Thailand Live Thursday 28 Jun 2012

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Aussie stab suspects denied bail, behind bars

Phuket Gazette –

Australian tourists staying at the Katathani Beach Resort presented bouquets of flowers to Royal Thai Police Commissioner Prewpan Dhamapong to thank police for their quickly arresting the suspects. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Many tourists on Patong’s Soi Bangla thanked Commissioner Prewpan Dhamapong for quickly arresting the two suspects, and asked for more police to patrol the streets of Phuket to boost tourists’ confidence in their safety. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/565375-two-thai-men-confess-to-killing-aussie-michelle-smith-for-300-baht/page__st__325#entry5435367

[Lite Beer]

SET index ends up 14.89 pts, 1.29 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) closed on Wednesday at 1,165.98, up 14.89 points, or 1.29 per cent amid Bt31.35 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 809.75, up 11.24 points, or 1.41 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: SCB, KBANK, INTUCH, ADVANC, PTT.

-- The Nation 2012-06-28

[Lite Beer]

Thailand assures Japanese investors with flood prevention plans

OSAKA, 28 June 2012 (NNT) - The Industry Minister has led the management team from the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to Japan to assure Japanese investors of Thailand's flood prevention plan in a bid to create investor confidence.

During the roadshow to Japan, Industry Minister M.R. Phongsawat Svastiwat presented Thailand's industrial and investment promotion strategies to Japanese investors, while also providing assurance on Thailand's flood prevention system. The minister also informed the investors of the current economic situation in Thailand, by stating that the Thai economy is quickly recovering its strength after the flood crisis late last year. The minister, thus, took this opportunity to invite investors in Osaka, who are mainly in the metal and automobile industries, to make more investment in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) Akom Termpittayapaisit has provided more assurance to Japanese investors by informing Japanese investors of Thailand's development projects, which will be of benefit to Japanese investment in Thailand, such as the development of infrastructures and transportation network, as well as the country's ability to connect with the roads of other ASEAN countries, especially those situated in the Mekong region. Additionally, Mr. Akom also mentioned the cooperation project between the Thai and Lao governments to build a dam in order to create an energy security for the country.

At present, Japanese investors are the largest group of foreign entrepreneurs to invest in Thailand, and responsible for 45% of the investment projects, which applied for investment promotion measures from the BOI during the past 5 months.

-- NNT 2012-06-28

[Lite Beer]

Thailand to destroy almost 3 tonnes of illegal drugs Friday

BANGKOK, June 28 – Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will burn 2,755kg – nearly three tonnes -- of illegal drugs with a street value of Bt6.9 billion on Friday.

After inspecting 33 random samples of seized drugs at an FDA warehouse, Winai Monthapong, legal advisor of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board said the agency is set to incinerate a total of 2,755kg of narcotics confiscated in 1,023 cases at the Bang Pa-in industrial estate in Ayutthaya at 2pm.

The drugs to be destroyed include 1,936kg of methamphetamine worth Bt6.45 billion, 147kg crystal methamphetamine worth Bt433 million and 58kg of heroin worth Bt41 million.

He conceded there is a huge backlog of pending cases in the courts with a massive amount of seized narcotics which cannot yet be destroyed.

If a suspect pleads guilty, each trial can finish within two months otherwise it can be prolonged for one or two years. The faster the trial processes are, the sooner the seized drugs can be destroyed, Mr Winai said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-28

[Lite Beer]

New metro fare to come into effect in July

BANGKOK, 28 June 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (BMCL) has announced an adjustment to the metro fare, which is scheduled to come into effect in July 2012.

The BMCL has disclosed that it will hold a special promotion period to help relieve the public's financial burdens by maintaining the metro fare at the current rate of 15-40 baht for passengers using single journey tokens and standard stored-value cards from 3rd July to 2nd October 2012. Under the contract made with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the BMCL has been authorized to raise the transportation fare to 16-40 baht starting next month.

Meanwhile, a new rate will be applied to other types of tickets for children, senior citizens and students. The new fare will be effective during 3rd July 2012-2nd July 2014. However, a 50% discount will still be maintained for children and senior citizens.

