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A surprising case of a mistaken money transfer has sparked a heated debate in Thailand, with a recipient proposing to repay just 10 to 20 baht per day. This incident has garnered significant public attention, including legal insights from a prominent lawyer.

The story initially broke on a Facebook page named "อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part 7" (I will make you famous), which featured a clip of a conversation between the victim and the inadvertent recipient. The victim accidentally transferred 6,000 baht to a woman in Kamphaeng Phet Province. Realising the mistake, the victim contacted the woman, who countered with an offer to repay the amount in small daily payments.

The victim recounted that after the erroneous transfer, they promptly reported the incident to Koh Hong Police Station in Hat Yai and notified Bangkok Bank in Songkhla. The bank then provided the phone number of the person who received the funds.

When contacted, the woman’s husband answered, saying his wife worked the night shift at a sugar factory. He suggested calling back after 8 pm to speak with her directly. However, subsequent attempts to reach both the woman and her husband proved futile. After several unresponsive calls, the victim’s partner finally spoke to the husband again, who claimed his wife was at the market and hung up abruptly.

Further interactions with the bank revealed that the woman had already withdrawn the mistakenly transferred money. Worried, the victim filed a police report and even traveled to Kamphaeng Phet to locate the woman, eventually contacting her mother.

In a face-to-face meeting facilitated by her mother, the woman declined to return the 6,000 baht upfront and instead proposed to repay in instalments of 10 or 20 baht per day. 

Legal expert Decha Kittiwittayanan weighed in on the issue via his Facebook page, stressing the legal consequences. He cited Section 352 of the Criminal Code, which mandates that anyone receiving money mistakenly must return it immediately.

Failure to do so qualifies as embezzlement, carrying a penalty of up to one year and six months in prison or a fine up to 30,000 baht, or both.

Decha called on the police to issue a summons for the suspect, underscoring the urgency for law enforcement to protect the public and uphold justice without delay.

Picture courtesy Sanook via ViralUnzip

-- 2024-05-25

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Thailand Faces Economic Question: China and EV Cars

A BYD Dolphin photographed in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China. Source: Wikipedia

Thailand’s weakening manufacturing base and plummeting competitiveness are key issues ahead of a showdown on Monday between Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his economic ministers. Indeed, hard questions must now be asked about core assumptions underpinning the country’s economic policies.

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1328122-thailand-faces-economic-question-china-and-ev-cars/

Thailand’s weakening manufacturing base and plummeting competitiveness are key issues ahead of a showdown on Monday between Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his economic ministers. Indeed, hard questions must now be asked about core assumptions underpinning the country’s economic policies.

Chief among them is the country’s trade and closer economic integration with China. Next, as if to highlight this, is the country’s gamble on EV car technology at the expense of its traditional automotive sector, which has been left reeling with plunging sales both at home and abroad. 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who has just returned from Japan, will convene a meeting at Government House to tackle the negative trends plaguing Thailand’s economy. The country’s manufacturing output has plummeted for six consecutive quarters, with factory utilisation now estimated at a mere 57%. Stimulus measures may be discussed, but experts argue that these are just short-term fixes, unable to address the deep-rooted structural issues.

Two glaring issues need to be addressed urgently: Thailand’s growing economic engagement with China and the rapid pivot to electric vehicle (EV) production. Since 2019, EV production has been championed as a cornerstone of Thailand’s plan to modernise its manufacturing base. However, sales trends in the last few months have questioned the viability of this strategy. In April, EV sales fell by 18.4% from March, showing no signs of recovery.

Moreover, the broader auto industry is in decline. Car production in Thailand decreased by 11% in April, with a 25% slump in output for the first four months of 2024 compared to the previous year. Tightening bank lending rules and a 21.49% drop in domestic car sales in April have exacerbated the situation. 

Thailand’s pivot to EV production was developed as a response to waning competitiveness and the need to align with global trade dynamics, particularly with China. However, this shift is fraught with risk. The traditional automotive industry, largely built by Japanese and Western investments, contributed significantly to Thailand’s GDP and created a robust parts manufacturing ecosystem.

