Yot”
Thongpliew and Charin Pan-Ngern were caught soon after the six robbers held
up an armored security van from the Siam Administrative Management Company
at the PTT Gasoline Station opposite a Tesco Lotus Department store in
Nongprue on December 28.
The six suspected robbers were all current or former employees of the
security transport company.
Police later found an abandoned getaway 4-wheel-drive pickup in Soi
Chonlathan in the direction of Chaknok Reservoir in Huay Yai.
Bancha said that he only received 200,000 baht when the robbery money was
divided and had escaped to hide in Bangkok.
He said it was not true that the gang had stolen more than 10 million baht
as first stated, but he didn’t want to divulge further details about that.
Bancha said he planned the heist with Piak and Chai, originally from the
South, at the Kroa Kaohom Restaurant located opposite the Lotus Department
store where the robbery took place, but he did not know their full names.
He said Piak and Chai took the rest of the money and left him with only the
smaller share.
Pol Col Somnuk said the suspect contacted the Metropolitan Police to
surrender himself and officers didn’t force or threaten him to confess.
“We must wait until we are able to arrest the remaining two accomplices and
then we will know exactly what happened in the robbery,” he said.
Rescuers unable
to save baby dolphin
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Staff and guests of a hotel in Naklua tried in vain to save a baby
dolphin that had beached itself. Unfortunately it died from exhaustion.
 Rescuers
try to save a baby dolphin.
At the back of the five-star hotel, many tourists and hotel staff were
gathered on the beach for a party on January 16 when they saw the baby
dolphin, aged no more than a year, a meter long and weighing 10-15
kilograms, floundering in shallow water.
A rescue team tried to push it back to deep water but the baby dolphin was
too exhausted to swim back out to sea and died, presenting a tragic scene to
those who were there.
Pradit Kwamman, a worker at the hotel, was the first to notice the dolphin
as he was setting up the tables for the party. He and some guests tried
their best to push it out to sea but had to call Sea Rescue Radio for help.
Somkid Tonsaipetch, hotel manager, said that the back of the hotel is
restricted to hotel guests only. In the mornings there is usually a large
amount of garbage on the beach brought in by the wind and tide. He said
dolphins have been found dead there before.
In this case of the baby dolphin had probably been separated from its
parents by strong wind and currents, he said.
Police stage gold
shop robbery as training
Startled pedestrians look on
as police stage
a gold robbery and police response exercise.
Boonlua Chatree
Passers-by were jolted from their sleepy afternoon when Pattaya
police conducted a training exercise on how to deal with an armed robbery of
a gold shop.
At 3 p.m. on January 22, Pol. Col. Sarayut Sanguanpokai, superintendent at
the Pattaya Police Station, and Uthai Sappakraisri, owner of the Uthai gold
shop next to the Little Duck Hotel on Central Pattaya Road, arranged the
fake robbery.
The exercise: Two armed robbers screeched up on a black motorcycle without
number plates. The motorbike rider, wearing a helmet hiding his face and
dressed in black T-shirt, blue jeans and sandals, pulled up sharply in front
of the shop. The passenger, in military-style T-shirt, blue jeans, black cap
and white canvas shoes, was armed with a 9mm handgun.
He asked to see a five-baht weight gold necklace before taking out the gun
to rob the shop, like a gangster in a Thai B-rate movie. He snatched the
gold chain, ran out to the waiting motorbike and sped off.
The shop owner then pressed the alarm and it took approximately five minutes
for police to arrive on the scene. The officers then radioed others to block
the criminals’ escape route.
It took approximately 15 minutes after the robbery for an investigator to
get to the scene.
It took police only 20 minutes to pursue the armed robbers and arrested them
with the gold necklace as evidence.
Police said this exercise shows clearly police officers’ readiness to
protect civilians’ property and lives, responding promptly after being
notified.
Pol Maj-Gen Bandit Khunachak, commander in chief of Chonburi Provincial
Police, said all gold shops in Pattaya have CCTV installed for security.
Col. Sarayut said he was satisfied with police efficiency and said further
police training exercises will be held for the benefit of police and the
public.
No more water
shortages in the future
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya Water System officials announced that water shortages in
Pattaya should soon be a thing of the past, now that 900 million baht is
being invested to develop supply that would be adequate for another 10
years.
 Thani
Tongprachum, manager of Water Systems of Pattaya, has no concern about water
shortage.
On January 14 at the Water Office 4, Thani Tongprachum, manager of Pattaya
Water Systems Center, told the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association
(PBTA) meeting on water management that there will be no more problems with
this year’s water supply.
“The new projects will include improving the water filtering system at
Banglamung at 32 million baht, which is expected to be completed next
month,” he said.
