libya 115

I really hope all this will not spread to Suvarnabhumi airport, as I am coming back to Thailand on the 4th of this month

Unless Samak resigns, then I fully expect Suvarnabhumi Airport will be infiltrated by well-organised protesters causing its immediate closure for security reasons.

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 30th 2008

Man falls asleep at the wheel and collides with truck in Sriracha.

We now report on a serious road accident which occurred on the Sukumvit Road in front of the Robinsons Store in Sriracha District, located 30kms outside of Pattaya.

Local Police and rescue units were called to the location in the early hours of Saturday Morning to deal with the car versus 10-wheel truck crash. The driver of the car, a Black Toyota saloon, Khun Asawin aged 23, was trapped inside the car and it took rescuers 20 minutes to extricate him from the car. He sustained multiple injuries but is expected to recover.

He was able to explain to Police that he simply fell asleep at the wheel and when he woke up, he found himself trapped in the car, following a collision with the ice truck. No one else was injured in the crash and Police are expected to file charges against Khun Asawin, who is expected to fully recover from his injuries, in due course.

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: August 30th 2008

SEARCHERS TAKE 5 HOURS TO FIND BODY OF DROWNED MAN

At 15.00, on August 29th, 2008, Pol.Lt.Col Rerngwit Rakchart, Pattaya investigator, was informed by Koh Larn police (Coral Island), Pattaya, that a tourist was drowned in the sea on Hard Tawaen, Moo 7, Naklua, Banglamung, Pattaya. Police team and Sawang Boriboon rushed to the incident.

Police found the deceased body of Mr. Lam Cai Keong (24), Chinese man from Macau, lying dead on the beach, among tourist and many people watching. He wore shorts and white T-shirt, dribbled from the mouth and stiffed body. Police Presumed, he had been dead for about 3 hours. Miss Cheang Kam Leng (20), his Chinese girlfriend, was pitifully crying by the side of the body.

A tour guide, Mr. Panu Ruensakol, (47), told police that Mr. Keong and the group of 19 Chinese tourists, had come to Pattaya since August 26th, staying at All Seasons hotel, Central Pattaya and scheduled to leave on August 31st.

The group had been taken, for a day tour to Hard Tawaen on Koh Larn. While they were enjoying their swimming and relaxing on the beach, at 14.00 Miss Leng was alarmed, rushed to report to Mr. Panu , the tour guide, that her boyfriend (Mr. Keong), had been disappeared since 11.00, while she was sleeping on the deckchair on the beach.

After the sea rescue was notified and started searching for 5 hours, Mr. Keong deceased body was found under the sea around swimming area Zone 1. The body was taken up to the shore and police was reported.

Police assumed that while Miss Leng was sleeping on the beach, Mr. Keong had been into the sea and had a cramp then drowned. However, the body would be sent to forensic laboratory to find the cause of death and the Embassy would be informed.

SOURCE: Pattaya People: August 29th 2008

Masseur Burgled Whilst Working

Police were called to a room in Soi Nok Koa, in Central Pattaya on the morning of the 29th August to investigate a robbery.

There they found 33 year old Mrs Wassana who lived in the room, who told police that she had just returned from work to find the room had been ransacked.

Money, gold and a DVD player were stolen.

A neighbour witnessed two teenagers coming out of the room and when he confronted them they fled from the scene.

A report was made and an investigation is under way.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya People

Miss Wassana: loses cash, gold and electronic equipment

SOURCE: Pattaya People: August 29th 2008

Night of the Long Knife

Two young men were brought into Pattaya Police station on the morning of the 29th August concerning an attack on one of them by the other with a long knife.

28 year old Prasert who had already been treated for a ear wound claimed that 21 year old Teerasak came at him with a Japanese style long knife that morning whilst he was in a karaoke bar.

Apparently, the tiff was over a girl that they both were involved with and of course men will be men so Teerasak stabbed his rival in love.

