Dream Crushed: British Expats’ Thai Retirement Nightmare

 

British expat Martin Savage (centre) and his wife Sudarat (right) had hoped for a dream retirement in Thailand — but it soon became a nightmare.

 

PATTAYA - In a tale of shattered dreams and alleged corruption, British couple Martin Savage, 65, and his wife Sudarat, 66, found their idyllic Thai retirement ripped apart by a legal quagmire. What was meant to be a serene end to their working lives devolved into chaos, costing nearly everything they owned, including homes worth £1.5 million (approximately 67.5 million Thai baht).

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1370890-dream-crushed-british-expats’-thai-retirement-nightmare/

Refusing Breathalyser Test Now Equals Drunk Driving, Say Police

 

File photo for reference only

 

In a dramatic legal update, Thai authorities have declared that drivers who refuse a breathalyser test will be treated as if they were driving under the influence. This bold move comes after a high-profile incident involving actress Marie Braun, 33, and renowned businessman Atchamon Singsikornkul. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1370874-refusing-breathalyser-test-now-equals-drunk-driving-say-police/

Paetongtarn Awaits Court Ruling Amid Bribery Allegations Storm

 

File photo for reference only

 

As Thailand stands on the brink of a significant political verdict, widespread concerns about possible judicial payoffs are gaining momentum, casting a shadow over the fate of court-suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Scheduled for this Friday, the Constitutional Court's decision is anxiously awaited, with the potential to dramatically reshape the political landscape.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1370919-paetongtarn-awaits-court-ruling-amid-bribery-allegations-storm/

Phuket Police Investigate Assault on Dutch Tourists

 

Picture courtesy of Karon Police

 

In the early hours of 23rd August, a concerning incident unfolded in Phuket when two Dutch tourists were assaulted by two unidentified foreign men. The attack occurred around 12:15 am on Kata Road, Karon, as confirmed by the local police. The victims, Maximilian and Michelle, reported that the assailants, apparently intoxicated, initiated an unprovoked attack. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1370917-phuket-police-investigate-assault-on-dutch-tourists/

Cha-am Beach May Allow Booze on Buddhist Holy Days

 

File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Cha-am in Phetchaburi Province is weighing up booze sales on five Buddhist holy days, aiming to draw tourists and give the local economy a lift.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1370955-cha-am-beach-may-allow-booze-on-buddhist-holy-days/

 

Motorbike Rider Dozes Off, Passenger Falls from Bangkok Flyover
 

Pictures courtesy of SiamRath.

 

Police are preparing to charge a motorcycle taxi rider with reckless driving after he allegedly fell asleep at the handlebars, causing his passenger, a Myanmar woman, to plunge from an elevated section of road at theRatchayothin Junction.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370956-motorbike-rider-dozes-off-passenger-falls-from-bangkok-flyover/

 

Indonesian Man Self-Harms on Bangkok Pedestrian Bridge
 

Pictures courtesy of Workpoint.

 

Police in Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, were forced to stage an intervention, after a foreign national armed with scissors repeatedly injured himself on a pedestrian overpass, bringing traffic on Phahonyothin Road to a standstill for several hours.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370957-indonesian-man-self-harms-on-bangkok-pedestrian-bridge/

 

Thailand Buys 4 New Gripen Jets in Deal with Sweden

 

Gripen E. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

In a strategic move set to boost its aerial capabilities, Thailand has secured a deal with Sweden for four state-of-the-art Gripen fighter jets from Saab.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1370958-thailand-buys-4-new-gripen-jets-in-deal-with-sweden/

 

Actress Gets 2 Months Suspended Sentence for Drink-Driving

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

Actress Marie Berenner, 33, has been sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and fined 4,000 baht for drink-driving. The sentence has been suspended for two years. Her driving licence has also been suspended for six months. Her male companion received a one-month sentence suspended for one year and a 10,000-baht fine.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370959-actress-gets-2-months-suspended-sentence-for-drink-driving/

