Thailand Live Friday 13 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 13 January 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 12 Jan 2012

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Compensation for victims of political unrest to be paid by Chinese New Year

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Accused slapper yet to appear

The Nation

Samut Prakarn - The senior customs official, who slapped a Suvarnabhumi Airport security officer in the ear for having asked him to undergo a security check - an incident widely shown on YouTube - has not yet responded to a police summons.

Suvarnabhumi Airport police station superintendent Pol Col Natthanan Nanasombat said yesterday the senior official Sombat Chatchaiwaiwit had been given a week, before January 18, to contact police or an arrest warrant would be issued. The police investigator also requested the victim's physical examination results from hospital to use in the case investigation and has interviewed witnesses. Police are also investigating who released the video clip of the incident on to the Internet.

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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Thai Navy rescue 800 live dogs destined for Indochina meat trade

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Bank of Thailand launching new banknote series next week

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NEW PARLIAMENT

New site might be needed for Thai Parliament complex

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New group of academics to protect monarchy

The Nation

A new group of academics is set to be launched today to campaign for protection of the monarchy.

Assoc Prof Banjerd Singkaneti, dean of the Law School of National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), said that more than 20 academics from five universities have formed a group called "Sayam Prachapiwat" (Siamese People's Great Development). The group would be officially launched today (Friday) at the institute.

Banjerd said the group's academic were concerned about the ongoing "monopoly of Thai politics" by a group of capitalists and politicians, as well as "the crisis of freedom and ethics". He said the group would make its views on certain important issues, such as constitutional amendment, reforms for society, laws and politics.

"Our views are based on the principle that the Thai society's values must not be copied from the West. Our society respects the monarchy and this value is an important principle in Thai society," Banjerd said.

He denied that his group was set up against a group of law lecturers known as "Niti Rassadorn" (Citizens of Law).

"There is a need for Thai society to become 'prachapiwat'. The people must be the main part of society, and not the elite alone," Banjerd said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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MOBILE CABINET MEETING

Thai cabinet to hold meetings in all 77 provinces

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Bank of Thailand hamstrung by debt: Critics

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Thailand's first endoscopic surgery performed in Siriraj Hospital

The Nation

Southeast Asia's first endoscopic surgery was performed successfully at Siriraj Hospital on a cervicalcancer patient, allowing her to recover fully and giving her the chance of getting pregnant.

The surgeon behind the miracle, Assoc Prof Dr Perapong Inthasorn, told the press yesterday the patient had shown no adverse reactions and was menstruating normally. "The surgery took place a year ago," he said.

The patient, who is 30 now, said she was reluctant to have her uterus removed because she wanted to be given the chance to bear children.

"I consulted the doctor at the Siriraj Hospital and was told there was an option of endoscopic surgery. But he also said that such a procedure had never been performed in Thailand before. Yet I decided to go for it," she said.

According to Perapong, the surgery took about five hours and cost about Bt50,000. Patients under the universal healthcare or social security scheme are also entitled to this treatment.

"This is a choice for cancer patients at stage 1," he said. "They have a 90 to 95 per cent chance of recovery, just as she would have had if her uterus was removed."

He explained that endoscopic surgery was better than the conventional procedure as the surgical wound was much smaller. "So, there's less pain involved," he said.

Perapong went on to say that the endoscopy procedure helped surgeons to see small blood vessels clearly, thus allowing them to only remove the bad ones.

"The remaining blood vessels will serve to nourish the foetus if the patient becomes pregnant later," he said.

To date, about 50 patients across the world have successfully received treatment for cervical cancer via endoscopic surgery.

Clinical Prof Chanchai Vantanasiri, who heads the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said Siriraj Hospital saw 5,000 new cases of cervical cancer every year.

"Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer among Thai women after breast cancer," he said.

Asst Prof Chairat Leelaphatanadit, who heads the faculty's Gynecologic Cancer Division, recommends that all women over the age of 35 and those who are sexually active, should have a pelvic examination at least once a year.

"The examination takes just five minutes and detecting the cancer early will provide a high chance of recovery," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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EDITORIAL

Thais fall too easily for rumour and superstition

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This government is not thinking ahead: Thai opinion

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OBITUARY

Author, editor passes away

Jim Pollard

The Nation

David Butler, an American correspondent who arrived in Southeast Asia 41 years ago and wrote an acclaimed book about the last year of the Vietnam War, has died in a Bangkok hospital.

