Thaksin Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison Over Hospital Leave Case

 

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

The Thai Supreme Court has sentenced Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, to one year in prison for an unlawful medical leave process.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372540-thaksin-sentenced-to-1-year-in-prison-over-hospital-leave-case/

Tourism Operators Urge Cash Coupon Plan for Foreign Visitors
 

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Tourism operators in Thailand are urging the new tourism minister to entice foreign visitors with cash coupons to spend throughout the country, mirroring successful strategies used in other nations.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372520-tourism-operators-urge-cash-coupon-plan-for-foreign-visitors/

Cannabis Advocates Call for Fair, Unified Law in Thailand

 

FILE- A staff member prepares a flower bud of cannabis for a customer at a cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Campaigners for cannabis in Thailand are calling for fair and clear regulations to protect users, businesses, non-users, and minors amid concerns about recent changes that favour monopolistic industry conditions.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372519-cannabis-advocates-call-for-fair-unified-law-in-thailand/

Thailand Acts to Tackle Baht Surge Amid Trade Woes

 

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Thailand's central bank has committed to curbing the baht's volatility as the currency hits a four-year high. This strength is posing challenges for the nation's trade-dependent economy, particularly as it grapples with a hefty 19% US tariff on exports. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372575-thailand-acts-to-tackle-baht-surge-amid-trade-woes/

Activist Pushes for Graft Probe into Thaksin's Hospital Stay

 

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, second from left, leaves the Supreme Court for Bangkok Remand Prison in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Panumas Sanguanwong)
 

A political activist is taking significant steps to initiate legal proceedings against former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly securing an illegal transfer from prison to hospital in 2023. Nitithorn Lamluea, a political activist and lawyer, plans to lodge a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). This action follows a Supreme Court decision on Monday which stated that Thaksin orchestrated his transfer to avoid serving time in prison.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372609-activist-pushes-for-graft-probe-into-thaksins-hospital-stay/

 

Thaksin's Jail Term Sparks Historic Moment in Thai Politics

 

Former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra talks to reporters at the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
 

In a landmark decision, Thailand's Supreme Court has ordered that Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister, must serve a one-year prison sentence. This ruling marks the first instance of a former Thai prime minister being incarcerated, prompting significant reactions within the country. Thaksin's hospital stay from mid-August 2023 until February 2024 won't count towards his sentence, intensifying the situation.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372610-thaksins-jail-term-sparks-historic-moment-in-thai-politics/

 

Pickup Crash in Chiang Mai Topples 52 Power Poles, Kills One
 

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

 

A pickup truck crash in Chiang Mai on 9 September caused widespread destruction, killing one person and injuring another. The accident occurred at around 15:00, along Nong Ho Road (Route 1366) when the driver lost control on a curve and slammed into a power pole. The impact triggered a chain reaction that toppled 52 poles, destroyed transformers and damaged homes.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372611-pickup-crash-in-chiang-mai-topples-52-power-poles-kills-one/

 

Court Sentences Bus Owner, Driver Over Deadly Fire
 

Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath.

 

The Thanyaburi Provincial Court has sentenced the owner of a bus garage and the driver of a tour bus to prison terms following a fire that killed 23 teachers and students. The ruling was delivered on September 9, nearly a year after the tragedy on October 1, 2024, in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district. Both parties received prison terms and fines, but sentences were reduced by half due to confessions.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372612-court-sentences-bus-owner-driver-over-deadly-fire/

 

Gunfight at Chiang Rai Border Yields 2 Million Meth Pills
 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod.

 

On the night of 8 September, soldiers from the Pha Muang Force clashed with an armed drug trafficking group near Ban Pha Mee in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. The gunfight broke out around 21:00, after officers attempted to search a group of 8 to 10 men carrying modified backpacks. The traffickers opened fire, leading to a five-minute exchange before fleeing the area, leaving behind a large haul of methamphetamine.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372613-gunfight-at-chiang-rai-border-yields-2-million-meth-pills/

 

Man Swept Away in Flash Flood Found Dead
 

Pictures courtesy of Daily News.

 

A 35-year-old man was killed after being swept away while attempting to ride his motorcycle through floodwaters in Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima, on the evening of 8 September. His body was later found trapped at the mouth of a drainage pipe, pinned by a fuel container.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372614-man-swept-away-in-flash-flood-found-dead/

 

Drug-Addicted Son Sparks Violence in Housing Estate

 

Picture courtesy of TMN.

