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[JBK.Ltd.]

Arrest warrants for 66 over Phuket riots
The Nation October 29, 2015

Arrest warrants have been issued for 66 persons allegedly involved in the October 10 riot at Phuket's Thalang Police Station, deputy national police chief Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakhan said yesterday, adding that probes into the protest that resulted in violence and into the deaths of two youngsters, which triggered the riot, were ongoing.

The warrants related to alleged violation of the Public Assembly Act and the Land Traffic Act, as well as the Criminal Code's arson charge. The names of wanted persons will be released to the media later, he said, urging those who were wanted to surrender to police. This month, hundreds of locals went on a rampage at Thalang Police Station over the death of two young drug suspects, who died in an accident that occurred during a police chase.

The rioters hurled rocks, set fire to cars and blocked roads. Many vehicles and the police-station building were damaged.

Chalermkiat also confirmed that the four policemen involved in the arrest of the two deceased suspects, who had been transferred to the 8th Regional Bureau pending results of the fact-finding probe by a panel led by the Phuket governor, were still working at the bureau. The probe by the governor's panel is expected to be completed in 30 days.

 

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Hua Hin beach oil clean-up begins
Writers: Pratch Rujivanarom & Apichat Hongsakul.
The Nation October 29, 2015

Navy command warns of more oil heading ashore

A "BIG CLEAN-UP" operation with 500 officials and members of the public was launched yesterday morning after the beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district was hit by an oil slick. As of press time, the Mineral Fuels Department was investigating the origin of the oil.

The slick began washing up along the 10-kilometre stretch of Hua Hin, starting from Khao Takieab beach to the Hua Hin Fishing Pier, since Tuesday evening. With the sand and seawater covered with foul-smelling black oil and garbage, the authorities warned tourists to stay out of the water and away from the beach until it was cleaned.

Apart from dispatching Navy officers to help with the clean up, the Naval Area Command also conducted an aerial survey yesterday and found a three-nautical-mile strip of oil drifting about a mile off the coast and looks poised to hit the shore soon. Command chief Vice Admiral Rangsarit Sattayanukul said the oil slick might stem from oil released by a commercial vessel.

Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wuttikul said the Hua Hin Municipality-led cleaning operation managed to clean the entire beach by the afternoon, as the amount of oil leaked was not very much.

Police complaint

However, Prachuap Khiri Khan governor Thawee Narisirkul, who also joined the "big clean-up" event, said that if no more oil washed ashore in the next day or two, people would be allowed to go into the sea again. Following the governor's instructions, the Hua Hin mayor later filed a complaint, so those behind the oil leak are punished.

So far though, the source of the oil slick remains unknown, and Veerasak Pungrassamee, acting director of the Mineral Fuels Department, said a team from SGS Thailand has been dispatched to collect samples for testing in a bid to work out the mystery.

"The oil slick samples from Hua Hin will be carefully compared with the oil from the Gulf of Thailand to determine whether it came from an oil rig in the area. It will take four to six weeks for the test results to be released," he added.
Veerasak added that the department has already checked on petroleum production, exploration and transportation operations in the Gulf and not found any oil leakage during that time.

As for the ecological impact, marine ecology expert Thon Thamrongnawasawat who also monitored the clean-up operation said only marine animals that live on the beach such as ghost crabs would be directly affected.

"I can see that only a small amount of the oil was on the beach, so it has not really had a significant impact on the marine ecology. However, some of the oil may seep into deeper layers of the sand and may have a greater environmental impact," Thon said.

 

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DSI seeks DNA samples of over 100 police officers
Writers: Pichet Netbutr & Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation SUKHOTHAI October 30, 2015

Investigators to screen out possibilities in the murder of Japanese woman in 2007
THE team investigating the murder of a Japanese tourist at Sukhothai Historic Park eight years ago will collect DNA samples and fingerprints of more than 100 border patrol police officers who underwent training at a camp near the crime scene at the time of the murder.

