Masseuse Set On Fire On Patong Beach

[george]

Masseuse set on fire on Patong Beach

PATONG: -- After yelling at a Patong Beach masseuse about her crying daughter, a man doused the woman with paint thinner and set her alight about midday on Tuesday.

As the girl’s parents ran to their daughter’s aid, outraged witnesses pounced on the man and beat him.

The mother is now in hospital, critically injured with first-degree burns. Her attacker, a drug addict, will be sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation, police say.

Kathu Police Duty Inspector Pol Lt Col Sophon Borrirak confirmed that the attack was carried out by Sombun Kaewkhaaw, 43, from Tambon Paknam in Chumphon’s Muang District.

Sombun is apparently well-known in the Loma Park area of Patong Beach, where he has been seen spending much of his time huffing paint thinner, bothering beach vendors and harassing foreign tourists. However, he had never before been implicated in a violent crime.

Speaking yesterday afternoon at Vachira Phuket Hospital, where her daughter Somjai, 21, is being treated for burns to 30% of her body, 49-year-old Pennee Phromdaen told the Gazette that on Tuesday her family was working as usual at Patong Beach.

K. Pennee went to escort K. Somjai’s two-year-old daughter, Sairung “Ice” Parnsang, to buy iced coffee from a nearby vendor while Somjai and her father stayed behind under the shade of an awning where they work massaging foreign tourists. While walking back to the awning, the little girl became fussy, demanding to be carried.

As her hands were already full with a bowl of noodles, K. Pennee could not carry the child. Instead, she walked back to the awning, less than 10 meters away, to ask K. Somjai to help carry back the crying child. Left along, the girl started screaming. Her crying apparently agitated Sombun, who was in the area and in possession of two green green tea bottles full of paint thinner.

When K. Somjai went to retrieve her child, Sombun started ranting at her. Witnesses later said the man was incomprehensible. K. Somjai carried the child back to the awning before returning to argue with Sombun.

As they argued, Sombun pulled out a bottle of thinner, doused the K. Somjai’s shirt with it and set her alight with a cigarette lighter. As flames engulfed her body and she fell to the ground, Sombun picked up a metal tent stake and was about to hit her with it, but then he turned and ran away, she said.

K. Pennee and her husband ran to help their daughter. They pulled off her burning shirt, but her bra continued to burn. The flames were eventually doused with water, but not after Somjai had sustained serious burns over most of the front of her upper body. The flames also burned off much of her hair and left her unconscious.

Somjai was rushed by beach guards to Patong Hospital, where she received emergency treatment. She was later transferred to Phuket International Hospital and again, for financial reasons, to Vachira Phuket Hospital. Doctors there estimate it will be at least a month before she can be released.

Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has promised financial help for the cost of her daughter’s treatment, K. Pennee told the Gazette.

Holding the hand of her daughter, whose entire upper body is covered in bandages, K. Pennee told the Gazette she wants government officers to help look after the public by not allowing obviously disturbed people to threaten society.

She described her daughter, who remains unable to speak, as a friendly, hardworking girl who had followed in her own footsteps by becoming a beach masseuse. Somjai is married to a man from Trang, the child’s father, and the whole family live together in a home in Chalong Village 10, she said.

The beating administered to Sombun left him with a broken nose and covered with bruises. There were no reports of arrests relating to the beating of Sombun, the Gazette notes.

During questioning, Sombun told police that he had once been employed as a teacher at Bang Neaw School, a government primary school in Phuket City, and had also once held the rank of sergeant in the Thai Army, assigned to a special forces unit.

The contradictory and confused nature with which he answered questions, and the fact that he had no evidence to back up what he said, left police skeptical of anything he said, Col Sophon said.

Sombun will be sent to Suan Saranrom Hospital in Surat Thani, where his mental condition will be assessed. Sombun will be charged if deemed sane, he added.

-- Phuket Gazette 2007-02-16

[zhudi]

what a nutcase he cant be sane...even if hes deemed insane he should be put away for a few years all the same. Cant have nutters like that walking the streets

[sbk]

Suan Saranrom is a psychiatric hospital.

[Ulysses G.]

This piece of human garbage should be put down like the mad dog that he is!

