Phuket News

 

Phuket police arrest man for rape of woman, her 14-year-old niece

Phuket Gazette - May 20, 2014 | 08:07 PM

PHUKET: Police arrested a Phuket resident today for the rape of a 24-year-old Myanmar national and her 14-year-old niece in the forest along Ao Yon – Khao Khad Road on May 8.

The man, who turned himself in, was charged with rape, rape of a person under the age of 15 and theft.

The 44-year-old suspect has denied all...

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Phuket News

Chief departs Phuket with park encroachment raids

PHUKET: As his last major act as chief of Sirinath National Park, Cheewapap Cheewatham this morning led 50 officers on raids of businesses deemed to be illegally built on national park land near Nai Thon Beach. “Seven new shops – six on the beach, one on the beachfront road – have been built without permission from Sirinath National Park and Sakoo Municipality,” Chief Cheewapap explained. A...

Phuket Governor off island to report to army base

PHUKET: Bangkok’s appointed leader to the island, Phuket Governor Maitri Insthusut, departed this morning to report to the Royal Thai Army base in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Governor Maitri’s trip comes in the wake of Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha’s declaration of martial law, which took affect at 3am today (story here). Governor Maitri is expected to arrive at the base at 2pm. He was unavailable...

Sun still shining in Phuket, despite martial law order

PHUKET: The declaration of nationwide martial law as of 3am today has left Phuket officials unperturbed. “Officials are just working as usual,” Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa told the Phuket Gazette this morning. The martial law order, essentially giving the army control of the country, was issued by Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha (story here). After more than six...

Krabi squatters protest police force after man is shot

PHUKET: About 100 people rallied outside Krabi City Hall yesterday to condemn the police and related officials for using excessive force to disperse their rally on Sunday. The group also called for Krabi Governor Prasit Osathanont to launch an investigation and mete out punishment to those behind the incident on the Southern Sea Board Road, in which a protester reportedly sustained a serious gunshot wound and 50...

 

 

Cop denies pulling trigger in Phuket drive-by shooting

PHUKET: A police officer who left the Saraphan Pleng Pub in Chalong shortly before a fatal shooting early Friday morning appeared at the Chalong Police Station Saturday to declare his innocence. The Phuket Provincial Police officer, who police have declined to name, fell under suspicion after officers questioned staff at the pub about the murder of Nuchsika Klasuek, 35, who was shot dead in front of the place (story...
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Exercising off-duty cop nabs tw.o animal touts in Phuket

PHUKET: An off-duty police officer leaped from his bicycle and arrested two out of six men on Soi Bangla who were offering tourists photo opportunities with animals yesterday. Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho swooped in to make the arrest of the six men after seeing them touting four iguanas and two slow lorises. He quickly arrested Suchai Jaroenpu, 32, from Phang Nga, and Boonso Kenthao, 34, from Kathu. However...

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Tourist drowns, first victim of lifeguard-less Phuket beaches

PHUKET: A tourist drowned at a lifeguard-less Phuket beach yesterday afternoon, after a budget debacle delayed the signing of the Phuket Lifeguard contract. Supachet Ngamsong, 26, from Northern Thailand, had just finished dinner with five friends when he went into the sea alone at Karon at about 5pm, said Karon Police...

Phuket News

Phuket sea gypsies offered free land in relocation deal

PHUKET: The provincial government has organized 50rai of land for the sea gypsy families living on Koh Sireh who are being sued by a private developer for allegedly squatting on private land. “Other sea gypsy families are living in houses allegedly built on private land, but have yet to face legal action," explained Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa at a meeting with local officials and...

Mathayom 6 graduates killed in Phuket hit-and-run

PHUKET: Police are hunting for the driver who killed two teenagers in a hit-and-run crime in Phuket last night. Piyabut Thongngarm, 18, died at the scene, while Jenista Purisawane, 18, died en route to hospital, Capt Thada Sodarak of the Chalong Police said. “It was raining when we arrived at the scene, near the Rawai shell museum. It was clear that they had been hit from behind,” Capt Thada said...

Phuket officials vote to halt dredging of marina canal

PHUKET: The dredging of the Koh Kaew Canal, which provides access to two key marinas on the east coast of Phuket, has stopped due to environmental concerns. Sasorn Sassadeekul of the Marine Office Region 5 headquarters in Phuket agreed to halt the dredging of the canal at the request of Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak at a meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday. The...