Butler, 70, a subeditor at The Nation for more than 10 years, passed away on Tuesday afternoon after battling throat cancer for several months.

While Butler is perhaps best known for his book "The Fall of Saigon", published in 1985, he lived in Bangkok for more than two decades - a short period in the early 1980s, and since his return to Thailand in 1992. An alumnus of Dartmouth College (class of 1963) in the US, Butler was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts, in 1941. He had many friends among older members of the expatriate journalist community here.

From 1966 to 1974, Butler was an editor at Playboy magazine. During this period he made several trips to Vietnam. He also had interesting dealings with Hunter S Thompson, the wild boozer and drug-taker whose adventures have been immortalised by Johnny Depp in the film, "The Rum Diary".

In the late '60s and early '70s, Butler commissioned Thompson to write several articles for Playboy, one of which was about a fishing competition in Mexico. This piece later became known as "The Great White Shark Hunt", the title piece of a popular anthology of Thompson's work released in 1980.

Copies of Butler's letters to Thompson can be found at the website AFistfulofCulture.com.

In 1987, he was one of the assistant editors of the first edition of The King of Thailand in World Focus. The David Butler who ended up working on The Nation for the last decade of his life, was a totally different character - an earnest and deeply serious man, who struggled to fill in missing elements and improve the quality of many young journalists' work.

Last September, Butler took leave treatment to battle cancer of the throat. In recent weeks, he was visited by his brother and two sisters, who live in the US.

Friends and members of the press will attend his funeral at Wat Pho Tham on Rama II Road tomorrow at 4pm.

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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Drug-dealers charged with police officer's murder

Police have pressed murder charges against drug suspects who rammed their car into a police motorcycle, knocking a police captain off the bike and dragging him under the car for up to 15 metres, killing the officer in the process.

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PM's son to participate in festivities

Chanikan Phumhiran,

Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung

The Nation

Supasek and Yingluck will join national celebrations at Government House as police beef up security

While the country celebrates National Children’s Day tomorrow and Bangkok police are beefing up security at 19 celebration sites, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her son will join in the occasion at the Government House.

While the country celebrates National Children’s Day tomorrow and Bangkok police are beefing up security at 19 celebration sites, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her son will join in the occasion at the Government House.Emphasising culture and IT in accordance with the 2012 Children’s Day motto "Unity with Knowledge, Preserve Thai Identity, Mind the Technology", the Government House event from 8am to 3pm, will provide free WiFi Internet connection at the Santi Maitree Building to various companies. At 9.55am, Yingluck and son Supasek Amornchat will watch a "Pearl Harbour" marching band performance at the Thai Khu Fa front yard by Suan Lumpini School, winners of the Hong Kong Marching Band Contest 2011.

The PM and her son will invite youth representatives to sit on the prime minister's chair and pose for pictures with them, before coming out of the Thai Khu Fa building to greet children and watch fun activities at various booths at Santi Maitree Building.

The premier will also meet 200 representatives of southernmost provinces' young people and watch their fiveminute performance entitled the Lot Hope, before getting together with the student council to hear their recommendations to the government.

Yingluck and her son will open a savings account at the Government's Saving Bank to set a good example for other kids. Supasek will write a message on a crabshaped card and put it on a board for the lucky draw for the Prime Minister's scholarships. Yingluck will read a story to her son and other children at Santi Maitree Building's Blue Room before leaving at 11.30am. Later, they will attend the Education Ministry’s celebration at Sanam Seu Pa.

Metropolitan Police spokesman Preeda Sathaworn said police would dispatch 400 officers to provide security at the 19 celebration sites on Saturday, especially Sanam Seu Pa, where a big crowd of parents and kids is expected to keep 150 police officers busy. Preeda suggested parents put their home and phone number information in their kids' pockets and keep children's photos in their phones for quicker and easier identification by police if families get separated.

Meanwhile an ABAC poll, conducted from January 411 on 1,205 Bangkok youth under 19, said the occupation of pilot/airhostess was ranked the most popular job by the youths at 30.8 per cent; followed by actor/singer at 29.1 per cent; doctor at 28.9 per cent; businessperson at 25.7 per cent; and the police at 24.4 per cent.

Only 0.2 per cent of kids wanted to be politicians.