This improved system will produce water 50% more efficiently than
previously.
Twenty million baht was also invested to improve Namnongklangdong water
filtering system which is half finished now and expected to be completed in
February, Thani said.
He added that 50 million baht will be used on laying down 39 pipelines as
the old ones are ruined, expected to be completed by June.
The last project to be undertaken is the expansion of Pattaya Water Systems
with a budget of 803 million baht. This will take 720 construction days and
is expected to be completed by December 2010.
Ed’s note: Apologies to the gentleman that writes in whenever we publish
promises from Pattaya officials proclaiming “no more water shortages” who
always seems to run out of water soon after. We hope this doesn’t happen
again.
Drive well and win a fridge
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Drive well and you could take home a refrigerator, fan or rice
cooker from Sriracha Police.
 For
her good driving habits, Nattadanuch Kantarak, a teacher at Sattahip
Technology School, earns a refrigerator from Pol Col Worapol Inthasae,
chief of Sriracha Police.
On January 16 at Sriracha police station, Pol Col Worapol Inthasae,
chief of Sriracha Police launched what looks like a winning campaign of
rewarding prizes to motorists in the province who drive well.
“New Chonburi citizens are excellent drivers,” says the slogan.
Motorists who strictly follow traffic regulations will be rewarded,
according an inventive new policy from Chonburi Governor Surapon
Pongtadsirikun.
The prizes include refrigerators, fans, rice cookers, irons, instant
noodles, drinking water as well as safe driving manuals to brush up for
next time.
Col Worapol said this new campaign was created to prevent injury, death
and property destruction from road accidents.
It is based on the logical principle that those who break traffic
regulations will be fined and those who follow regulations well will
earn a chance to be rewarded.
Prizes are rewarded at least once a month and for this round the winner
was Nattadanuch Kantarak, 52, a teacher at Sattahip Technology School
who took home a refrigerator, also coincidentally as a gift for
Teacher’s Day.
Malaysian naval chief
visits Eastern Seaboard
Patcharapol Panrak
The commander-in-chief of the Malaysian Navy, Admiral Dato Sri Abdul
Aziz Bin Haji Jaafar, visited the Sattahip naval base and
commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Marine Corps, Vice-Admiral Suwit
Tharathoop.
 Admiral
Dato Sri Abdul Aziz Bin Haji Jaafar signs his name in the visitors’ book as
Vice-Admiral Suwit Tharathoop looks on.
On January 22 the Malaysian Commander and his high-ranking officers were on
an official visit to Thailand as the Royal Thai Navy’s guests.
The group went to Sattahip where the visitors laid a wreath at the Royal
Thai Navy’s Marine Corps Monument at Prince Chumporn Camp.
Rear-Admiral Narongrat Phodaeng, chief of staff for the Royal Thai Marine
Corps, and Vice-Admiral Suwit welcomed the guests.
The Malaysian naval visit aimed to ensure good military relations as
long-time good neighbors. This included exchanging opinions and experiences
regarding military affairs in the three southern border provinces.
The Malaysian Admiral signed his name in the visitors’ book and exchanged
souvenirs with Thai officers.
Welfare caravan sets out
to help Sattahip residents
Patcharapol Panrak
A Red Cross welfare service caravan to help the poor visited Wat
Nong Jub Tao in Sattahip as part of the continuing monthly community social
service visits being planned.
 Governor
Surapon Pongtadsirikun presents a scholarship to one of the deserving
students in Sattahip.
On January 22 Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun gave authority to the
president of Red Cross Chonburi Prissana Pongtadsirikun to bring her team to
provide a variety of services to residents there.
Sattahip Sheriff Chaicharn Iamjaroen along with chairman of the Najomtien
Sub-District Administrative Organization Sorachai Tongyungyuen, and
Najomtien village chief, Somsak Tubklad, plus members of the public and
students also attended.
Prissana said support from state agencies and private organizations will
help provide services to those needing help. The community will also have a
say on matters that would help improve their living conditions.
The service is a monthly event where different communities will benefit from
donations of bags, clothes and blankets to the elderly, and scholarships and
sports equipment for schools.
Health check-ups and medication, issuing ID cards, marriage registration,
military registration, hair cutting and dressing are among the services
offered by the caravan visits.
The Technology Institute of Chonburi also offers inspection of electrical
appliances and motorcycles. Sterilization of pets and job placements and
advice are also offered. The Publicity Office of Chonburi also helps
residents to write messages to pay respect to His Majesty the King.
Governor Surapon said, “Our nation has become greatly influenced by
technological developments but the social problems such as drug addiction,
AIDS and crimes continue. These problems cannot be ignored by the
authorities who must do all they can to ensure happiness for the public they
serve.”