Teerasak was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and detained at the station for further questioning.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya People

The ready-made sandwiches at Friendship Supermarket (South Pattaya Road) are good. They can be found in the fresh bread section.

I would not carry my original passport in Thailand. It is not necessary. I carry a colour copy of the ID page and the current entry stamp and visa.

I've never been asked for it by the police in Thailand in eight years.

If the police ever suggested that the colour copy was not good enough, I would dig my heels in and ask to see senior police. They don't deserve 500 or 1000 baht of my money if I have gone to the trouble of having a colour copy on me.

If anyone reading this travels to Japan, then always have your original passport on you. Japanese police can just bang you up indefinitely for not carrying it.

SOURCE: Pattaya Mail: August 29th 2008 Edition

FROM: MAILBAG

Scams in Pattaya

Dear Sir,

I have been coming to Thailand for 15 years now and I have never seen crime in Pattaya so bad. Something has to be done quick. No wonder tourists are keeping away.

I have only just returned home this last week, I love Pattaya and Thailand and I am not knocking the people or country but the number of times I was stopped by these people on motorbikes asking if you speak English has gone worse.

All they are after is your gold chain or some other scam.

I just won’t go into Pattaya at night now. I am afraid; it’s the first time I can say I am very wary indeed.

Come on police and government of Pattaya, get it sorted before you lose it.

John Davis

England

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 29th 2008

Four arrested following Motorbike theft ring investigation by Banglamung Police.

On Friday Morning in the grounds of Banglamung Police Station, Police Colonel Sarayut, the Chief of Banglamung Police hosted a press conference to announce the arrest of four men accused of being involved in a motorbike theft ring in the area using young men aged only 16 who would steal the bikes and deliver them to the two arrestees who would then sell the bikes for between 1,800 and 2,000 Baht.

Khun Wirachai aged 42 who was present at the press conference comes from Sriracha District and is accused of receiving the stolen motorbikes.

The other man present, Khun Nak aged 27 is a motorbike technician and is accused of receiving some of the stolen motorbikes which he would then dismantle and sell the individual parts. Two males aged 16, accused of stealing the bikes have already been sent to the Young Offenders Institute in Sattahip.

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 29th 2008

Iranian dies following Scuba Diving Accident.

There was drama at the Bali Hai Port located at the south-end of Pattaya Beach on Friday when an Iranian Tourist was transported from Larn Island in a critical condition following a Scuba Diving accident in the waters off nearby Sark Island.

Mr. Ali aged 30 was part of a 5 man expedition and is thought to have suffered from Decompression Sickness also known as “The Bends” after a rapid ascent to the surface following a dive.

CPR was administered by Dive Masters at the scene and Mr. Ali was rushed to Hospital, however despite the best efforts of the Dive Masters and Medical Staff, Mr. Ali could not be revived and was pronounced dead moments after arriving at Hospital.

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 28th 2008

Man stabbed following assault and robbery in South Pattaya.

Police and Rescue Workers made their way to the Baan Yai Laow Community in Soi Gopai, South Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday Morning to investigate reports of a Thai Man who had been stabbed. Rescue Workers attended to Khun Pirapong aged 42 who sustained one stab wound to his right hip.

He was not badly hurt and was able to explain to Police that he was driving his motorbike back home when he realized that two men were following him on a further bike. The two men forced Khun Pirapong to pull over and he was stabbed and pushed to the floor.

The two men proceeded to steal personal items including some cash from the victim as he lay on the road. Descriptions of the two men were circulated amongst police patrols who were not able to locate the two suspects who remain at large at this time.

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 28th 2008

One of two men caught following Soi Boekeow Bag Snatch.

In the early hours of Thursday Morning, Police were notified of a bag snatch which had just taken place in Soi Beokeow. Police soon arrived at the scene and spoke with the victim, Khun Rattana aged 23, a hotel worker who was returning back to her home on her motorbike when two men on a further bike approached her and grabbed her bag which was placed inside the front basket on the bike.