Thai visa-van ban at Malaysian border not part of recent crackdown

PHUKET: The blockade preventing Thai visa-run vans from entering Malaysia on their way to Penang is not linked to the recent crackdown on visa runs in Thailand, confirmed a KBV Phuket Visa Run staffer. “Thai visa-run drivers and vehicles have not been allowed to cross the Malaysian border for more than a week now due to a small protest of Malaysian drivers,” the staffer, who asked to remain anonymous, told the...

Wanted: Phuket home for Chinese Consulate

PHUKET: Unable to find a suitable property for the new Chinese Consulate in Phuket, officials from the Chinese embassy sought advice from Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa on Thursday. “We will certainly have a consulate in Phuket, and it will be open as soon as possible,” said Vice-Consul Wang Huijian, who will head the new consular office. “We have four staff in Phuket ready to start work, but we have yet...
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Serial sunscreen shoplifter snagged in sunny Phuket

PHUKET: A sunscreen shoplifter was arrested with over 20 bottles of the lotion by Phuket Police yesterday afternoon. Daoruang Budda, 31, was identified by police from CCTV footage at a Family Mart convenience store in Patong. “After we got the description out, one of our officers spotted her riding a motorbike in Patong. We followed and approached her at the Sainamyen Intersection. When we asked her to stop so...
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Rescued snorkeller stabilized, returns to Canada by air ambulance

PHUKET: After a tragic snorkelling accident that left him in the ICU for nearly a month, Canadian national Mike Reynolds and his medical team departed from Phuket Thursday afternoon and landed safely in Canada last night. Mr Reynolds, 73, suffered a drowning-induced heart attack while snorkelling off the coast of Phi Phi Island...

Phuket News

 

 

Inquiry initiated into death of Phuket mother and newborn

PHUKET: Doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital began an inquiry today into the death of a woman during childbirth on May 2 and that of her newborn son just two days later. The investigation follows a protest on Saturday led by the distraught husband and father Numporn Intawong and 50 of his family members and friends. Mr Numporn, a 42-year-old Patong taxi driver, and his group gathered at Vachira Phuket Hospital...

Crackdown banning 'walk-in visa runs' to begin August 13

PHUKET: Foreigners will be allowed to continue to re-enter Thailand on three consecutive “walk-in” visas until August 12, Ranong Immigration Superintendent Ekkorn Bussababordin assured the Phuket Gazette today. The news follows the appearance of a formal notice posted on Bangkok Immigration’s website on May 8 stating that any persons who exit Thailand after completing a stay in the...

Nationwide Visakha Bucha alcohol ban begins at midnight

PHUKET: Bars, restaurants and other retailers throughout Phuket must refrain from selling alcohol from midnight tonight to sunrise Wednesday morning as a nationwide ban comes into effect for the Buddhist holy day Visakha Bucha on Tuesday. “Visakha Bucha Day is one of the four annual religious days on which the sale of alcohol is banned,” Maj Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette today. “Alcohol retailers and customers are good about cooperating with us on these occasions. They know they are not allowed to buy or sell...

Monsoon rains end Phuket’s worst drought in 30 years

PHUKET: Phuket’s worst drought in the last 30 years appears to be at an end, after heavy showers soaked parts of the island over the weekend and more are forecast for the coming days. “The rainy season has officially begun; these rains are part of the southwest monsoon,” Suntad Panbanpeaw, director of the Meteorological Department’s Phuket office, told

 

 

Resort guru Michael Ayling joins Royal Phuket Marina

PHUKET: Michael Ayling, former Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels, today began his new role as Managing Director/General Manager at Royal Phuket Marina (RPM). “The goal is to make RPM a destination, not just a marina, and Michael has vast experience in this field,” RPM Chairman Gulu Lalvani told the Phuket Gazette this morning. Mr Lalvani also revealed plans for RPM to develop several high-end...

Patong police snare iguana touts on Soi Bangla

PHUKET: Police arrested two men on Phuket’s famed Soi Bangla last night for offering tourists photo opportunities with iguanas. Police named the two men as Natthapon Kanesing, 23, from Bueng Kan Province in Northeast Thailand, and Sulkeflee Jaetae, 28, from Yala. “The suspects were charged with inflicting harm to an animal and causing a public nuisance,” said Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of Patong Police. The two... 