Ko Chan sub-district
to receive new hospital
(L to R) Minister of Public
Health Wittaya Kaewparadai, Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun, and
Wittaya Khunplome, head of the Chonburi Provincial Administrative
Organization, sign an agreement to begin construction on Ko Chan Hospital.
Staff reporters
Chonburi will spend 100 million baht to build a 30-bed hospital on
in Ko Chan sub-district, expected to be completed by 2010.
On January 17 at the Ko Chan town hall, Wittaya Kaewparadai, minister of
public health, presided over a meeting on construction of the new Ko Chan
Hospital.
Dignitaries on hand to approve the construction project included Dr Prart
Boonyawongviroj, head of the Public Health Ministry, Chonburi Governor
Surapon Pongtadsirikun, Wittaya Khunplome, head of the Chonburi Provincial
Administrative Organization, and municipal heads of Ko Chan and Thaboonmee.
Wittaya Kaewparadai said that there will be 30 beds in the hospital.
Construction will begin this year. The budget has already been approved.
Chonburi will pay the bulk of the construction costs, with more coming from
Ko Chan and Thaboonmee government organizations.
The Ministry of Public Health will deal with human resources and a budget
for certified doctors.
The minister went on to say that this hospital is for the convenience of
local residents who previously had to travel to at Panasnikom Hospital and
hospitals in Chachoengsao, far from their homes.
Mother, Frenchman held over child prostitution
Boonlua Chatree
Police arrested a woman for allegedly supplying foreign pedophiles
with underage boys and girls, including her own daughter.
 Somjai
“Mam” Prombut is served an arrest warrant for allegedly supplying minors to
pedophiles.
Somjai “Mam” Prombut, 29, of Huay Yai, is being held by police from the
Suppression of Crimes Against Children and Women Division in Region 2 and
charged with prostituting her daughter to foreigners for seven years, along
with other minors aged from 8 to 15.
The accused woman denied all charges against her.
In connection with the case, Thai police are also seeking the extradition
from France of pedophile suspect Jean Claude Chamoux, 56, to face charges of
underage sex in Thailand.
The Frenchman had previously been in police custody in 2005 but had skipped
bailed and escaped to France.
On January 14, Pol. Lt-Col. Preecha Somsatan and Supakorn Noja from the
Children and Female Protection Squad served Somjai with an arrest warrant
issued by the Pattaya Court for providing minors for sex. She was arrested
in the slum area on Pattnakarn-Mabto in Nongprue.
Supakorn alleged that Somjai had acted as a dealer to procure boys and girls
for foreigners, including her own daughter who had been prostituted since
she was eight years old.
The girl is now in a psychiatric ward at Srithanya Hospital in Nonthaburi.
Police alleged that the mother received orders for her daughter and other
minors on the phone from foreign customers who paid between 500-1000 baht
from which she kept 300-400 baht for herself.
Police said that this activity was discovered after the French pedophile
suspect was arrested on August 25, 2005, and charged with abducting minors
under the age of 15.
While being investigated at the Pattaya Police Station (Dongtan Sub-branch),
Chamoux bailed himself out and fled back to France.
Officers from the division investigated 10 children who allegedly had been
abused by Chamoux and their investigation led to Somjai as the alleged
dealer.
French police have Chamoux in custody, arrested at his home in France
allegedly with many photos of Thai children.
They are waiting for paperwork from Thai police so that he can be sent back
to Thailand for trial where he could face life in prison if convicted.
French men held in drug party bust
Boonlua Chatree
Transnational Crime Police arrested three men from France, a Thai
woman and a transvestite at a party at a hotel in South Pattaya and charged
them with using narcotics.
 Police
arrest the 3 Frenchman, a Thai girl and a transvestite for possession of
marijuana.
At 1.10 a.m. on January 20, Pol. Col. Bunyasit Wongwai, chief of the Center
for the Cooperative Prevention of Transnational Crime, led a police team
armed with a search warrant to bust up an alleged drug party in a room at
the a resort in Nongprue.
Police said they found the room noisy and smelling of marijuana and when
officers burst in the three foreign men and two Thais panicked and tried to
run away, but were arrested.
Fabrica Enriquez, 29, Guillaume Sanz-Fernandez, 39, and Zaidi Yann-Frank
Martial, 36, all French tourists, and Nut (alias name), 17, and Jittipol
Wongbaikaew, 19, were held.
Police alleged that on the sofa in the room were two large packs of
marihuana, rolling paper and a set of narcotics paraphernalia for consuming
ya ice drug.
Officers tested everyone’s urine and said that the tests turned violet,
indicating positive for narcotics. The accused denied taking drugs.