Starting on 1st July, the price of the 30-Day Pass will be adjusted upward from 1,200 baht to 1,400 baht in line with the new fare rate. However, the 1-Day Pass and the 3-Day Pass will be maintained at the same price of 120 and 230 baht, respectively.

-- NNT 2012-06-28

[Lite Beer]

Prosecutor files lawsuit against Democrat MP Khanchit for alleged killing of former Samut Sakhon PAO chairman /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Somsak to ask Sonthi, Pheu Thai to withdraw reconciliation bills

House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon said Thursday that he would ask the sponsors of reconciliation bills to withdraw them from House agenda to reduce political tension and graphics.

Somsak said four reconciliation bills are pending the first reading when the next parliamentary session begins on August 1 but he saw that the bills should be first withdrawn.

Somsak the bills should be withdraw pending public hearings on reconciliation measures as suggested by the King Prajadhipok's Institute.

The for bills were sponsored by Matubhum Party leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin and Pheu Thai Party MPs.

Somsak said he raised the suggestion with Sonthi but the Matubhum leader, who headed a special House committee on reconciliation measures, had not yet accepted or rejected his proposal.

Somsak said he would also raise the issue with the strategic committee of the Pheu Thai.

-- The Nation 2012-06-28

[webfact]

Phuket MP petitions PM Yingluck, Chalerm for more police

Phuket Gazette

Phuket MP Raywat Areerob has asked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (above) to step in and help re-establish Phuket’s good name in the tourism industry. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Full story:

[webfact]

Indonesians nabbed with B2mn stolen from Phuket policeman

Phuket Gazette

Indonesian nationals (from right) Aldi Pratama, Yusuf Anwar and Tedi Usman Bin Husin were charged with stealing 2 million baht from a Phuket policeman. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanvrangkul did not explain what the 2 million baht in cash was for. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Four Indonesian men were arrested in Haad Yai, southern Thailand, yesterday while heading for the Malaysian border after stealing 2 million baht from a Phuket policeman.

Full story:

[webfact]

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

FDA to burn illicit drugs worth Bt6.9 billion

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will on Friday burn nearly three tonnes of illicit drugs confiscated during police raids with a street value of Bt6.9 billion.

Full story:

[webfact]

TrueVisions to increase number of HD channels to 17 on July 16

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TrueVisions, Thailand's biggest pay TV operator, will increase its number of high-definition channels to 17 starting on July 16, it announced Thursday.

Full story:

[webfact]

New metro fare to come into effect in July

BANGKOK, 28 June 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (BMCL) has announced an adjustment to the metro fare, which is scheduled to come into effect in July 2012.

The BMCL has disclosed that it will hold a special promotion period to help relieve the public's financial burdens by maintaining the metro fare at the current rate of 15-40 baht for passengers using single journey tokens and standard stored-value cards from 3rd July to 2nd October 2012. Under the contract made with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the BMCL has been authorized to raise the transportation fare to 16-40 baht starting next month.

Meanwhile, a new rate will be applied to other types of tickets for children, senior citizens and students. The new fare will be effective during 3rd July 2012-2nd July 2014. However, a 50% discount will still be maintained for children and senior citizens.

Starting on 1st July, the price of the 30-Day Pass will be adjusted upward from 1,200 baht to 1,400 baht in line with the new fare rate. However, the 1-Day Pass and the 3-Day Pass will be maintained at the same price of 120 and 230 baht, respectively.

-- NNT 2012-06-28

[webfact]

Prosecutor files lawsuit against Democrat MP Khanchit for alleged killing of former Samut Sakhon provincial administration organisation chairman /MCOT

[webfact]

Megaupload raid warrant 'invalid', New Zealand judge says

The search warrants used to raid the home of Megaupload owner Kim Dotcom were invalid, a New Zealand judge has ruled.

Full story:

[webfact]

Police Bt1 million reward for arrest of gold shop robbers

The Nation

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: -- Police Thursday announced the Bt1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of two armed robbers and the 80 per cent retrieval of Bt6 million-worth gold ornaments that the robbers stole from a gold shop in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Thab Sakae district.