 

Police responded to a violent incident at the Baan Ua-Athorn Na Jomtien housing estate in Sattahip District, Chonburi, on the evening of 8 September after a 29-year-old man terrorized residents and attacked a journalist. The suspect, identified as Ratchapol Sae-Lao, also known as “Oat,” was shouting aggressively and destroying property inside his flat at Building 74 when officers arrived around 18:00.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372615-drug-addicted-son-sparks-violence-in-housing-estate/

 

 

Ex-Thai Boxer Arrested for Fatal Punch in Road Rage Incident
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

On 9 September, highway police arrested 32-year-old former Thai boxer Boonchu, wanted under a Phichit-issued warrant dated 5 February 2025 (Case No. จ.12/2568), for fatally assaulting a man who later died from brain swelling at hospital after an argument over cutting in traffic on Rama 2 Road in Ratchaburi’s Pak Tho district.  
 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372617-ex-thai-boxer-arrested-for-fatal-punch-in-road-rage-incident/

 

Hunter Mistakes Villager for Boar, Fatally Shoots Him in Loei
 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

A hunting trip in Loei province ended in tragedy on 8 September when a man was fatally shot after being mistaken for a wild boar. Police reported that the incident occurred around 18:00 in the Huai Khi Kratoi forest, Ban Pong village, Phon subdistrict, Dan Sai district. The victim, identified as Mr. Phu, 58, died from severe bleeding after being struck in the groin by a shotgun blast.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372618-hunter-mistakes-villager-for-boar-fatally-shoots-him-in-loei/

 

Pattaya to Issue Thailand’s First ‘Sea Walker’ License
 

Pictures courtesy of SiamRath.

 

Pattaya is to become the first place in Thailand to formally license sea walker tourism activities, introducing new safety and environmental standards. On 9 September, Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Ruemkijakarn chaired a meeting with sea walker operators to present a draft framework for operating licenses. The initiative aims to improve tourist safety, regulate operations and protect marine ecosystems.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372622-pattaya-to-issue-thailand’s-first-‘sea-walker’-license/

 

RAAF, RTAF Launch Thai Boomerang Air Exercise with 500 Troops
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) have launched Exercise Thai Boomerang 2025, deploying over 500 personnel for joint drills at Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima. The exercise, running from 8–19 September, features RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets training alongside RTAF F-16 Fighting Falcons and JAS-39 Gripens. This marks the 15th iteration of the bilateral exercise aimed at enhancing air combat interoperability.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372623-raaf-rtaf-launch-thai-boomerang-air-exercise-with-500-troops/

 

Online Gambling Page Owner Arrested in Bangkok
 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

Cyber police have arrested a 35-year-old man accused of running a Facebook page that broadcasted illegal online gambling under the name “จับไข่ลุ้นโชค บ้านลุ้นมหัศจรรย์.” The operation, which involved live-streaming games of chance, reportedly generated about 300,000 baht per month. Officers executed a search warrant on September 9 in Soi Chaeng Watthana 14, Bangkok, leading to the arrest and seizure of computers, a router and prize slips.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372624-online-gambling-page-owner-arrested-in-bangkok/

 

Authorities Raid Illegal Radio Station in Bangkok

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Authorities shut down an unlicensed radio station in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district on 8 September, seizing a large amount of broadcasting equipment and linking the operation to a Buddhist monk. The station was broadcasting on 106.75 MHz at the time of the raid, which caused authorities to act against illegal telecommunications activity.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372626-authorities-raid-illegal-radio-station-in-bangkok/

 

Devastating Fireworks Explosion Wrecks Cars and Homes

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

A pick-up truck carrying fireworks caught fire in the middle of the night, causing a devastating explosion. In Ratchaburi, Thailand, more than ten cars were damaged, and many homes were destroyed. Two people were hurt and transported to a nearby hospital.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372636-devastating-fireworks-explosion-wrecks-cars-and-homes/

 

Thaksin Shinawatra Jailed: Procedures Followed Correctly

 

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

Thaksin Shinawatra has been taken into custody by the Bangkok Remand Prison following a Supreme Court order. On September 9, 2025, the warden and other prison officials made sure that all procedures followed official rules. Thaksin, sentenced to one year, was processed through the standard procedures for new inmates as per the Department of Corrections guidelines.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372644-thaksin-shinawatra-jailed-procedures-followed-correctly/

 

Bangkok Raids Uncover Chinese-Run E-Cigarette Network
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Police have dismantled a major e-cigarette smuggling and production network operated by Chinese nationals in Bangkok, seizing thousands of vaping devices. The raids, carried out on 9 September by the Economic Crime Suppression Division, targeted a warehouse in Bang Khun Thian district and a property in Saraburi province. A total of 13 suspects were arrested, including two Chinese managers and 11 Myanmar workers without permits.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372647-bangkok-raids-uncover-chinese-run-e-cigarette-network/

 