The border police officers have since been transferred to other provinces, including Chiang Mai, Nan, Phetchabun and Trat, while some have retired or passed away. However, Pol General Jaramporn Suramanee, special cases adviser at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), instructed the team to collect samples from all the officers.

They will also collect samples from the relatives of the deceased border police officers, according to Somneuk Terdkawinkul, a DSI senior investigator and secretary of the probe team.

The DSI officials and forensic experts yesterday visited Sukhothai province to collect DNA samples and fingerprints from 34 border patrol police officers, Somneuk said. The team also collected fingerprints from 30 other border patrol police officers (whose DNA samples had been collected before) as they volunteered to undergo further examination to express their sincerity and innocence.

He said the team had already collected DNA samples and fingerprints from 49 border patrol police officers in Phitsanulok province. Somneuk said the DNA samples would be submitted to the Central Institute of Forensic Science while the fingerprints would be submitted to the Police Forensic Centre if they matched those found on details collected from the victim's body.

Jaramporn said investigators were looking into who might have been in the area at the time of the murder, which occurred during the Loy Krathong Festival. He said none of the people who submitted DNA samples and fingerprint collection were suspects in the case and that the idea was to rule them out as possible suspects.

On November 25, 2007, Tomoko Kawashita, 27, was found stabbed to death near Wat Saphan Hin in the park. Local police investigated and collected DNA samples before passing the case to the public prosecutor in line with legal procedure, Jaramporn said. The police suspended interrogations but still continued the probe, he said.

Two years ago, the victim's family called for a speedy investigation into the murder, which prompted the DSI to treat it as a special case. Investigators have collected samples from 200 people, none of whom match the evidence collected from the scene and victim.

 

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Wages go up across the board: survey
The Nation October 30, 2015 1:00 am

WORKERS with vocational degrees enjoyed the highest average wage increase in the past seven years, according to a joint survey by Sripatum University and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Between 2009 and 2015, the average income for those with vocational certificates jumped by 57.85 per cent from Bt6,411 to Bt10,120, said Praphan Chaikidurajai, director of SPU's master of science in human resource management.

Those with high vocational certificates had a 53.32 per cent wage increase - Bt7,425 to Bt11,384. Holders of bachelor's degrees had a 41.59 per cent increase - Bt10,941 to Bt15,491. The average pay for someone with a master's degree rose 24.16 per cent - Bt16,952 to Bt21,047. The university researcher did not reveal the reasons for the increases. During the past seven years, Thailand's minimum wage rose to Bt300.

That ensured a minimum monthly wage of Bt9,000 for unskilled labour, forcing all employers to raise the wages of skilled labour. Pongdet Sriwachirapradit, vice chairman of FTI's Human Capacity Building Institute, revealed that the average wage for high-level company executives was Bt140,957, dropping to Bt68,201 for middle-level executives and Bt35,554 for primary-level executives.

The average salary for experienced professionals rose to Bt156,599 for high-level executives, to Bt79,245 for middle-level executives and to Bt40,386 for the primary-level executives. The annual survey, conducted on 110 businesses in 11 industries in June, also found that salaries were set to rise an average 5.04 per cent this year and the average bonus would be 2.3 months. The autoparts industry aimed to give the highest average bonus - seven months.

Almost half or 48 per cent of the surveyed businesses considered bonus payments based on a workers' performance, performance and experience (28 per cent) and a blanket bonus of 19 per cent.

The average staff turnover rate was 12.27 per cent and the most cited reasons for staff leaving a company was to get better wages and welfare, a work-related disgruntled feeling and a work relationship. The survey found that many businesses met the legal welfare requirement and some went beyond it.

Ninety-two per cent of the companies provided uniform welfare, 90 per cent provided death compensation, 87 per cent had an infirmary/clinic and 82 per cent provided group accident insurance.

 

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After Dark
Tricks for a long night of TREATS
Writer: MANTA KLANGBOONKRONG
THE NATION October 30, 2015 12:37 pm

Eleven Halloween freak-outs to sink your fangs into tomorrow
THOSE PEOPLE who make the calendars are just asking for trouble scheduling Halloween on a Saturday, but let the bat-chips fall where they may tomorrow - we're geared up and ghouled out for a frighteningly enjoyable weekend.