[sonthaya]

This piece of human garbage should be put down like the mad dog that he is!

You are so right, we don't need his kind walking around, what would his next act be.

[womble]

Suan Saranrom is a psychiatric hospital.

Indeed it is.........

I wonder what such a place is like in Thailand knowing how the average Thai really does not understand mental illness, and certainly has no compassion for those that suffer with it, by the way I am not saying this guy deserves any compassion, far from it.......

I just wish to imagine what kind of Orwellian nightmare could be inside such a place in a country such as Thailand.

Has anyone ever been there, does anyone actually know what it is like?

I bet it's like a victorian madhouse.

Edited February 16, 2007 by womble

[britmaveric]

Thats horrid. Anyone who can set some alight like that is evil.

[ColPyat]

I just wish to imagine what kind of Orwellian nightmare could be inside such a place in a country such as Thailand.

Has anyone ever been there, does anyone actually know what it is like?

I bet it's like a victorian madhouse.

I have only seen the Somdej Chao Paya mental hospital here in Bangkok from the inside. I was very impressed by the competence of the doctors, and the good standard of the facilities.

[leisurely]

That is one of the most horrible things I have read on these boards. is there a fund for the tragic woman's health care? I would be willing to send a thousand or so.

[Ulysses G.]

I just wish to imagine what kind of Orwellian nightmare could be inside such a place in a country such as Thailand.

Has anyone ever been there, does anyone actually know what it is like?

I bet it's like a victorian madhouse.

The one in Chiang Mai is supposed to be very nice - as far as such places can be.

[camerata]

I have only seen the Somdej Chao Paya mental hospital here in Bangkok from the inside. I was very impressed by the competence of the doctors, and the good standard of the facilities.

Agreed. I visited several times in the 70s and it seemed fine to me.

[SeanBangkok]

i have seen quite a few homeless people who do not look mentally fit in bangkok, hopefully government does something about this issue.

[drummer]

Happens all the time in India. A woman who's dowry is deemed insufficient can be burned to death by her husband. Its illegal now, but it still happens regularly. Women have been known to pour the gasoline themselves. Some men are known to have killed several wives this way. Jring si!

Now THAT is crazy.

[ColPyat]

Happens all the time in India. A woman who's dowry is deemed insufficient can be burned to death by her husband. Its illegal now, but it still happens regularly. Women have been known to pour the gasoline themselves. Some men are known to have killed several wives this way. Jring si!

Now THAT is crazy.

And throwing acid is also in fashion in Cambodia. Anybody remember the case where the famous actrress was drowsed in acid?

[StateSix]

Thats horrid. Anyone who can set some alight like that is evil.

Or mentally ill and in need of help.

[bkkmadness]

This piece of human garbage should be put down like the mad dog that he is!

You are so right, we don't need his kind walking around, what would his next act be.

Absolutely right, I agree with both of you. If we find out he is mentally sick we should lobby to have him killed, perhaps injection, perhaps iron bars. Pity we can't get them at birth.........

[StateSix]

This piece of human garbage should be put down like the mad dog that he is!

You are so right, we don't need his kind walking around, what would his next act be.

Absolutely right, I agree with both of you. If we find out he is mentally sick we should lobby to have him killed, perhaps injection, perhaps iron bars. Pity we can't get them at birth.........

Nice one bkkmadness . Maybe they could burn him to death. An eye for an eye and all that!!! Putting him in a psychiatric hospital where he can receive treatment for his illness is just a sign of politically correct weakness. Much better to kill him

Its good to know that compassion for those with mental illnesses is alive and well on ThaiVisa.

[Nikkijah]

Holding the hand of her daughter, whose entire upper body is covered in bandages, K. Pennee told the Gazette she wants government officers to help look after the public by not allowing obviously disturbed people to threaten society.

i have seen quite a few homeless people who do not look mentally fit in bangkok, hopefully government does something about this issue.

Whilst we would all want undesirables off the streets for good we still have to be careful of what actions the government take with regards to civil liberties, as someone suggested, government institutions such as the Suan Saranrom psychiatric hospital or the eventual destination of this guy in particular could be pretty Orwellian and I can quite easily see a lot of innocent people getting caught up in a 'clean up' campaign or similar...