Detailed descriptions of the two men and their motorbike were distributed amongst police patrols and it was only a short while until they were located on the Sukumvit Road in South Pattaya.

Unfortunately onE of the men managed to escape. The captured suspect, Khun Anaerg aged 19 confessed to his part in the theft and luckily the bag of the victim was in his possession and later returned to the victim. The search for the second suspect is taking place at this time.

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: August 28th 2008

2 DRUNKEN MEN SURVIVE A HEAVY CRASH

Two heavily drunken men were in a car driving home. The drunk driver had dozed off and crashed into a palm tree to cause the car turned over and totally ruined. Fortunately, two men survived and sustained only minor injury.

At 04.00, on August 27th, 2008, Sawang Rojanathamasatien rescue, Sattahip, notified to Pol.Lt.Col.Padungsak Sue-kamnurd, Sattahip investigator, Chonburi, that a bronze Toyota Altis, license No. 6180, Rayong, had crashed into a palm tree in the middle of the road. The incident occurred on Sukhumvit road, 161th kilometer, Pattaya – Sattahip, 100 meters away from the entrance of Wat Yarnasangwararam, Na-jomtien, Sattahip, and there were 2 injuries. After being noticed, Police investigator and rescue team with the ambulance rushed to the incident.

At the scene, the car was in the over turned position and seriously ruined. The front wheel and shockproof were unattached to the car. A street electric pole was also damaged. The witnesses had helped the victims out of the car safely. They were Mr. Witoon Charee-gaew (29), the driver, from Ubonrachathani and Mr. Somsak Asawaboonmee (25), both were in very intoxicated state, but fortunately had sustained only minor injury. Rescue team gave them the first aid and took them to Somdet Pranangjao Sirikit, Navy hospital.

The witness, Mr. Lak Arn-rien (25), from Sattahip, said that while he was driving a car, heading to Sattahip, there was a car in front of him, staggeringly driven, and had lost control going into the waterway in the middle of the road. The car had hit an electric pole and heavily crashed into a palm tree to cause the car over turned. Mr. Lak had stopped his car and asked the bystanders to help taking 2 injuries out of the car safely.

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: August 28th 2008

MAJOR DRUGS DEALER HANGS HIMSELF IN PRIVATE CELL

At 04.00, on August 27th, 2008, Pol.Lt.Col.Winit Phan-argard, Chonburi, was notified by police sergeant that a suspect had hung himself in a prison cell. Pol.Col.Wanchai Akapornpitch, superintendent and Doctor Supot Puanglamyai, forensic laboratory, Chonburi hospital, inspected a deceased body of Mr. Manop Bpothong (44), a drugs dealer suspect from Bangkok, who had hung himself with his short sleeves shirt on the iron bar and found no foul play.

According to the investigation - On August 26th, 2008, Mr. Manop was arrested for drugs trafficking after Chonburi police had detected the information and pretended to buy the drugs from him, by making an appointment for the drugs delivery on the side of Bypass road, in front of PTT petrol station, Moo 2, Baan Nork Karng Kork, Baan Suan, Chonburi,

Mr. Manop came by a bronze Chevrolet car, license No. 5713, Bangkok, to deliver 20,500 Yah Bah tablets (amphetamine). As soon as police had identified to arrest, Mr. Manob was alarmed and immediately drove away, but police managed to follow and arrest him with the evidence and finally put him in jail.

Pol.Lt.Col.Chinchote Senajak, said that Mr. Manop was imprisoned in a private cell. Presumably, while the other prisoners were asleep, he took a chance to hang himself with his shirt, in order to escape from the quilt in selling more than 20,000 Yah Bah tablets. The details of the case would be clarified, and besides, there would be a committee to investigate related police officers, to complete the file of the case.