Among the multitude of holiday parties rising from crypts around town, we'll recommend a few worth pounding your stake into.

WINE PUB

Walk the bloody red carpet at the Pullman Bangkok King Power Wine Pub on Rangnam Road to be part of the inaugural Ghoul-den Globe Awards. Fiendish Hollywood-glam outfits will be the order of the evening as creepy cocktails are sold for Bt199 apiece and pumpkin conspicuously predominates on the blackboard menu.

Tables of four get a bottle of Chevalier de Malte Brut on the house. The best costume earns its wearer a Bt2,000 dinner voucher.

Call (02) 680 9999.

DEE LOUNGE

The Dee Lounge and Beer Garden at the Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit Sukhumvit is hosting an admission-free Haunted Halloween Party from 6 to midnight. The decorations are apt to be terrifying and folks will be getting their faces painted at no charge, so fortify yourself with Halloween-theme tapas and plenty of drinks (the latter complimentary for ladies in costume). There'll be live music from 7pm.

Call (02) 305 6000, extension 1631.

OVERGROUND

The Overground Bar & Cafe on Sukhumvit Soi 22 is where the zombies will be gathering after they dig their way out from underground. The free Zombie Prom Party will have its share of sexy monsters too, along with Halloween treats and rock tunes from the '60s and '80s courtesy of DJs Stuie and Soul Rebel. The horror starts at 9pm.

Call (062) 150 8300.

AXIS & SPIN

Axis & Spin at the Continent Hotel Bangkok near the Sukhumvit subway station will at 9pm be opening the gates to its "black castle", complete with icky dungeon. The dress code is "vintage ghost".

To calm the nerves, drinks will flow all night for a fee of Bt999, but as soon as you arrive and pay the Bt300 cover charge, you get a free tipple to get you going. Be there early to get your face painted too.

Call (02) 686 7000.

MAGGIE CHOO'S

Maggie Choo's, usually a ghastly enough opium den, is being transformed into the magical Land of Oz for Halloween. Doors open at 9pm; no admission charge; top costumes win free bottles; and Belvedere vodka is discounted.

Call (091) 772 2144.

KU DE TA

Famed for its annual Halloween frights, Ku De Ta Bangkok is sure to be supernatural with creative vibes, sexy beats, cool drinks and fabulous people. There are prizes for the scariest and sexiest outfits. Ladies get free entry and guys pay Bt400 with a launch-pad drink.

Call (02) 108 2000.

PLAYBOY PARTY

Playboy Thailand is hosting a Halloween Masquerade tomorrow at 8 in the Grand Postal Building on Charoen Krung Road, the only such bash licensed by Playboy in Asia. You'll need a mask to get in and enjoy performances by Joey Boy, Bodyslam and DJs Spydamonkee and Ono and rub shoulders and stuff with the Playboy Bunnies and Playmates. You'll also need Bt2,500 to get in, but the drinks are free all night.

Passes are on sale at Thai Ticket Major and (02) 957 5775.

ABOVE ELEVEN

Above Eleven on Sukhumvit Soi 11 is actually doing a good turn with its Halloween party tomorrow, with proceeds going to the Freeland Foundation to stop trafficking in people and wildlife. Headed by Pangina Heals, the musical crew will have a disco groove going on with original Studio 54 DJ Bert Bevans backed by resident DJ Luck-E, Harrington and others. Admission is Bt400 and includes a drink.

See www.AboveEleven.com.

LA MONITA

La Monita Taqueria near the Ploenchit Skytrain station offers that dreadful Mexican alternative to Halloween - Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. No tricks, only treats allowed, including a buy-one-get-two deal on Gold Margarita, Bt330 cocktails, and goodie bags for the kids. Tamales, a rare delicacy in Bangkok, will be served exclusively for this occasion.

Call (02) 650 9581.