Most children (65.3 per cent) said their parents gave them enough family time, while 34.7 per cent said otherwise.

Places to go

Here are some places where you and your kids can celebrate Children's Day tomorrow:

Government House

Education Ministry, Sanam Seu Pa

Don Mueang Airport's Cargo Building, VibhavadiRangsit Road

Royal Thai Airforce Museum, Paholyothin Road

Royal Thai Army Headquarters, Rajdamnoen Avenue

Foreign Ministry

Parliament

The National Stadium, Pathumwan

Hua Mark Stadium

Dusit Zoo

Museum of Siam

The Planetarium

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration event at Rama 8 Bridge

Bangkok Youth Centre, Din Daeng

Wachirabenchathat or Rotfai Park

Chatuchak Market Administration Building

Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre

Golden Jubilee Museum of Agriculture, Pathum Thani, Khlong Luang district

Suan Luang Rama IX Park

Science and Technology Ministry on Rama 6 Road

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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Floods affected 1 million workers

The Nation

Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Arthit Isamo yesterday revealed that 28,679 business establishments in 29 provinces were affected by the flood disaster from October 1December 26 last year, affecting 993,944 workers.

By December 26, a total of 2,156 establishments covering 307,948 workers were ready to resume work or remained closed due to flooding, whilst 26,523 other establishments with 685,996 workers managed to resume their operations.

The department offered employers the chance to sign an MoU that they wouldn't lay off workers due to the flood and would pay the workers at least 75 per cent of salary - in exchange for the department providing them a Bt2,000perhead subsidy for three months. Arthit said 839 establishments with 241,902 workers applied for the project. The project committee initially approved 234 establishments with 88,706 workers joining it, he added.

Another project, in which factories outside floodaffected areas took in floodhit workers to work temporarily, saw 643 establishments in 48 provinces joining. The result saw 78,242 positions available and 13,226 floodhit workers filling the positions.

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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MYSTERIOUS CASH

Burglars took B5million only : Suphoth

The Nation

Prime Minister's Office permanentsecretary Thongthong Chandrangsu yesterday revealed that Suphoth Sublom, the suspended permanent secretary for Transport, insisted he lost Bt5million in a burglary last December and he didn't explain the loss to the factfinding committee earlier because he was in another country.

Thongthong said Suphoth told the case's factfinding committee yesterday, which Thongthong chaired, the burglars got away with Bt5,060,000 from his Bangkok home - which was his daughter's dowry. Suphoth said he had no idea where the large amount of money the thieves claimed to have stolen from him, came from.

Suphoth also recalled what happened on the day of the heist in detail to the committee and said the first police officer he called for help was acting deputy city police chief Pol MajGeneral Wichai Sangprapai. As a result the commitee will summon Wichai for information, he added.

Declining to give further details of Suphoth's testimony, Thongthong said the committee hadn't discussed checking Suphoth's assets since he became the permanent secretary for Transport. Suphoth was supposed to testify at 1.30pm but he did so at 11.30am, which was two hours early.

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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Top officials to appear in NACC flood probe

The Nation

The National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) will launch a probe into 14 government officials, including a deputy directorgeneral, and two limited partnerships, for alleged irregularities in the reliefitem purchases for flood victims.

"We will summon them to acknowledge the NACC probe soon," NACC commissioner Klanarong Chanthick said yesterday.

Klanarong said among the 14 officials is a deputy directorgeneral of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD). An acting director of a division and the director of another division of the DPMD will also face the probe, alongside nine other less senior officials.

Klanarong said the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) had already forwarded its investigation report to the NACC regarding alleged irregularities in the Bt80million purchase of 100,000 reliefitem bags. The report, he said, had concluded that 10 DPMD officials violated the bidding law in arranging the purchase.

"An investigation by an NACC subpanel has suggested that more than 10 officials might have been involved. So, we are going to launch the probe against 14 officials and legal entities," Klanarong said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyut Wichaidit said if found guilty, the officials would be punished. However, he suggested that some officials might have rushed to make the purchases because they wanted the relief items to reach flood victims fast during the flood crisis.

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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LOCAL ELECTIONS

Chidchob clan, Pheu Thai in Buri Ram face off

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NHRC needs rest of year to consider lese majeste law

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

The National Human Rights Commission will take a stance on what to do with the lese-majeste law by the end of this year, NHRC chairperson Prof Amara Pongsapich said yesterday(Thursday).

