Thailand Live Monday 16 Aug 2010

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Police Investigate Gold Shop Heist in Ayuthaya

A police investigation team believes that a gold shop robbery in Ayuthaya province in which more than 10 million baht in gold were stolen was carried out with inside help.

Investigators from the Provincial Police Bureau in Ayuthaya province have searched the area around a gold shop located in Phra Kru district for evidence, after an unknown number of burglars broke into the vault and stole more than 10 million baht in gold items.

An initial investigation revealed that the burglars used a torch to cut through the back entrance's metal gate to break into the vault. More than 500-gold-baht worth of ornaments were stolen from the shop. Several sets of fingerprints were collected at the scene.

A wrench and a gas tank believed to have been used in the robbery was also found near the crime scene.

Police believe that the crime was committed by or with the help of someone familiar with the shop and the owner's daily routine.

The burglars also knew that there was no CCTV camera installed at the back entrance, which makes it more difficult to identify the suspects.

The investigation team has been ordered to monitor criminal gangs in nearby provinces who have committed similar crimes.

The shop has also put up a 500,000 baht reward for information that could lead to the arrest of the culprit and retrieval of the stolen gold items.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-16

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UPDATE

Investigation underway to find those accountable for building collapse

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Flood Hit Parts of Thailand

Floods continue to wreak havoc in many parts of the Kingdom as many provinces have been inundated and dams are releasing water after receiving too much rain.

In the northern province of Lampang, authorities have been sent to monitor water levels in the Wang River around the clock after yesterday's flash floods in many areas in the Jae Hom district.

Officials voiced concern about the situation as rain keeps coming and water levels continue to rise.

In the same province, the Kew Lom Dam is releasing water after large amounts of rain flowed into the dam. Officials said the latest water levels are reported to be at 77 percent capacity.

They also warned about rising water levels in Ko Kha, Sob Prap, Mae Prik and Sam Ngao districts in Tak province.

In three affected districts in Uttaradit province, water levels have begun to recede, but some areas are still experiencing high flood water levels.

In Sukhothai province, water levels in the Yom River have dropped from 6.2 meters to 6 meters, but 60,000 rais of agricultural land in four districts are still inundated.

The Wang Rom Klao Dam in Uthaithani province is routing water from a flash flood in Mae Wong Park in a nearby province to the dam, prompting an alert being issued regarding the water levels.

Disaster mitigation and prevention officials in Phichit province have issued a warning for two areas in the province after they discovered that rainfall from nearby hills could flood the areas in a few days' time.

In addition, the weather bureau has warned people in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Uttaradit, Tak, Phetchabun, Trat, Ranong and Pang-nga of the possibility of flash floods over the next few days.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-16

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Coke Music Awards is Back After 20 Years

Coke Music Award, one of the biggest music competitions nearly 20 years ago, is back, giving the younger generation a chance to show off their talents.

Coca-Cola (Thailand) held a press conference at Hard Rock Cafe Siam Square to announce the return of Coke Music Festival, a music competition that provided the biggest stage for undiscovered artists almost 20 years ago.

The press conference featured mini-concerts from past winners of the competition, such as Koh Mr. Saxman, Pop the Sun, Ek Blackhead, Tui Teerapat, and other well-known artists like Potato, Silly Fool, the Richman Toy, Khanom Gene, and Rit the Star.

Leading rock bands Modern Dog and Tattoo Color performed the theme song for the new Coke Music Festival 'Let's Sing Once Again', which they co-wrote.

Both groups invited young talents to join the competition, while offering some tips for preparing ahead of the event and for performing on stage.

Coke Music Award 2010 is open to both high school and college students. Applicants can submit application forms and upload video clips to www.icoke.co.th until September 10.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-16

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Top Thai Red Shirts deny terrorism charges

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Sopon: Bhum Jai Thai to vote for budget bill despite delay of CNG bus project

Transport Minister Sopon Saram said his Bhum Jai Thai Party will vote for the budget bill although his CNG bus leasing project has been shelved.

Sopon said the budget bill and the bus project were not related.

Asked if the party would vote for the budget bill, Sopon said "Yes" and laughed.

"They are not related. If we vote against the bill, we will be undisciplined. We are not undisciplined children," Sopon said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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Water-borne diseases in flood-hit areas warned by Public Health Ministry

BANGKOK, 16 August 2010 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry warns the people in flood-hit areas to be mindful of three water-borne diseases, while medical teams have been dispatched to aid those affected areas.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health MD Paichit Warachit indicated that the Ministry had dispatched the mobile medical teams and required supplies into the flood hit area in five provinces of Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Uttaradit and Rayong to aid those affected residents.

He cautioned the three diseases infection in the flood-affected sites namely Leptospirosis, seasonal influenza and swine flu as well as the hazard from poisonous reptiles. Wearing boots while walking in the flooded area is advised to prevent infection by those hazardous germs.