 

Buy Now Pay Later Trend Alarms Thai Economic Planners

 

File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

The Thai government's planning unit raises the alarm as the 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) trend, initially popular in online shopping, spirals into daily essentials like food and fuel, pushing household debt to worrying levels.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1370960-buy-now-pay-later-trend-alarms-thai-economic-planners/

 

Couple Arrested with 8 Million Meth Pills Hidden in Lorry

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

Police in Lampang have arrested a husband and wife after discovering eight million methamphetamine pills concealed in a secret compartment of their six-wheel lorry. The woman was holding her baby in an apparent attempt to allay suspicion at a checkpoint.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370961-couple-arrested-with-8-million-meth-pills-hidden-in-lorry/

 

Police Arrest Admin of Illegal Loan App Charging 3,197% Rates
 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

Economic Crime Suppression police have arrested the female administrator of an illegal loan application accused of charging victims an annual interest rate of more than 3,000 per cent.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370962-police-arrest-admin-of-illegal-loan-app-charging-3197-rates/

 

Villagers Alarmed as Over 20 Dogs and Cats Poisoned in Buriram
 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

Residents of Khok Tabak village, Chalerm Phra Kiat district, Buriram province, are living in fear after more than 20 dogs and cats were poisoned to death in recent weeks. Locals suspect someone has been deliberately lacing food with poison since July, though the motive remains unclear.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370963-villagers-alarmed-as-over-20-dogs-and-cats-poisoned-in-buriram/

 

Lorry Overturns After Slamming Into Pink Line Pillar in Bangkok
 

Picture courtesy of SiamNews.

 

A six-wheel refrigerated lorry overturned in the early hours of 25 August, after its driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a pillar supporting the Pink Line Rail on Chaeng Watthana Road.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370964-lorry-overturns-after-slamming-into-pink-line-pillar-in-bangkok/

 

Trusted Employee Accused of Stealing Over 3 Million Baht in Gold
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A gold shop owner in Surat Thani has filed a police complaint against a long-serving employee accused of embezzling more than 3 million baht through a scheme involving fake pawn documents.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370965-trusted-employee-accused-of-stealing-over-3-million-baht-in-gold/

 

Arsonists Target Construction Equipment in Pattani
 

Picture courtesy of Amarin

 

Two excavators, a pile driver tower and workers’ accommodation were deliberately set on fire in Pattani province in what authorities suspect was a deliberate attempt to disrupt local development projects.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370967-arsonists-target-construction-equipment-in-pattani/

 

CIB Arrests Bang Saen Property Developer Over Bounced Cheques
 

Picture courtesy of SiamNews.

 

Police from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) have arrested a 63-year-old property developer from Bang Saen who had been on the run for years in connection with a series of fraud cases involving bounced cheques totalling more than 150 million baht.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370969-cib-arrests-bang-saen-property-developer-over-bounced-cheques/

 

Internet Engineer Falls to His Death from Utility Pole
 

Picture courtesy of Naewna.

 

An incident has claimed the life of a 33-year-old internet installation engineer in Udon Thani, just days before he was due to take his wife and young child on holiday.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370970-internet-engineer-falls-to-his-death-from-utility-pole/

 

Cyber Police Bust Online Gambling Gang with 100 million Turnover
 

Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

 

Cybercrime officers have arrested suspects linked to a major online gambling network that handled more than ฿100 million a year. Assets worth over ฿1.5 million, including cash, gold, luxury goods and electronics, were seized during coordinated raids in Bangkok and Pathum Thani.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370971-cyber-police-bust-online-gambling-gang-with-100-million-turnover/

 

2 Teenagers Arrested with Homemade Gun While Buying Kratom

 

Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

 

Police in Bangkok have arrested two teenagers carrying a homemade firearm, after stopping them on a motorbike in the Bang Khen district.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370972-2-teenagers-arrested-with-homemade-gun-while-buying-kratom/