Nikkijah

[John K]

Does anyone know the status of this woman? What is going on with the person who assaulted her? This is such a tragic story that evolves around mental health. I hope the Thais will stop denying mental health problems exist so as not to make someone lose face.

[ColPyat]

Does anyone know the status of this woman? What is going on with the person who assaulted her? This is such a tragic story that evolves around mental health. I hope the Thais will stop denying mental health problems exist so as not to make someone lose face.

Where do "the Thais" deny that mental health problems exist?

Thailand has many very good hospitals specialized in this, such as the Somdej Chao Praya hospital. There are many articles in the papers and TV documentaries on problems in mental health here. Things might not be up to par with developed countries, but Thailand is not a developed country.

[John K]

Does anyone know the status of this woman? What is going on with the person who assaulted her? This is such a tragic story that evolves around mental health. I hope the Thais will stop denying mental health problems exist so as not to make someone lose face.

Where do "the Thais" deny that mental health problems exist?

Thailand has many very good hospitals specialized in this, such as the Somdej Chao Praya hospital. There are many articles in the papers and TV documentaries on problems in mental health here. Things might not be up to par with developed countries, but Thailand is not a developed country.

Well lets see for starters, in schools where properly trained non Thai teachers pick right up on leaning disabilities such as ADD but the Thais refuse to let them be tested to verify there is a problem. The list starts there and runs very far so don’t even bother trying to challenge it because you can look it up if you want. So do you know about the burned woman or not?

[khall64au]

This piece of human garbage should be put down like the mad dog that he is!

You are so right, we don't need his kind walking around, what would his next act be.

Absolutely right, I agree with both of you. If we find out he is mentally sick we should lobby to have him killed, perhaps injection, perhaps iron bars. Pity we can't get them at birth.........

Nice one bkkmadness . Maybe they could burn him to death. An eye for an eye and all that!!! Putting him in a psychiatric hospital where he can receive treatment for his illness is just a sign of politically correct weakness. Much better to kill him

Its good to know that compassion for those with mental illnesses is alive and well on ThaiVisa.

What is the difference between a "mentally ill" man who sets fire to a Thai woman and a tuk-tuk driver who stabs or beats a foreigner with intent to maim or kill?

[Jamie]

what a nutcase he cant be sane...even if hes deemed insane he should be put away for a few years all the same. Cant have nutters like that walking the streets

Put away for a few years? He ought to be done in the same way he hurt that poor girl. Only forget about dousing the flames.

[khall64au]

Saijai Aid’ launched to aid burn victim

PHUKET: People wanting to make direct donations to aid the recovery of burn victim Saijai Phromdaen, who was set on fire by an itinerant glue addict at Patong Beach on February 13, can now do so via the Internet or by visiting Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Dr Jerry Hoss, who is organizing the aid drive, told the Gazette that K. Saijai is just beginning to be able to speak again and that all the bandages have been removed from her face, which her two-year-old daughter Sairung remains too afraid to look at.

K. Saijai is beginning skin graft surgery at the hospital, expenses for which will be covered by her state medical insurance, he said.

“K. Saijai will be in the hospital for a whole month and the family has no income right now, as mother and daughter cannot work. Only her father is now working the beach as a vendor.

“K. Saijai had recently bought a new moped and needs to make payments of 3,000 baht every month to keep it. Her family owns a small house in Chalong which is all paid for, but utilities, food and water need to be paid for,” said Dr Hoss.

“I offered 4,000 baht to cover their immediate needs. K. Saijai’s mother K. Pennee hesitantly accepted it, [but she would only accept it] not as a gift but [instead as] an advance on future massage services,” he said.

Dr Hoss, a German who holds a PhD in linguistics and grew up as an orphan in post-WWII Germany, said told the Gazette he became interested in K. Saijai’s plight because he is interested in Thai traditional massage and also because “I know how it feels when nobody gives a ######, and I take an interest in the working poor.”

People wanting to make a donation can do so by visiting the information window near Room 3 on the ground floor of Vachira Phuket Hospital, where K. Saijai is staying while she undergoes her skin graft surgery.