-- NNT 2010-08-16

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Thai Govt to get opinions from motorcycle taxi drivers to solve social inequality

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Chevron Chief affirms to continue energy investment in Thailand

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Alarming!!! from 2004-2008, there were only 3,000 teen moms aged under 15 per year now latest figure is 10,000/year. /via @wat_news

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A lone robber forced cashier of a petrol station in Lampang to hand him over Bt12,000 in cash in the broad daylight. /via @Urisara_NT

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Cambodian prosecutors are appealing against sentence handed to ex-Khmer Rouge prison chief

-- TNA 2010-08-16

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PAD Member Sentenced for Car Ramming Police

A member of the People's Alliance for Democracy charged with ramming a car into police during a scuffle in October 2008 have been given two-year probation on the grounds that the incident was their first offense.

The Criminal Court has commuted a three and a half year jail sentence for Preecha Treecharoon, 53, to two years of probation considering his previously clean record.

Preecha, a member of the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, has been found guilty of ramming a police officer with his car during a protest dispersal on August 7, 2008.

The officer, identified as Police Sublieutenant Kriangkrai Tungsamee, was injured in the attack.

The verdict against Preecha was based on video footage showing that he reversed his pick-up truck towards police with an intent to harm.

He previously argued that he was driven to the act by his witnessing of police violence during the protest and that he was only attempting to hit police vehicles.

Images showing him reversing over Kriangkrai, however, were noted by the court as indicative of his intent.

Nonetheless, because Preecha had no previous criminal record and exhibited a moral life prior to the incident, the court reduced his sentence to two years of probation.

He was also ordered to report to court every three months and serve 48 hours in community service

-- Tan Network 2010-08-16

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Chonburi University building collapse search called off

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TAT announces Thai Travel Mart 2010

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New building code affects Phuket hillside projects

A view of the hillsides at the south end of Patong Bay.

File photo taken from an ultralight aircraft.

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FC Phuket clinch Division 2 South title

STRIKE FORCE: The Southern Sea Kirin go into the final week of

play with 14 wins, three losses and four draws.

Photo by Apinun Saithong.

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Police Hunt for Ayutthaya Gold Heist Suspects

The Ayutthaya Provincial Police Bureau is speedning up the investigation into the gold heist in which more than 500 baht-weight in gold ornaments have been stolen.

The Ayutthaya Provincial Police Bureau is conducting investigation into the heist committed at a gold shop in Nakhon Luang district in Ayutthaya province.

An unknown number of burglars used a cutting torch to break open a vault and stolen more than 500 bath-weight or more than 10 million baht worth in gold items.

The Crime Suppression Division is working with the local police to hunt down the culprits. The investigation team also does not believe that a criminal gang from a nearby province was behind the crime as believed earlier.

The police announced that they were keeping a close watch on a few groups but did not give detailed information.

According to an unidentified source, there are some criminal groups known to be experts in breaking open safes from Chainat, Suphan Buri and Buri Ram. Some of the group members were convicted before and have been released from prisons.

Investigators are also eyeing local youth gangs and other suspicious individuals.

The shop has offered a 500,000-baht reward for information that could lead to the arrests of the burglars.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-16

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Garbage collector fined Bt133,400 for selling discarded VCDs

A garbage collector was ordered by the Criminal Court to pay a fine of Bt133,400 for selling discarded video CDs he sorted from garbage.

The court found Surat Maneenopparatsuda guilty of violating the 2008 Movies and Videos Act by selling VCDs without license.

The court initially ordered Surat to pay a fine of Bt200,100 but commuted the penalty to Bt133,400 after Surat admitted selling the VCDs.

Surat is a garbage collector of the Saphan Soong district office. He said he always sorted collected garbage for things that he could sell, such as used shoes and old rice cookers.

He sold the VCDs for Bt20 each among the used items at a roadside stall in front of the Nakkeera community and was arrested by police from the Huamark police station.

He was freed on bail pending an appeal against the ruling.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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Cabinet approves drafting of amnesty bill for those who returns stolen weapon; bill to be propose for consideration in House meeting. /via @TAN_Network

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SET index closed at 860.55, down 1.61; Bt/USD31.44; GBP48.85; AUD27.78; EUR40.16; CAD29.96; HKD3.99; SGD22.94; JPY36.36

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DRUGS SMUGGLING

A Guinean man arrested for possessing drugs

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Cabinet approves Navy's plan to deploy troops to fight pirates in Somalia's sea

The Cabinet Monday approved Bt270 million as an operation cost for the Royal Thai Navy to deploy 171 troops to fight against pirates off Somalia's coast.

Deputy Government Spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the Cabinet approved the plan to deploy the troops on the 98-day mission from early September.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

Related topic:

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Father Ray Day celebrated at Central Festival Pattaya Beach

Monk’s at East Pattaya temple fight over accusations of stolen money from donation box

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Thousands attend the Pattaya International Fireworks Competition

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Phuket Police seek high-tech solution to ya bah problem

Phuket Commander Pekad Tantipong and Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit

appeared at today's press conference where drug suspects Pratya (left)

and Chanjira were shown to the media.

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Tuesday 17 August 2010

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