 

Justice Minister Inspects Chemical Precursor Controls at Border

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong and General Niphat Thonglek, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and chair of the Sub-committee on Chemical Precursors, visited Mae Sot Customs House in Tak province on 24 August to inspect operations aimed at intercepting chemicals suspected of being used to manufacture methamphetamine and crystal meth.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370973-justice-minister-inspects-chemical-precursor-controls-at-border/

 

Husband Killed, Wife Survives as Landslide Hits Couple
 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

A man has died and his wife narrowly escaped after a landslide hit them while they were digging a drainage channel during heavy rain in Tak province early on 25 August.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370975-husband-killed-wife-survives-as-landslide-hits-couple/

 

Court Jails Senior Police Officer Over Parachute Training Deaths
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Appeal Court has upheld prison sentences for six police officers over the deaths of two cadets during a parachute training exercise, handing a senior police colonel six years in prison without suspension and sentencing others to more than three years.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370976-court-jails-senior-police-officer-over-parachute-training-deaths/

 

Three Indian Chefs Arrested for Cooking on Yacht in Phuket
 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Phuket marine police have arrested three Indian nationals for operating an unlicensed kitchen on a yacht at Chalong Pier, Phuket.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370977-three-indian-chefs-arrested-for-cooking-on-yacht-in-phuket/

 

Fitness Trainer in Critical Condition After Jump from Building
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 35-year-old fitness trainer is in critical condition after falling from a three-storey commercial building in Bangkok late night. Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, which remains unclear.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1370981-fitness-trainer-in-critical-condition-after-jump-from-building/

 

Phuket Fines 17,000 Tourists for Unlicensed Driving

 

Photo courtesy of The Phuket News

 

Phuket's roads are in the spotlight as authorities crack down on unlicensed foreign drivers, revealing over 17,000 fines issued this year alone. These figures were shared at a recent provincial meeting chaired by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, highlighting a problem persisting despite prior efforts.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1371040-phuket-fines-17000-tourists-for-unlicensed-driving/

 

Thai Court Acts on Misleading Hearing Audio Clip

 

Paetongtarn Shinawatra | screenshot

 

In an era where digital misrepresentations can swiftly influence public perception, the Thai Constitutional Court is taking decisive action against those responsible for circulating a distorted audio clip from a recent high-profile hearing. This case involves Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and has prompted the court to assertively protect its integrity and ensure public trust in judicial processes.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1371041-thai-court-acts-on-misleading-hearing-audio-clip/

 

Thai Car Exports Drop 11% Due to Tariff Uncertainty

 

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod English

 

Thailand’s automotive sector is grappling with significant challenges this year, with car production dropping by 5.73% in the first seven months compared to last year. This decline spells trouble for employment in manufacturing plants across the country.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1371042-thai-car-exports-drop-11-due-to-tariff-uncertainty/

 

Tourists Attack Phuket Lifeguards Over Safety Warnings

 

The Thai lifeguard was in the yellow shirt. | Photo via Facebook/ เหยี่ยวข่าว ภูเก็ต Newshawk Phuket

 

In a shocking incident on Nai Han Beach, Phuket, an altercation erupted yesterday when foreign tourists allegedly attacked Thai lifeguards trying to enforce safety rules. Witnesses documented the assault and shared footage online, drawing widespread condemnation and prompting calls for police action.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1371043-tourists-attack-phuket-lifeguards-over-safety-warnings/

 

Thai Troops Ready to Act Amid Border Tensions with Cambodia

 

Picture courtesy of Pattarapong Chatpattarasill

 

In a significant development, Thai soldiers have been authorised to respond immediately to any perceived encroachment by Cambodian troops onto Thai territory. This decision comes in the wake of reports alleging that Cambodian forces, associated with the Bodyguard Headquarters unit of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, have been seen near the border observing Thai patrols.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1371045-thai-troops-ready-to-act-amid-border-tensions-with-cambodia/