The promise came after Amara acknowledged that the controversial law is now being widely debated. Numerous petitions alleging human-rights violations in relation to lese-majeste charges and detentions were lodged with the independent rights body last year.

"We've just begun to make a move. The issue is very difficult, and we've been uncomfortable and unable to move. This is the first month that we've succeeded in clearly making a move," said Amara in response to a question by an activist.

Asked by The Nation why the commission has been so slow to take a stance on the issue, and why the commission has managed to make a move now when it couldn't months ago, Amara said: "We have not finished thinking it through. We're still talking and studying so we can clarify our thoughts. We want to look at it from a human-rights dimension. We have moved slowly because we were reluctant. There's nothing [more to it]."

The commission met the press yesterday to report on its work last year. The issue of the lese-majeste law was conspicuously absent from the discussion, and only touched on in reply to questions after the presentation.

Commission officials said there were 629 cases filed with the NHRC last year - about 100 fewer than in the preceding years - but added they had to do more to make people understand that some issues are not under the jurisdiction of the NHRC.

Three other issues besides the lese-majeste law dominated the discussion after the presentation.

The first was the yet-to-be-concluded NHRC report on the violent clashes of April-May 2010. Payao Ak-had, the mother of slain volunteer nurse Noppakaet Ak-had, accused the commission of delaying the report and of failing to inform her about the press conference.

Amara said the initial report would be made public verbally at the end of this month and that Payao was not informed about yesterday's event because the report covered other issues as well.

On the second issue - the violence in the deep South - National Human Rights Commissioner Paiboon Warahapaitoon said the use of "special laws" remained a point of concern and urged security officers not to "torture" suspects after arrest.

Amara gloomily said she concurred with the view of one expert that perhaps it would take another century to solve the violence in the South.

On the third issue - improper treatment of some refugees stranded along the Thai-Burmese border - Amara admitted that the powers of the NHRC are limited.

"We tried to pressure [the government and the Army], but it was unsuccessful," she said candidly, resulting in some laughter. "You might think we are able to order the government and the Army; you may think we're big, but actually we're tiny,"

confessed Amara, who pointed out at the very beginning of the press conference that the event was held so no one would "accuse the NHRC of not doing anything".

-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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Provinces from Chumphon downward warned of heavy rain and possible flash flood; temperature drops further in Upper Thailand /TANN

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PM Reserved on Cabinet Reshuffle

The premier has declined to comment on a possible Cabinet reshuffle and revealed that she has not received any proposal on the amendment of the lese majeste law.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra avoided answering questions about a possible Cabinet reshuffle today and only smiled at reporters.

Asked about her meeting with Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha this morning, the PM said they only discussed a reforestation project in honor of His Majesty the King in Chiang Rai Province this Saturday.

Further asked about some groups of people suggesting an amendment to the Criminal Code's Article112 on lese majeste, Yingluck said she has never receieved any proposal on the issue.

The PM added that she would like to invite children to attend the Children's Day celebration on Saturday at Government House as she has prepared some surprises for the kids.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-13

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-- The Nation 2012-01-13

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Dusit Zoo celebrates National Children Day with free entrance for children throughout January

BANGKOK, 13 January 2012 (NNT) - Bangkok's popular Dusit Zoo is joining the celebration of this year's National Children's Day with a special campaign that offers free entrance to children throughout this month.

According to Mr. Pimuk Simaroj, Director General of the Thai Zoological Park Organization, Dusit Zoo in Bangkok is also celebrating the National Children's Day on Saturday, January 14.

He stated that many fun and interesting activities have been planned for children who join the celebration at the zoo, such as games, parades of mascots, and animal talent shows.

Mr. Pimuk also said that all activities at Dusit Zoo will not only entertain visiting children but will also allow them to learn something valuable.

Another special activity that will be unveiled this Saturday is a free wi-fi service, which is believed to make Dusit Zoo Thailand's and the world's first zoo to offer such a service which will definitely turn it into a genuine learning center for interested visitors.

In addition to this Saturday's activities, the park will continue its celebration with a special campaign of free entrance for children until the end of January.

Apart from Dusit Zoo, other parks under the Thai Zoological Park Organization, including Kao Kheow Open Zoo, Chiang Mai Zoo, Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo and Songkhla Zoo will also organize their own special activities to join in the celebration.