22 KITCHEN

Jack-o-lanterns will add their eerie glow to the 22 Kitchen & Bar at the Dusit Thani Bangkok as guests clad in orange enjoy free-flowing Aperol cocktails, including the classic Negroni with a Halloween twist, from 7 to 9pm. Cocktails will be Bt99 a pop afterwards. Have your face painted, enjoy the Halloween set menu (Bt1,850) and dance to the music of DJ Xilli.

Call (02) 200 9000, extension 2345.

AQUA

It's the Night of the Living and the Dead tomorrow at Aqua at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel on Rajdamri Riad. Bloody cocktails will quench thirsts and DJ|sets will spook the night |away. Dress up in your ghoulish best to win prizes.

Call (02) 126 8866.

 

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ThaiBev extends contract with European champs Barca
The Nation October 30, 2015

Thai Beverage signed a threeyear extension to what it described as "more than a partnership, a memorable friendship" with Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona yesterday.
The company, which makes Chang beer, has been the regional partner of the Catalan side, winners of the La Liga title, Spanish Cup and the Champions League crown, since 2012.

"We decided to extend the contract with Barcelona as a gift to Thai people and football fans in the region. This is a football club that has several millions of fans around the world and our brand will become better known in international market via the partnership.

"We're very proud to support a great club like Barcelona as the official partner in Southeast Asia. We hope this partnership will provide inspiration to every Thai. We want to maintain the link and move forward together towards long-term success," said Prapakorn Thongtheppairot, the company's assistant director.

Barcelona CEO Ignacio Mestre pledged the club's support in developing Thai football.

"The club and the [Thaibev] company want to support the growth of football in the country. We'll do everything we can to make football bigger in the region. Barcelona believes not only in winning but winning in style. We want to pass on those values to the youngsters of this country," said the Barcelona chief.

 

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Textile factory razed by fire in Ratchaburi
30 Oct 2015 WRITER: SAICHON SRINUANJAN

Fire burns a textile fibre factory to the ground in Ratchaburi's Bang Phae district on Friday morning.
(Photo by Saichon Srinuanjan)

A fierce fire completely destroyed a textile fibre spinning factory in Ratchaburi’s Bang Phae district on Friday morning, causing about 3 million baht damage. Pol Maj Santi Noochuay, a duty officer at Bang Phae police
station, said the blaze was reported about 5.45am.

The flames spread quickly, fuelled by stacks of inflammable cloth. The blaze raged for three hours, razing the warehouse, which also contained a lot of machinery, before firemen brought it under control. Paisarn Wiwek, 50, owner of the factory, said he and his son Vorapong, 20, were sleeping at the factory when the fire broke out.

His son was woken by a loud sound, like an explosion, at the front of the factory and there was a power blackout, said Mr Paisarn. He immediately alerted the village chief, who contacted police. The factory, three complete textile fibre spinning machines, all electric appliances and at least 100,000 baht cash on the premises were destroyed.

Damage was initially set at 3 million baht. No casualties were reported. Police are investigating the cause, but suspected the fire was started by an electrical short circuit.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/749096/textile-factory-razed-by-fire-in-ratchaburi.

 

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Lat Krabang locals suffer canal stench
30 Oct 2015 | WRITER: SUPOJ WANCHAROEN

A residents pulls a dead fish out of the water in Khlong Prawet Burirom which runs through Min Buri and Lat Krabang districts. The polluted canal and its foul odour, allegedly caused by factories dumping waste into the water, have sparked complaints by residents.  (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

Desperate residents along Khlong Prawet Burirom have threatened to take their grievance over a severely polluted canal to the highest levels of government. Suchin Kummanee, head of the Sangkharacha community in Lat Krabang district along Khlong Prawet Burirom said almost 20,000 residents in 20 communities along the canal have been affected by polluted water and the resulting stench.

Water quality in the canal has deteriorated over the years, Mr Suchin said, blaming factories and housing estates near the community for the problem. He said the water was turning from grey to black as the problem worsened. He said affected residents had earlier reported the water pollution, particularly the stench, to the Lat Krabang district office, which insists it is doing its best to handle the problem.