Now, with Chinese-made EV cars potentially flooding the market due to Beijing's tax incentives, Thailand faces a dual challenge. Not only is the country’s traditional auto industry under threat, but the gamble on EV cars may not pay off as expected, given the falling sales and intensifying global trade wars. As Thailand increasingly faces economic headwinds, this week’s discussions may be critical in determining its economic future.

TOP: A BYD Dolphin photographed in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China. Source: Wikipedia

-- 2024-05-25

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Thailand’s government has announced plans to close cannabis shops and reclassify cannabis flowers and buds as Category 5 narcotics, responding to severe backlash from the medical community. 

The Minister of Public Health is introducing a more stringent regime for medical cannabis use, backed by medical professionals who have declared the previous liberalisation policy a disaster.

Hundreds of Thai doctors, including Smith Srisont, President of the Medical Association of Thailand, have criticised the former government’s handling of cannabis, citing an alarming rise in psychiatric cases linked to the drug’s recreational use.

The shift follows Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s order to reclassify cannabis as a scheduled narcotic. The policy has sparked strong opposition from the cannabis industry and advocates, but it enjoys the support of nearly 76% of Thais according to a recent NIDA poll.

Minister Somsak Thepsutin outlined plans for a permit system allowing the medical use of certain cannabis elements. This would offer a controlled framework for cannabis use, aiming to balance medical benefits with public health concerns.

The move to recriminalise cannabis marks a significant departure from last year’s decriminalisation, which saw thousands of cannabis shops proliferate across Thailand. Medical experts argue that the drug’s liberalisation led to unregulated usage that endangered public health, particularly mental health.

Critics of the 2022 liberalisation have been particularly vocal about the lack of legal framework and enforcement, which left authorities unable to regulate cannabis effectively. For example, enforcing road safety laws against drivers under the influence of cannabis became practically impossible.

Medical proponents maintain that cannabis can still be used for medical purposes under stringent regulation, addressing concerns raised by mental health experts about the drug’s adverse effects on young people and the broader population. 

As Thailand moves towards recriminalising cannabis, the government appears committed to a new, more controlled approach that safeguards public health while acknowledging the potential medical benefits of cannabis.

TOP: Smith Srisont, President of the Medical Association of Thailand. Picture courtesy: MEDI

-- 2024-05-25

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An eight-year-old boy has been rescued by the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, after his father allegedly subjected him to physical abuse to force him to convert from Buddhism to Islam. The father’s actions reportedly included regular beatings whenever the child refused to worship Allah.

This distressing situation came to light when the boy’s mother and grandmother approached Saimai Survive, armed with alarming video evidence of the abuse. The videos showed the boy carrying heavy objects like a basket and roll of metal wire over his head, performing strenuous activities such as repeatedly standing and sitting while holding these objects, painfully beyond his physical capacity.

The grandmother revealed to Saimai Survive and Channel 7 that the father had recently divorced the boy’s mother and started a new relationship with a Muslim woman, leading him to convert to Islam. Consequently, he began coercing his young son to follow the same faith, not through encouragement, but through disturbing physical punishments.

The boy was removed from his regular school and placed in an Islamic religious centre, intensifying his distress. When he couldn’t meet his father's religious expectations, he was subjected to further abuse. The grandmother, concerned for the child's well-being and freedom of choice, wanted him to return to a secular school where he could choose his own faith.

Acting swiftly on the provided evidence, Saimai Survive collaborated with the Nong Chok Police Station and the Bangkok Shelter for Children and Families to raid the father's home. The boy is now under protection, receiving the care and freedom he desperately needed.

Authorities are investigating the incident further, ensuring the boy’s father faces consequences for his actions. This case highlights the urgent need to protect children's rights and allow them the freedom to choose their beliefs without fear or coercion.