People overseas or out of town can send any amount of money securely and discreetly to:

[email protected] via http://www.moneybookers.com/app/?rid=2206130

Donations can be by credit/debit card, bank transfer, cash deposit and even mobile phone.

Moneybookers, similar to PayPal, operates worldwide, though with minimal fees. As Saijai’s family have no bank account, Dr Hoss will withdraw the money through his own ATM account, paying the associated fees.

“I know ‘do-gooders’ are suspicious, especially with all the tsunami donations disappearing into black holes, but trust me: this is not another “sick buffalo” story… If I abscond even with one baht of the donation money, you’re welcome to send a goon squad to smash my knees,” he said.

Every person who sends 400 baht (about US$12) is eligible for a four-handed, one-hour Thai massage on Patong Beach as soon as K. Saijai has recovered, he added.

“My plan is to move K. Saijai into an air-conditioned, serviced apartment with maid when she’s released from the hospital. This will cost 15,000 baht a month until the high season ends on April 1, and 10, 000 baht a month thereafter. Hopefully we’ll get the funds together,” he said.

Brought to you by:

The Phuket Gazette

14:34 local time (GMT +7)

[The Skipper]

"Sombun is apparently well-known in the Loma Park area of Patong Beach, where he has been seen spending much of his time huffing paint thinner, bothering beach vendors and harassing foreign tourists."

If he was so well known, why was he allowed to continue?

Harassing people on the main beach in Thailands famous international resort. Somthings wrong.

[endure]

This piece of human garbage should be put down like the mad dog that he is!

You are so right, we don't need his kind walking around, what would his next act be.

Absolutely right, I agree with both of you. If we find out he is mentally sick we should lobby to have him killed, perhaps injection, perhaps iron bars. Pity we can't get them at birth.........

Nice one bkkmadness . Maybe they could burn him to death. An eye for an eye and all that!!! Putting him in a psychiatric hospital where he can receive treatment for his illness is just a sign of politically correct weakness. Much better to kill him

Its good to know that compassion for those with mental illnesses is alive and well on ThaiVisa.

What is the difference between a "mentally ill" man who sets fire to a Thai woman and a tuk-tuk driver who stabs or beats a foreigner with intent to maim or kill?

Intent? Mental clarity?

[ColPyat]

Well lets see for starters, in schools where properly trained non Thai teachers pick right up on leaning disabilities such as ADD but the Thais refuse to let them be tested to verify there is a problem. The list starts there and runs very far so don’t even bother trying to challenge it because you can look it up if you want. So do you know about the burned woman or not?

Then the several Thai children i know who have been recognized and tested for ADD in Thailand, and are treated, are just a product of my imagination?

Only one problem i see is that many Thai doctors are still using Ritalin treatment.

Next example please?

And back to the topic, quoting from the original article, which you obviously have not read, and makes rather clear that "the Thais" recognize mental illness:

"Her attacker, a drug addict, will be sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation, police say."

[toptuan]

Absolutely right, I agree with both of you. If we find out he is mentally sick we should lobby to have him killed, perhaps injection, perhaps iron bars. Pity we can't get them at birth.........

Wow, exact same philosophy of the 1930's Nazi doctors in Germany!

Cold.

I doubt the poster has had a any contact with a mentally ill relative or friend.

[ColPyat]

What is the difference between a "mentally ill" man who sets fire to a Thai woman and a tuk-tuk driver who stabs or beats a foreigner with intent to maim or kill?

That difference is for the specialists to evaluate in a proper facility. The difference is that a person suffering from a mental illness is not, or only partly responsible for his actions, and has to be therefore treated and locked away in a mental facility, while someone deemed sane has to be judged by a court of law, and is, if found guilty, to be locked away in a prison.

[ColPyat]

Absolutely right, I agree with both of you. If we find out he is mentally sick we should lobby to have him killed, perhaps injection, perhaps iron bars. Pity we can't get them at birth.........

Wow, exact same philosophy of the 1930's Nazi doctors in Germany!

Cold.

I doubt the poster has had a any contact with a mentally ill relative or friend.

Ideas out of the pseudo science of "eugenics" are unfortunately well alive here, as can be seen in almost any thread with topics such as this, or the southern conflict.

Rather disgusting proposals.