The community head said officials from the district had collected a water sample for lab testing and the results showed the quality was acceptable. But the large number of dead fish in front of Lan Boon temple contradicted these claims.

"The quality of the water is not conducive for fish to live," he said. He said the water smell and a plague of mosquitoes had physical and emotional consequences for residents, while the poor water quality has affected the lives of aquatic animals.

Despite water inspections and tests by authorities, no progress had been made, Mr Suchin said. Affected residents plan to file a separate complaint about the water pollution with Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, urging them to help solve the problems.

He didn't give a specific date. Residents believed the problem of polluted water stems from waste released from
nearby factories, Mr Suchin said. He dismissed claims that residents throw waste from their households into the canal, saying communities had launched a campaign to improve the water quality and avoid discarding garbage into the canal.

Residents took the Bangkok Post to inspect the water quality in the canal that passes through Min Buri and Lat Krabang districts in Min Buri district. The water in the canal in Min Buri district was found to be clear with no smell. But the condition of water between Bung Ta Nuay and Sangkharacha community, a distance of about 10km, was found to be black and stagnant with an unpleasant smell.

Lat Krabang district director Sin Nititadakul said a team from the environment and sanitary department was sent to test for levels of dissolved oxygen in the canal on Oct 24 and found it at 0.17mg per litre. Authorities had diverted polluted water from the canal to solve the problem, Mr Sin said, adding the amount of dissolved oxygen increased to 0.67mg per litre at another inspection on Oct 28.

Mr Sin insists authorities monitor the quality of discharge from factories every month and the results were found to be satisfactory. The district director said the polluted water could be caused by waste water released from agricultural areas in the district.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/748368/lat-krabang-locals-suffer-canal-stench.

 

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'Sia Oud' kills himself
Writer: Mongkhonchaowarat Tangmangmee The Nation October 31, 2015

Sitthikorn

Flast note points to lack of 'virtue and truth' in people he helped
ONE of the country's best-known amulet makers took his own life at the end of Buddhist Lent.

Sitthikorn Boonchim, 44, better known as Sia Oud, was found dead in his Phitsanulok hotel room on Thursday night. There were no signs of a struggle or an assault.

He left a suicide note.

"I have not found any virtue and truth in the people to whom I have lent a hand," he wrote.

Sitthikorn also wrote that he planned to overdose on sleeping pills at the end of Buddhist Lent. Several empty packs of sleeping pills were found in the hotel room along with cancer medication. A friend of Sitthikorn asked hotel staff to check on the amulet maker on Thursday night when he could not contact him.

"During the past week we ate out together every day. So it was suspicious that he abruptly stopped contacting me," the friend said. He said Sitthikorn arrived in Phitsanulok on October 21 and they met every day. Their last meal was on Tuesday. "We have been friends since 2013," the young man said.

Born on April 3, 1971, to a poor family, Sitthikorn described himself as a self-made man. He was once a high-profile and tremendously rich amulet maker. At the height of his career, he appeared in news reports after he offered overseas sightseeing trips and a Mini Cooper to a famous actor and singer. News reports suggested he might have dated several other heartthrobs too.

Sitthikorn's life began to spiral out of control after several amulet buyers complained that his company wrongfully advertised that the production and distribution of amulets had been backed by the Palace since late 2007. In late 2008, the Criminal Court sentenced Sitthikorn to five years in jail for public fraud related to the use and imitation of an official emblem without permission.

In mid-2013, Sitthikorn completed his jail term. As he walked out of jail, he said: "I will strictly stick to the principles of virtue and righteousness from now on." In the suicide note he donated a large sum of money from an amulet-making project to be used to construct an elderly care facility at Chiang Mai University's faculty of medicine.

He also encouraged Thais to donate money for this good cause. In the note, Sitthikorn asked his younger brother not to hold funeral rites for him but simply to cremate his body.