TOP Picture courtesy: trueresort

-- 2024-05-25

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Srettha certainly not out of wood yet

by Tulsathit Taptim

Although he can continue to function as prime minister, Srettha Thavisin still has to be afraid. Very afraid.

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1328115-srettha-certainly-not-out-of-wood-yet/

Although he can continue to function as prime minister, Srettha Thavisin still has to be afraid. Very afraid.

He is fighting the biggest battle of his life on two fronts _ legally and politically.

Legally, it’s super scary, but the Constitutional Court gave him 15 days to answer charges so this front can be finished early.

Politically, trouble may last longer, but it’s frightening all the same, and he will have to keep looking over his shoulder because he cannot trust anybody.

It’s extreme worrisome legally because most analysts have pointed out that the ministerial appointment of Phichit Chuenban is not the kind of “political conspiracy” case that can be interpreted either way.

This one has established court records and unambiguous constitutional wordings that Srettha has to fight against.

In addition, the prime minister’s attempts to seek top legal opinions before and after the appointment can go against him.

Some may think Srettha was just wanting to be 100% sure, but others will argue that it shows he clearly knew there were going to be problems yet he went for it.

This is by no means similar to Prayut Chan-o-cha’s “eight-year reign” controversy, which involved slipperier constitutional language and ideological conflicts.

Srettha’s defenders have to deal with undisputed court records and clear-cut constitutional restrictions on ethical and legal qualities of ministerial nominees.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling allowing him to continue serving as prime minister during what must be a horrifying waiting period does not guarantee the Prayut-style escape.

Srettha has to consider this uncomfortable fact: Although Phichit has resigned, the charter court went ahead and accepted the case against the prime minister anyway.

“It doesn’t matter if there is anyone behind the petition,” said former PM’s Office minister Suranand Vejjajiva, who is known to be close to Pheu Thai, during a TV programme after the court ruling.

by Tulsathit Taptim

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-05-25

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Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced today that she is not yet ready to assume the role of Prime Minister, as Thailand's current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is embroiled in a legal battle over an impeachment lawsuit. 

Paetongtarn, who is the daughter of Pheu Thai’s influential figure Thaksin Shinawatra, addressed reporters, stating that even if Srettha were to be impeached by the Constitutional Court or stepped down before any ruling, she would not step up to lead the government immediately.

Paetongtarn was one of three Pheu Thai candidates for prime minister in last year’s general election, the others being Pheu Thai MP Chaikasem Nitisiri and Srettha.

Expressing confidence in Srettha's situation, Paetongtarn believes he will be spared impeachment due to his recent cabinet decision. Last month, Srettha named Pichit Chuenban, previously a lawyer for Thaksin, as a minister without a portfolio. This move has been controversial and is at the heart of the impeachment efforts. 

A group of senators seeking Srettha's impeachment consider the appointment a serious breach of the constitution and political ethics. Srettha, a real estate tycoon turned politician, narrowly avoided an immediate suspension by the court, pending a ruling expected within the next few months.

The controversy surrounding Pichit dates back to 2008 when he faced charges of attempting to bribe Supreme Court officials with two million baht, placed in food bags, in a case involving Thaksin. The incident led to Pichit's six-month jail sentence and the revocation of his lawyer's license.

As this legal drama unfolds, Paetongtarn’s declaration adds another layer of uncertainty to Thailand’s political landscape, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the nation’s leadership. The country awaits further developments in Srettha’s case, which will undoubtedly shape the political direction in the coming months.

TOP: Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

-- 2024-05-25

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Patong – An intoxicated British motorbike rider was found with methamphetamine in Patong on Friday (May 24th).

The Patong Police told the Phuket Express that they had set up a checkpoint near the Dolphin Roundabout on the Taweewong Road in Patong. At 4:00 A.M. in the morning, an unidentified 34 year-old British man was stopped at the checkpoint.

He was found in possession of an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine. 

By Goongnang Suksawat

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2024-05-25

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