Following the robbery in which two suspects, each armed with a shotgun, robbed Thong Ngam Silpa 2 Shop at 3pm Wednesday, Provincial Police Region 7 deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Pulsab Prasertsak presided over a meeting of investigators that night, analyzing security camera footage that captured the robbers.

Pulsab said the robbers seemed to be welltrained in weapon using and their robbery took less than two minutes, before speeding away against the traffic on a redblack Honda CB400 motorbike. Photos of the suspects and the bike were distributed to police and media and used in asking people in the neighborhoods.

-- The Nation 2012-06-28

[webfact]

35 swine-flu patients recover

The Nation

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- The 35 confirmed swine flu patients at the Nakhon Ratchasima's Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital had recovered back to normal, hospital director Dr Pitakpol Boonyamalik said Thursday.

Following the H1N1 influenza infection since June 19, the hospital implemented strict measures to prevent outbreak in the 14-day period, he said announcing that all of the 35 confirmed swine flu patients now had no fever, no coughing nor other complications but they would remain in the quarantine until July 2. Then the hospital on July 3 would do a major disinfecting the facility before opening for services as usual.

-- The Nation 2012-06-28

[webfact]

Phuket prison officer shot and robbed of Bt 3mn

Phuket Gazette

At the scene, police found a bullet hole in the driver's side window and blood stains on the driver's seat.

PHUKET: -- A Phuket prison officer was shot and robbed of 3 million baht in cash near Wat Chalong last night, in what police believe was a sweet business deal gone sour.

Full story:

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1171.32, up 5.34; Bt/USD31.75; GBP49.21; AUD31.85; EUR39.37; CAD30.78; HKD4.09; SGD24.69; JPY39.74

[webfact]

Eurozone debt crisis not worrisome to Thailand: Finance Minister

BANGKOK, June 28 - The current eurozone debt crisis is not worrisome to Thailand, thus no measures are needed to deal with the situation, a gathering of Thailand’s commerce counselors around the world was told today by the deputy prime minister/finance minister.

Full story:

[webfact]

Thai in-fight forces US to shelve climate study

BANGKOK, June 28, 2012 (AFP) - The United States has shelved plans for a climate research project based out of Thailand, its embassy said Thursday, after political bickering within the kingdom delayed approval for the scheme.

Full story:

[webfact]

Singapore buyer shells out B1.4bn in Evason Phuket buyout

Phuket Gazette

The sun sets on the Evason Phuket resort, which originally opened decades ago as the Phuket Island Resort – at the time, the only resort on the island. Photo: Evason Phuket file

The sale included the mostly vacant plot of 75 rai occupied by the Evason Phuket. Photo: Evason Phuket file

PHUKET: -- A subsidiary of Singapore firm LC Development has acquired the former Evason Phuket and Bon Island Resort for a total consideration of 1.4 billion baht, reports Phuket Gazette Property columnist Bill Barnett.

Full story:

[george]

Phuket officials blasted for inaction over mafia

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ion-over-mafia/

[Lite Beer]

Police push bill on public assembly

BANGKOK: -- Police are seeking Cabinet approval of a new version of a bill governing crowd-control operations to be used in the event of political rallies or protests.

Deputy National Police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said the new law would focus on four points: adopting lessons learned in previ

-- The Nation 2012-06-28

[Lite Beer]

Phi Phi Poisonings: Autopsy results on Canadian sisters ‘inconclusive’

Phuket Gazette –

The autopsies on the bodies of Canadian sisters Audrey and Noemi Belanger, found dead in their hotel room on Phi Phi Island on June 15, have failed to reveal a cause of death. Photo: Handout image

PHUKET: Krabi Police today announced that the autopsies conducted by Thai authorities on the bodies of Canadian sisters Audrey and Noemi Belanger failed to find any traces of drugs.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....s-inconclusive/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: The Bangkok Air Show is on 29-30 June at Don Muang International Airport, Cargo Terminal 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 29 Jun 2012