 

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Juvenile Court to hear 'Carmen' case
The Nation October 31, 2015

Gay couple Gordon Allan Lake, left, and Manuel Valero with their daughter, Carmen, who was conceived by a Thai surrogate. The men have asked the Juvenile Court to rule out the surrogate mother

THE Central Juvenile Court yesterday accepted the "Carmen" surrogacy case, and said it will start hearing witness testimonies next year.
American Gordon Allan Lake, the biological father of Carmen, a baby girl conceived via a Thai surrogate, and his Spanish husband Manuel Valero are suing the surrogate over the right to raise the Child.

The Juvenile Court is scheduled to start proceedings in the case in March. It will require both parties to undergo DNA tests. Gordon revealed after the court session that he and his family have already stayed in the country for more than 10 months fighting for the right to raise Carmen.

"We are very sad today, even though we know we will win in the end because we did not do anything wrong and because Carmen loves us and we love Carmen and common sense will win and our family will be recognised," he said.

The case became public when the surrogate, "Oil", asked the authorities to prevent the gay couple from leaving the country with Carmen and asked for the right to raise her.

 

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Tougher penalties for people who flee after violating their probation
Writer: Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai. The Nation October 31, 2015

Stronger punishments will be handed down to people who violate their probation after the Department of Probation found an alarmingly high number of violations.

Of the some 300,000 people placed on probation after serving their sentence, more than 30,000 fled after violating their probation. Department of Probation director-general Pol Colonel Narat Sawetanan said the figure was quite high, especially given there was average of 10 prison escapes each year per 300,000 prisoners.

Narat said social measures would be used in an attempt to intensively control probationers.

People who flee after breaking the terms of their probation cannot renew their driver's licence, which the Department of Probation will coordinate with the Department of Land Transport.

They cannot be ordained a monk the measure will be coordinated with the National Office of Buddhism. Narat said the office was concerned offenders had entered the monkhood and tarnished its reputation. Probationers who flee also cannot get a passport. That measure will be coordinated with the Foreign Ministry.

Narat has passed the policy to the directors of 105 probation offices around the country.

He wants probation system to benefit to society, with the policy implemented via the allowing measures creating a unique system for the country; a corruption-free zone; new thinking; using technology; proposing statistics; beginning integration; and coordinating arrests. All involved agencies are required to urgently enforce the policy to control probationers.

 

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Thaksin posts photo wearing red
The Nation November 1, 2015

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra posted his photo wearing a red shirt on his Instagram wall Sunday.

On his @thaksinlive wall, Thaksin said he wore the red shirt to show moral support for those who love democracy and seek justice. "But my red shirt has yellow colour at the heart because I would like to see reconciliation in the country that I love and care," Thaksin posted.

"Those who wear red today have following reasons. First, it's fashion trend. Second, it's Sunday and the colour of the day is red. Third, they have several red shirts at home and happen to wear one. And fourth, those, who share the same opinion with me and who are red-shirt people, want to see justice and democracy return to the country."

Thaksin added: "Anyone who would like to win the hearts of red-shirt people can do it easily without having to use guns and laws. It needs only justice and mercy to win the hearts of red-shirt people and it will save a lot of budget".

On the same day, Thaksin's son, Panthongtae, posted his picture wearing white shirt on his Instagram wall. The photo showed Panthongtae's back with a print that says "this shirt is red". He posted: "Today, I'll lend you, Aung Poo [former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra], moral support without wearing red."

He also used the hashtag of "obeying by 99.99 per cent" in the post.

Some red-shirt leaders in the North have called on supporters of Thaksin and Yingluck to wear red shirts Sunday to show moral support for Yingluck who is facing criminal charges related to the rice-pledging schemes. But other red-shirt leaders disagreed with the planned campaign and urged the red-shirt people not to join the campaign.

 

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Family of 'Sia Oud' convinced he committed suicide
MONGKOLCHAOWARAT TANGMANGMEE/THE SUNDAY NATION
PHITSANULOK November 1, 2015

THE family of Sitthikorn "Sia Oud" Boonchim is convinced the famous amulet maker committed suicide. Yesterday they collected his body at Buddhachinaraj Hospital ahead of a funeral ceremony in his hometown in Rayong.