  

Australian expat dies from heart failure in Phuket bathroom

PHUKET: Australian expat Ronald Douglas Litherland, 67, from Brisbane, Australia, was found dead at his rented home in Cherng Talay yesterday afternoon. “Doctors have confirmed the cause of death as heart failure,” said Maj Kitthiphum Thinthalang of the Thalang Police. “There were no signs of a struggle on his body...

Phuket News

 Phuket lands B20bn slice of Mall Group B80bn shopping center mega projects
 

 

PHUKET: The Mall Group is set to invest 20 billion baht in the development of a 150 rai mega-project in Phuket’s Kathu district as part of an 80bn baht venture to open six world-class shopping centers in expectation of Thailand’s market flooding when the gates of the Asian Economic Community (AEC) open next year.

Phuket PDRC supporters head to Bangkok

PHUKET: More than 1,000 Phuket supporters of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) have left the island to join fellow protesters in Bangkok.The news follows a call by PDRC Secretary-General Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday, urging people from around the country to join the rallies in the capital.“Phuket supporters left yesterday,” protest coordinator Amnuay...

High-wire monkey causes Phuket blackout

PHUKET: Rescue workers were called last night to save a bean-picking monkey that had escaped from the home of its owner and become stuck at the top of a power pole.“When we arrived, the owners were trying to undo the rope tied to the monkey’s neck, because it had become tangled on the pole,” said a Kusoldharm Foundation Rescue worker.The power pole, in Baan Lipon, was so high that a...

Teen worker dies in five-storey fall at Phuket hotel construction site

PHUKET: Sarawut Kumwong, 17, died yesterday afternoon after falling from the fifth floor of a seven-storey hotel under construction in Phuket Town.Mr Sarawut’s employer, Ekkapong Jiasakul, told police that Mr Sarawuth was being handed pieces of timber by Komkrit Jantorarat, 15, when he fell.“We do not know what happened exactly. He might have slipped while reaching for the items,” Mr Ekkapong said.Mr Sarawut died...

Aussie lifeguards help bring man back to life

PHUKET: After 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and six injections of adrenaline, Mike Reynolds’ heart started to beat again. His 18-year-old daughter, Kristi, rushed into the emergency room as the two holidaying Australian lifeguards that had saved him from a drowning-induced heart attack while on a trip to Phi Phi Island waited outside.Also standing outside the...

 

 

Video Report: ‘Smart Province’ project will bring free WiFi to Phuket

PHUKET: Phuket is slated to have free WiFi throughout the island as part of it becoming Thailand’s next “Smart Province”.“Access to free WiFi is one of the many benefits of the technology we are using to connect the nation,” said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) Surachai...

 

   

Phuket lifeguards put lives first, agree to PPAO conditions

PHUKET: Lifeguards are set to return to Phuket beaches on May 21 as the lifeguard club gave up its demands for an increased budget at a meeting with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) this morning.“The conditions they offered us today were the same: 22 million baht to pay for our expenses and an increased salary for 88 guards,” Phuket Lifeguard Club President Prathaiyut... 

 

 

V/Gov Chamroen pushes for funds for Karon wastewater

PHUKET: Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada vowed yesterday to push for funds to expand Karon’s water treatment facilities as soon as possible.The vice governor spoke as he inspected the recent efforts of Karon municipality to prevent untreated wastewater in the Nong Han canal from spilling over onto the town’s popular tourist beach as it has already three times this year, most recently about a month ago...

Aussie lifeguards help bring man back to life

PHUKET: After 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and six injections of adrenaline, Mike Reynolds’ heart started to beat again. His 18-year-old daughter, Kristi, rushed into the emergency room as the two holidaying Australian lifeguards that had saved him from a drowning-induced heart attack while on a trip to Phi Phi Island waited outside.Also standing outside the...

Video Report: ‘Smart Province’ project will bring free WiFi to Phuket

PHUKET: Phuket is slated to have free WiFi throughout the island as part of it becoming Thailand’s next “Smart Province”.“Access to free WiFi is one of the many benefits of the technology we are using to connect the nation,” said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) Surachai Srisarcam.“Through our ‘Smart Country’ project, local government offices...

Phuket lifeguards put lives first, agree to PPAO conditions

PHUKET: Lifeguards are set to return to Phuket beaches on May 21 as the lifeguard club gave up its demands for an increased budget at a meeting with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) this morning.“The conditions they offered us today were the same: 22 million baht to pay for our expenses and an increased salary for 88 guards,” Phuket Lifeguard Club President Prathaiyut Chuayuan told the Phuket...