On the same day, Mr. Pracha Tae-rat, Chonburi Mayor, with Pol.Maj.Gen. Kosol Pua-wes, deputy commander in chief section 2, joined to publish the news of the arrest of 3 drugs dealers.One of them was Mr. Manop Bpothong (44), who had hung himself in a private cell of Chonburi jail at 4am. And other 2 suspects were Mr. Wattana Kongthaworn (53), Ex-frontier police from Lopburi province and Mr. Kamolthip Suwannirote (33), from Patumthani province.

Mr. Pracha Tae-rat, revealed that, earlier, police investigating team had detected of a major drugs dealer, selling Yah Bah to tourist, student and teenager in the area then planed to trap them by purchasing the drugs and managed to arrest Mr. Wattana with the evidence of 500 Yah Bah tablets.

Police had extended the case and managed to arrest Mr. Manob (who had hung himself in private cell) and Mr.Kamolthep with the evidence of 37,000 Yah Bah tablets, 2 cars, 4 mobile phones, 400,000 Baht cash and 4 bank books. Suspects confessed that they bought Yah Bah from Mr. Gee Plathong, who had already been arrested and put in a jail in Bangkok.

40,000 Baht per month as a minimum. But I found that the first few years I was spending double that on average; that being the 'Pattaya Factor'.

Booze is not particularly cheap in most places; but after a while you will find a few dozen bars that offer real value (for example selling big bottles).

Rent is anything from 2,000 baht per month excluding bills. But a half decent apartment will be 8,000 baht excluding bills UNFURNISHED.

Obviously furnished apartments start at 15,000 baht for anything decent.

Then there is electricity/water/telephone/internet/transportation.

You might want to think about health insurance if you plan on using motorbikes.

Food can be cheap if you cook your own, or eat at Thai eateries.

Then the rest is entertainment...............

Proceed with caution. Singapore airways never ask to see my debit card (that I booked online with) but Qatar Airways always do.

SOURCE: Pattaya People: August 27th 2008

Two Women Attacked at Gunpoint

Police were called out to a house in Nongprue area on the morning of the 27th August to investigate an armed robbery.

Outside their house, the 30 year old victims Miss Natchaporn and Miss Rinda told the officers that they were set upon by two men who robbed them of their bags at gunpoint.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya People

Victims of guncrime

SOURCE: Pattaya People: August 27th 2008

Tourists Accused of Hitting Officer

A group of foreigners were brought into Pattaya Police Station on the morning of the 27th August accused of starting a fight with a number of municipal officers in Walking Street.

One of the officers Mr. Chetta made a report against the tourists that they attacked him for no apparent reason whilst he was riding his bike along the famous street.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya People

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 27th 2008

One of two men caught following bag snatch in Soi Diana Inn.

On Wednesday Afternoon, Police Major Witaya from Pattaya Police Station held a press conference to announce the arrest of a suspected bag snatcher who was arrested following an incident which occurred in Soi Diana Inn, Central Pattaya.

The victim of the snatch, Khun Sompien aged 26 was present to identify one of two men who was arrested in North Pattaya after Police were notified of the theft and spotted the two suspected thieves on Pattaya Third Road. Khun Mana aged 19 confessed to his part in the robbery and explained that he was unemployed and lives a life of crime because he was unable to get a job.

The other suspect who managed to escape is Khun Boonrat aged 21 who is now the subject of an arrest warrant in connection with the case. The shoulder bag of Khun Sompien was recovered and all items contained within it were returned to their rightful owner. Khun Mana was charged with theft and is now awaiting a court appearance.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya One News

Khun Sompien fingers the thief

A lot depends on 'who' you are.

If you are from a rich and influential family who are well connected with the legal and police system; money can get you out of jail fast. Before anyone moans about this, it works for farang as well. If you have enough money here in Thailand then it is possible 'To get away with murder'. There have been news reports on this forum about such cases.

Crime against farang are higher profile and rape and murder will attract a sentence of many years for a 'poor' Thai man/woman. Also drug offences, even some small crimes involving just a few pills will bring a lengthy sentence for a 'poor' Thai man/woman especially with previous form.