Thaksin's Jail Term Shakes Politics, May Revive Pheu Thai

 

Cars, carrying Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, leave the Supreme Court for Bangkok Remand Prison in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lallit)

 

Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister of Thailand, has started serving a one-year prison sentence following a Supreme Court ruling. This appears to lessen his immediate political influence but could paradoxically create an opportunity for the Pheu Thai Party to reinvent itself and survive without his dominant control. Political expert Olarn Thinbangtieo describes Thaksin’s imprisonment as a "political checkmate", diminishing both his real and symbolic power.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372650-thaksins-jail-term-shakes-politics-may-revive-pheu-thai/

 

Hong Kong Customs seize 6kg of cannabis on flight from Thailand

 

Photo courtesy of Dimsum Daily HK

 

Hong Kong Customs officers have seized six kilograms of suspected cannabis from a passenger arriving from Bangkok, leading to an arrest and drug trafficking charges. The cannabis, concealed in snack packages, was found in the carry-on luggage and handbag of a 23-year-old woman at Hong Kong International Airport. This haul is valued at around HK$1.3 million (approximately 5.98 million Thai baht).

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372657-hong-kong-customs-seize-6kg-of-cannabis-on-flight-from-thailand/

 

Lions Kill Zoo Staff in Fatal Bangkok Attack

 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A zoo employee in Ram Intra area of Bangkok was fatally attacked by a group of lions on 10 September, in an incident that lasted approximately 15 minutes. Witnesses, including tourists, attempted to intervene by honking car horns and shouting for help, but were unable to stop the animals.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1372677-lions-kill-zoo-staff-in-fatal-bangkok-attack/

 

British TV Star Zara McDermott’s Filming Fright in Thailand

 

Picture courtesy of Zara McDermott Instagram

 

Zara McDermott, a familiar face from Love Island, revealed a nerve-wracking encounter with law enforcement in Thailand while filming her BBC documentary, Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise. The documentary, set to air on BBC iPlayer, uncovers both the allure and the hidden risks associated with the country, a hotspot for British tourists.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372683-tv-star-zara-mcdermott’s-filming-fright-in-thailand/

 

Thaksin's Calm First Night in Klong Prem Prison

 

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Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has settled into Klong Prem Central Prison, spending his initial night in calm and composed conditions, according to the Department of Corrections. This follows his transfer from Bangkok Remand Prison after being sentenced by the Supreme Court to a 12-month term.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372684-thaksins-calm-first-night-in-klongprem-prison/

 

Bangkok to Become "Special Pollution Control Zone"

 

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In a bold move to tackle its chronic smog problem, Bangkok is set to be designated a "special pollution control zone" from November to March, as announced by Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. This unprecedented decision, endorsed by the National Environment Board (NEB), empowers the city with stronger legal authority to implement stricter pollution standards than those currently enforced nationwide.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372685-bangkok-to-become-special-pollution-control-zone/

 

Thai PM Anutin Reveals 3.9 Billion Baht in Assets

 

 

Thailand's new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. (AP Photo/Arnun Chonmahatrakool)

 

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has disclosed assets worth 3.9 billion baht, revealing extensive wealth that includes three private jets and two speedboats. Anutin declared 1.09 billion baht in cash and deposits spread across more than two dozen bank accounts. This disclosure was made to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, fulfilling a requirement for government officials, and was publicly released on Tuesday.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372687-thai-pm-anutin-reveals-39-billion-baht-in-assets/

 

Anutin Saddened by Thaksin's One-Year Prison Sentence

 

Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to one year in prison following a Supreme Court ruling. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed deep sympathy for Thaksin, acknowledging his past leadership role during remarks at the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters. Anutin described the situation as saddening, noting that it is difficult to see someone of Thaksin's experience facing imprisonment.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372689-anutin-saddened-by-thaksins-one-year-prison-sentence/

 

Caretaker Cabinet Extends 7% VAT Rate for Another Year

 

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The caretaker Cabinet has announced the extension of the 7% value-added tax (VAT) rate for an additional year, according to caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. This decision aims to prevent the VAT from increasing to 10%, which was set to take effect on October 1. The extension is designed to ease the financial burden on consumers during the current economic downturn.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372690-caretaker-cabinet-extends-7-vat-rate-for-another-year/

 

Why the Court Ordered Thaksin Back to Prison

 

Photo courtesy of Thai PBS

 

In a landmark decision today, Thailand's Supreme Court ruled against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's six-month stay in the Police General Hospital (PGH), declaring it unlawful. Thaksin, who claimed life-threatening illnesses, is ordered back to Bangkok Remand Prison to serve his one-year sentence.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1372691-thaksins-hospital-stay-deemed-unlawful-ordered-back-to-prison/