V/Gov Chamroen pushes for funds for Karon wastewater

PHUKET: Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada vowed yesterday to push for funds to expand Karon’s water treatment facilities as soon as possible.The vice governor spoke as he inspected the recent efforts of Karon municipality to prevent untreated wastewater in the Nong Han canal from spilling over onto the town’s popular tourist beach as it has already three times this year, most recently about a...

 

 

Don’t pay money under the table, fight it in court – says Employment chief

PHUKET: All foreigners who believe that they have been wrongfully arrested for breaching the conditions of their work permit must fight for their rights, said the chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO).“If the police insist on arresting you, let them do it. If they threaten to detain you, let them. You have the right to deny the...

 

 

  

Snatchers snitch on sex drug seller

PHUKET: Using a tip-off from recently arrested bag-snatchers, police raided a Phuket pharmacy on Tuesday evening, seizing more than 10,000 pills of drugs being sold illicitly.Among the pills were sex aids, antidepressants, steroids and the notorious "date rape" drug Rohypnol.“Four bag-snatchers told us they planned to buy Zolam at a pharmacy in Patong,” said Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Khunnadet...

 

 

Fast and Furious: Patong joy ride in boss’ car ends in crash

PHUKET: A drunk driver injured a Phuket motorcyclist early yesterday morning during a high-speed joy ride in his boss’ Toyota Fortuner; the ride ended abruptly when he slammed the SUV into a utility pole. “At about 6:40am we were notified that a driver in a Toyota Fortuner had knocked a man off his motorcycle and crashed into a...

Phuket News

Phuket park chief resigns over encroachment pressure

PHUKET: Park Chief Cheewapap Cheewatham has surrendered his fight to save Sirinath National Park from land encroachment and resigned from his position amid allegations of a 30-million-baht bribe to sign over protected land.After almost two years of service, Mr Cheewapap could no longer handle the pressure of the job and the powerful businessmen he pursued on land...

Police face corruption probe for letting Aussie gunmen free

PHUKET: The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) will investigate the Patong Police officers who failed to provide enough evidence to charge two Australians with attempted murder after the pair opened fire on a busy street in Patong last year.The Australians, tattoo parlor owners John Cohen, 32, and Adam Shea, 26, injured two German tourists while trying to gun down alleged Danish mafioso Dennis Mark...

Russian escapes serious injury in drunken motorbike crash

PHUKET: A Russian woman escaped serious injury yesterday morning when she crashed a motorbike into a power pole while not wearing a helmet and under the influence of alcohol.Rescue workers were called to the scene, on Thepkrasattri Road, at about 9am.“Rescue workers administered first aid at the scene before transporting the woman to Wachira Phuket Hospital,” said Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the...

Phuket News

Video Report: Phuket police extortion charges true, PACC says

PHUKET: The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has proposed that two Chalong Police officers be charged for the extortion of members of the dive community following the conclusion of their investigation in Phuket (story here).“We have collected enough evidence to prove that the allegations of extortion filed by 41 members of the Phuket dive industry are true,” said PACC Secretary-General...

Phuket police recover 100,000 baht of sea fan jewelry

PHUKET: A man smuggling sea fan jewelry into Phuket was arrested at Phuket’s main bus station yesterday afternoon.Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended Sarayut Maneerat, 39, at about 1pm, when he got off a bus from Krabi.Officers found 111 pieces of jewelry made from sea fans, a protected marine animal, in his backpack.The items included 102 bracelets, three necklaces, four rings and two...

Visa crackdown risks stranding Phuket expats in Myanmar

PHUKET: Officials at Ranong Immigration today confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that they are turning away any foreigners attempting to enter Thailand after using three consecutive “walk-in” visas.The news follows reports of immigration officers allegedly stopping Phuket expats on visa runs to Ranong from exiting the country. Ranong, nearly 400km north of Phuket, has for decades been a prime...

Wanted Phuket woman arrested for stealing 52 cars

PHUKET: A woman wanted for car theft since 2012, with outstanding arrest warrants in every district of Phuket, was arrested yesterday in Cherng Talay after being recognized by police."Sukanya Chanthanarak, 40, had five arrest warrants in Cherng Talay alone. Her face was familiar to area police," said Lt Col Sommai Onkham of the Cherng Talay Police. Ms Sukanya rented cars from rental agencies and never...