Stabbings are often domestic disputes, so carry hopelessly inadequate sentences, maybe just a small fine, and events recorded.

Again, shootings are often either gang-related or mafia-related. The Thai system mentality is for them just to wipe themselves out.

Often a minor crime might have catastrophic consequences, a handbag theft/necklace snatch might lead to a serious RTA. In these cases the sentence is often inadequate.

To receive justice here in Thailand one also needs money and connections.

These are just my observations and facts that I have learned from talking about crime in Pattaya with law enforcement officers. Feedback is welcome.

I very much doubt that your ATM experience with a KTB machine was where your card was copied.

Your card has probably been copied by another machine, or maybe your card details have been logged on the internet and stolen so someone is using your card for goods in China.

Contact your bank, cancel that card and ask for another sent FEDEX.

SOURCE: Pattaya People: August 26th 2008

Girl Hurt in Botched Bag Snatch

Police and Sawang Boriboon Rescue Team were called out to Pattaya Naklua Road on the morning of the 26th August to investigate an attempted robbery and accident.

There at the scene they found 30 year old Mrs Wannapa Yingkid on the ground after falling from her motorcycle after a snatch and grab incident.

Witnesses stated that they saw the woman riding along when a motorbike came up beside her and as the teenage passenger attempted to grab her bag, she lost control of the bike and went crashing into the back of a parked car.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya People

A seriously injured Mrs Wannapa Yingkid

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 26th 2008

2 Million Baht ATM Thief caught in Pattaya.

On 15th August a theft from an ATM Machine was reported by staff working for the Krung Thai Bank located in Pisanulok Province in the North of Thailand.

The man accussed of stealing the cash from the machine was a technician employed by the Bank to service and stock ATM machines with money. On 15th August, he allegedly removed the cash container of an ATM Machine located at the Patoong Tong Department Store in Pisanulok City.

Local Police were called in and managed to track the suspect, Khun Kanin aged 25 to Pattaya. An Arrest Warrant was issued for the man who was known to be residing at the Jomtien Chalets on Jomtien Beach. Inside the room, Police found a cash container and 1,015,000 Baht which is a portion of the 2,258,000 Baht he is alleged to have taken from the ATM Machine.

Pattaya Police later transferred the suspect to Pisanulok Police.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya One News

Wonga

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 26th 2008

Man arrested following attempted theft with fake gun.

Police were called to Soi Dudee in Central Pattaya on Monday Evening following reports of an attempted armed robbery. Police arrived and arrested the suspected armed thief, Khun Soontorn aged 29 who was found to be carrying a fake weapon.

The victim of the attempted theft, Khun Suwansar aged 18, explained that she was approaching her house which is located further up the Soi when the man walked up behind her and pointed the fake weapon at her head. He demanded that she hand over her valuables.

She screamed for help and the suspect attempted to escape. He was apprehended by residents and the Police were called. Khun Soontorn confessed to the attempted theft and was taken to Pattaya Police Station and charged with theft and other offences relating to the use of the fake weapon during the robbery. He will appear in court later this week.

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: August 26th 2008

Heartbroken woman threatens to jump from 6th floor condo.

On Monday Afternoon, Police were called to the Gow Garat Condo located in Soi Arunothai, Central Pattaya following reports of a woman who was threatening to jump off a 6th floor balcony. Arriving at the scene, Police began dialogue with the distressed woman, later named as, Khun Far aged 25.

She explained to Officers that her Thai Boyfriend had left her and she wanted to die.

Eventually the woman was persuaded to come away from the edge and allowed Officers to enter her room. She was clearly in a drunken state and explained that the room belonged to her Boyfriend and earlier in the day, the pair had argued and Khun Far was told to leave the room and take her belongings with her.

Her Boyfriend, Khun Mai, decided to leave the room for a time, to give Khun Far an opportunity to absorb the news. No further action was taken by the Police.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya One News

On the edge: Khun Far