Pol Lieutenant Amnart Onpan, who is investigating the death, said Sitthikorn's younger brother Thawatchai showed police Sitthikorn's will. Thawatchai informed police that in early October Sitthikorn told him to follow what was in the will - but he thought his brother was joking, the officer said.

Handwriting in the document matched writing in a suicide note left in the Phitsanulok hotel room where Sitthikorn's body was found on Thursday night. There was no sign of a struggle in the room. The hotel is located in Muang district.

Amnart quoted Thawatchai as saying he chatted with Sitthikorn via Line without knowing his brother would later overdose on sleeping pills. Amnart said police were waiting for the autopsy results to confirm the cause of death. In his suicide note, Sitthikorn asked his younger brother not to hold funeral rites for him but simply cremate his body. However, the family said there would be rites at a ceremony at Wat Suwanrangsan in Rayong.

Sitthikorn's elder brother Chaowalit Boonchim, who went to the morgue with Thawatchai to collect the body, said Sitthikorn was the third oldest of five brothers.

Banchangkanchakul Wittaya School teacher Darun Khongtharat and her son Piano were also at the morgue. Darun said she knew Sitthikorn since 2003 and Sitthikorn had actively supported youth promotion activities and granted 57 scholarships to children that enabled many kids to graduate from university with a bachelor's degree.

 

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Nigerian, Filipina nabbed with 'ice'; Lahu men killed
THE SUNDAY NATION November 1, 2015

THE Narcotics Suppression Bureau arrested a Nigerian man and a Filipina woman while seizing 15 kilograms of crystal meth ('ice') at a condo in Bang Phli in Samut Prakan on Thursday.

Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Rewat Klinkesorn told a press conference yesterday that Chukwunonso Victor Oputa, 24, and Marilou David Morales, 41, had been charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell. In another case, a man identified as Yutthana Kaewsai was arrested and 17,510 'yaba' pills seized on Friday as he was allegedly delivering the drugs, which were hidden in a speaker, to a customer in Pluak Daeng in Rayong.

Earlier on Friday afternoon, Rewat inspected the scene where two Lahu drug suspects were killed in a clash with narcotics police in Chiang Mai's Fang district. At the scene were their bodies, two pistols and a backpack containing 50,000 'yaba' pills. The scene of the shootout was near Ban Wiang Wai-Nong Yao Road in Tambon San Sai.

Police claimed the duo resisted arrest and opened fire so police fired back. Rewat said the dead men belonged to a Lahu drug dealing group which used the area as a transit point. He said the group was also linked to "Colonel Jalobo", an influential figure who allegedly operates a drug ring in the Thai-Myanmar border area.

Meanwhile, Rayong police chief Maj-General Chumpol Chanthajamrassilp told a press conference that Pollawat Boonmee, 31, and Suriyo Soiraya, 26, were arrested on Friday when 78,000 'yaba' pills and two pistols with 10 bullets were seized.

Police say they arrested the pair as they placed a pack of 2,000 pills at a designated spot on a highway for accomplices to pick up.

 

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Pickup overturns; 4 Cambodians killed
• 1 Nov 2015 • WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

PRACHIN BURI - Four Cambodians were killed and 20 others injured when a pickup truck overturned on Highway 359 in Kabin Buri district early Sunday, police said.

Pol Capt Sahawat Dathong, the duty officer at Wang Takhian police station, said the accident occurred at about 5am between kilometre markers 31 and 32 near Ban Non in tambon Wang Tachang of Krabin Buri district.

The pickup was taking 27 people, all of them Cambodian migrant workers and their children, from Bangkok and Chon Buri to the Cambodian border. The workers, who had been laid off from their jobs, hired the vehicle to take them to Sa Kaeo province to cross the border to go home.

Witnesses told police that they heard a loud noise, probably from the bursting of a tyre. The pickup suddenly swerved and overturned, spraying bodies everywhere. Two people were killed on the spot and two died on the way to hospital. Twenty were admitted to Kabin Buri Hospital.