Police said the three French tourists hadn’t been in Pattaya for long. They
had lodged at the hotel then made the acquaintance of Nut and transvestite
Jittipol on Walking Street when they went out at night.
Police alleged the foreigners asked Nut to supply them with marijuana and ya
ice for consumption at the resort.
Italian caught in compromising position with 12-year-old boy - in the bushes
Theerarak Suthatiwong
An Italian with an alleged long history of sexually-abusing Thai
boys was arrested having sex with a 12-year-old boy in the bushes near
Charknok Reservoir in Huay Yai.
Massimo Mannari, 51, an Italian national living in Nongprue, was charged
with pedophilia.
 Massimo
Mannari is caught with his pants down in the bushes with and underage boy.
At 6 p.m. on January 20 Supakorn Noja, director of the Child Welfare
Protection and Development Center, was notified of suspicious activity
between a foreign man and a boy and rushed to the scene to investigate with
police, led by Pol. Lt-Col Omsin Sukkarnkha from Children and Women’s
Protection Center.
In a secluded cassava field near the reservoir, police said they found a
motorbike with no license plate. Following a short trail, they came across a
foreigner and a boy, both naked.
At the scene police found used condoms, tissues and in the foreigner’s bag,
a video and digital cameras. According to police, Mannari had been arrested
many times before and charged with similar offenses.
According to the boy, Mannari had taken him into these bushes three times.
The first time, the man approached him in front of his school on a motorbike
and asked him if he wanted to go for a ride to a shopping mall but he ended
up being brought into the bushes.
The boy said he was given 200 baht each time and he could not refuse because
he threatened to kill him if he told anyone.
Mannari videotaped each occasion.
Supakorn said that Mannari was previously arrested on December 23 when
police caught him having sex with a 13-year-old boy. His record of sexually
abusing boys adds up to more than 40-50 cases in previous years, he alleged.
He normally approached boys at Wat Suthawat School and Sunee Plaza taking
them to hotel rooms sometime instead of using the bushes.
Police charged after traffic shooting
Boonlua Chatree
A police officer has been arrested for shooting and seriously
wounding a motorist after an altercation when he stopped a car to check its
missing license plate.
 Sgt.-Maj
Jeerapong from the Crime Suppression Division at the Huay Yai police station
doesn’t seem to be too upset about being charged with attempted murder.
Pol. Sgt. Maj. Jeerapong Yootim, head of the Crime Suppression Division at
the Huay Yai police station, gave himself up after the incident at 4.50 a.m.
on January 17.
Well-known Pattaya golf course manager, Songchai Chansen, 35, was shot once
in the back and was in a coma in a critical condition in hospital.
Wipanan Kwangmaha, 31, a food and beverage worker at Phoenix Golf Course,
told Pol. Lt-Col Ekadit Srimoon of the Pattaya police station’s Dongtan
sub-branch that her friend Songchai was shot in front of Pattaya School #7.
Wipanan told police that she had driven a friend to a bus station and was
returning home with Songchai seated on the front passenger seat.
When she arrived in front of Pattaya School #7 a police pickup truck with a
siren on the roof and displaying a white sticker from the Huay Yai police
station, flashed its lights for her to pull over.
A man half-dressed in a police uniform came to her car with a gun and “it
seemed that he was drunk.”
She said the officer asked impolitely why the car didn’t have a rear license
plate and demanded the vehicle’s documentation. She told him that her car
had earlier collided with a dog and that she had lost the front license
plate so she moved the rear plate to the front.
She said the officer was unsatisfied and suspected that that the car carried
narcotics. They argued and her friend stepped out of the car to ask the
officer to speak calmly and begged him to put away his gun.
But she said Pol. Sgt-Maj Jeerapong tried to strike her friend with his
pistol and they both wrestled. Songchai pushed the policeman away before
getting back into the car and told her to drive away.
Wipanan alleged that the officer then fired a shot at them, the bullet
passed through the rear window and struck Songchai. She alleged the officer
chased them and shot at them six more times.
She brought her injured friend to Banglamung Hospital before he was
transferred to Chonburi Hospital for an immediate operation.
At 6.30 p.m. on January 17, Sgt.-Maj Jeerapong surrendered to Pol. Lt-Col
Ekadit Srimoon, investigator in charge of the case.
Jeerapong said that he was on his way back from a reception traveling along
Sukhumvit Road when he noticed the vehicle without a license plate.
He said Songchai exited the vehicle, argued with him and challenged him to
fight then ran back to the car and sped away.
He said he called them to stop and fired one shot to disable the vehicle but
“the bullet missed its intended target” and went through the rear window
striking the man.
Officer Jeerapong was charged with attempted murder before being freed on
bail.
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