-- NNT 2012-01-13

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Culture Ministry finds more historic sites damaged by severe flood

BANGKOK, 13 January 2012 (NNT) - The Culture Ministry has reported the finding of more historic sites that have evidently been damaged by the 2011 severe flooding that affected two-thirds of Thailand.

Minister of Culture Sukamol Kunplome has disclosed that the Fine Arts Department has completed another report on the status of historic sites in flood-hit provinces. The report showed that 20 more sites have been considerably damaged by the worst inundation Thailand has seen in five decades.

The latest finding has also brought the total number of flood-damaged historic sites up from 313 to 333 in 44 provinces.

Mrs. Sukamol said that, with more than THB1.5 billion baht in special budget ready in its pocket, the Fine Arts Department is now working on the detail of the damage and the suggestion on the restoration, which are expected to be completed by the end of February.

So far, the restoration work has started in some affected sites in the North, including Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai and the old city wall in Nan.

In addition, the Minister of Culture said that the Ministry of Culture is collaborating with 31 leading artists in the country to organize a special art auction to raise funds for the restoration of flood-ravaged ancient sites.

The auction will feature art works from participating artists, which will be on display at ARDEL's Third Place Gallery on Sukhumvit 55 in Bangkok during February 1 and 18, while bidding is scheduled at 2 pm of February 18.

-- NNT 2012-01-13

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,052.21, down 0.02 points /MCOT

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Japanese Adult Movie With Thai 'Actress' Use Suvarnabhumi Airport

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Chalerm Steps up Crackdown on Lese-Majeste

The deputy prime minister reaffirmed that those who defame the monarch must be punished under the lese-majeste law.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who has been appointed by the Prime Minister to be a chairman of a committee tasked to crackdown websites deemed offensive to the monarchy reported before the Communications and Technology Committee of Parliament.

He reaffirmed that the committee has cut out the red-tape to increase its efficiency in cracking down groups with ill-intentions against the monarch, adding that his committee worked closely with related agencies and other six giant website service providers.

Chalerm reiterated that the royal insults is definitely unacceptable and illegal.

The offenders must be punished as stipulated by the law.

He added that some of them disguised themselves as red-shirt people to discredit the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship group.

Moreover, he said the premier has paid special attention to the matter by keeping updated on the progress weekly.

Democrat MP for Songkhla Province, Sirichoke Sopa, who is appointed as the adviser of the committee said the royal insults through cyberspace were spreading in social media, particularly on Facebook.

He added a total of 4,944 facebook users mobilized under the name “Underground Red-Shirt” is behind the defamation against the monarch.

He pointed out that most members are the red-shirt supporters who were warned in advance about the crackdown operation.

Additionally, they challenged that Chalerm will not dare to arrest them, as he will lose support from the red-shirt people.

He urged officers to rush in closing down the website after it has been opened for over a month.

In addition, he said the officers should also report the progress of the case which Pheu Thai MP Sunai Julapongsathorn and the DAAD core leader Jakrapop Penkae who are accused of anti-monarchy.

Meanwhile, Police Lieutenant General Worapong Chewpreecha clarified that the committee could close an illegal website that contains lese-majesty content within one to four days.

Earlier, 20 days are required for the operation.

Moreover, the committee has blocked 757 website URLs deemed inappropriate. As of now, they are investigating 1,453 cases.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-13

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Public Health Min raids illegal beauty clinic

BANGKOK, 13 January 2012 (NNT) - The Public Health Ministry has continued to close down illegal beauty clinics. Just recently, it has closed a clinic in Ramkhamhaeng area,with the hope of clamping down on three more of its branches.

Pasit Sakdanarong, Advisor to the Public Health Minister, yesterday led officials from the Department of Health Service Support and police to arrest operators of Porn Vimol Clinic on the opposite side of the Ramkhamhaeng University.

The clinic owner had neither a permit to operate the clinic nor a medical license. Police found many illegal medicines and medical devices such as steroid, Botox, glutathione, AHA, and laser equipment. Initially the owner has been charged with operating a clinic without a permit and practicing medicine without a license.

The owner said she had graduated in Western medicine but admitted that she did not have a medical license. The police are going to raid three more of its branches.

Mr Pasit has warned people to make sure that the beauty clinics they go to are legal, saying some medicines are illegal and medical equipment must be operated only by professionals , or it can be lethal.

-- NNT 2012-01-13