The driver of the pickup truck fled the scene before the police arrived.

 

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Temple abbot 'key player' in KCUC scandal
DSI believes monk helped siphon off cash
30 Oct 2015 / NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS WRITER: KING-OUA LAOHONG

The DSI says founder Phra Dhammachayo (inset) of Wat Dhammakaya was directly involved in use of embezzled funds, part of which went to new buildings at the wat, above. (Bangkok Post file photos)

Wat Phra Dhammakaya's abbot Phra Dhammachayo was among several people who may have played a key role in the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) embezzlement scandal, says the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Pol Lt Col Pakorn Sucheevakun, director of the Bureau of Financial and Banking Crime, leads the DSI team investigating the scandal and its links to the temple. He said 21 cashier cheques worth more than 1.2 billion baht
each were paid to the temple, its monks and its foundation for Buddhist nuns from March 5, 2009 to Feb 15, 2011.

All the cheques were paid by the cooperative and authorised by former KCUC chairman Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, a key suspect in the scandal. Pol Lt Col Pakorn said investigators believed this indicated the suspects' intentions to collude with Mr Supachai to siphon money from the cooperative's accounts.

Phra Dhammachayo, also known as Phra Thepyanmahamuni, and the remaining suspects face charges of money laundering, theft, corruption and dereliction of duty. Wat Dhammakaya's media relations officer Phra Sanitwong Wuttiwangso did not return calls seeking the temple's comments, but one of his assistants told the Bangkok
Post: "We have nothing to say except 'let justice run its course'.  "

Pol Lt Col Pakorn said the DSI will wrap up the investigation and forward its findings to public prosecutors next week. Charges may be filed against more suspects depending on the prosecutors' consideration of the DSI's investigation findings, he added.

In March, the DSI revealed it had investigated 878 cheques worth 11.3 billion baht paid by the cooperative and authorised by Mr Supachai. Of these cheques, 43 were worth 932 million baht and were paid to Wat Phra
Dhammakaya and its monks, including abbot Phra Dhammachayo. In addition, 27 cheques worth 348 million baht were paid to temple followers with close ties to Mr Supachai.

This included 12 cheques worth 272 million baht paid to ex-Wat Phra Dhammakaya monk Sataporn Wattanasirikul and his SW Holding Group, and three worth 46 million baht paid to the Mongkol Setthi Credit Union Cooperative, which was founded by Mr Supachai.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/748348/temple-abbot-key-player-in-kcuc-scandal.

 

[JBK.Ltd.]

Ja Ja! Även munkar är inte fläckfria

 

[Anonym]

Ja Ja! Även munkar är inte fläckfria

Finns massor med lurendrejare i munkvärlden.

 

[JBK.Ltd.]

Lion Air flight cancelled after passenger makes bomb joke
The Nation November 2, 2015

photo: planespotters
A Lion Air flight was abruptly cancelled yesterday afternoon after one of the passengers jokingly suggested that his carry-on bag might have contained explosives in his bid to attract a flight attendant, an ongoing police investigation revealed.
Pol Colonel Surachet Bandhit, superintendent of Don Muang Police Station, said yesterday the joke was made when a flight attendant was about to put the bag in the overhead bin.

"In line with safety procedures, the flight attendant decided to alert the captain. After that, the flight was cancelled, all passengers were evacuated, and the man who mentioned the explosives on the flight was handed over to investigators," Surachet said.

According to him, the man - identified as Pichit Boondaeng - told police that he just meant to tease the flight attendant as he wanted to woo her.

An explosive-ordnance-disposal team found no bombs inside Pichit's bag.

The 23-year-old suspect was charged with spreading false information that caused panic inside an aircraft. If convicted, he may face up to five years in jail and/or a maximum fine of Bt200,000.

Lion Air is also preparing to sue him for compensation because his action caused serious commercial damages as the flight could not provide services as scheduled.

The flight's route was from Don Mueang Airport to Hat Yai Airport.