Pattaya-stone Cops

In typical Thai fashion, local residents “mung doo”, or gather around to gawk at and gossip about the goings on at the crime scene, while our would-be hero sits ignominiously on the sidewalk, handcuffed by police being his only reward for trying to help.

A comedy-drama of errors occurred recently at a house adjacent to the Chark Ngaew Public Health Centre, when Banglamung police received a report that a burglar was holding a women hostage inside her house.
When police reached the scene of the crime, they found the area full of residents gawking through the gates to the house, where a young women, whose name police learned was Ms. Phimporn Changthong, 19, was supposedly being held captive. Police immediately sur-rounded the house to find a way to help the woman and to catch the criminal if he tried to escape.
As police were expertly searching the area, they found Mr. Sutin Leumsaeng, 38, a construction worker who had come out of the back yard and was dressed in a messy manner and was rather drunk. Police arrested the man as he appeared to be the captor of the hostage.
It turns out that Mr. Sutin was not a criminal but a would be hero who had been passing by in his truck. When he had heard Ms. Phimporn screaming for help, he had tried to come to her assistance. His slightly inebriated state and bad luck caused police to arrest him. The officers refused to believe residents when they told them again and again that he was not the villain. The villain had escaped long before they had arrested Sutin.
Police eventually entered the house and found Ms. Phimporn hiding in the bedroom in a state of terror. After she calmed down, she told police that she had been ironing in the house. The front gate and doors were locked, but the back door was open. While ironing she saw a man enter the house. He was wearing a polo shirt over his head with 2 eye-holes cut out of it. When she saw him, she quickly ran to the bedroom and locked and bolted the door behind her. She then began calling for help. Neighbours had called the police, assuming that the masked man was still in the house.
While she was reporting this to the police, Mr. Charoen Changthong, the owner of the house, returned. After examining the premises, he said that two boxes of holy images, worth a little over 10,000 baht, were the only things taken. The thief left a fruit knife and his mask in the chapel of the house. Officers kept these as evidence.
The red faced officers, after releasing the inebriated “hero” Sutin, surmised that there were no more than 2 thieves involved in the burglary, and that they thought the crime might have been perpetrated by the infamous and slippery “cat burglar of Pattaya.”

“Official” AIDS statistics released

Although “official” statistics about the AIDS epidemic in Thailand are viewed by many as ambiguous, especially since no information is ever given as to where the statistics come from or how they are compiled, there is no denying that a problem exists.
The following information was released by Ms. Sumonta Thanyaphol, Deputy Governor of Rayong Province. The information came to us in Thai and was translated verbatim. Again, no information was included as to how, or from what sources, the information was obtained. Pattaya Mail releases this information as a public service to raise awareness of the problem, and claims no responsibility to the accuracy of the report.
Ms. Sumonta Thanyaphol, the Deputy Governor of Rayong Province, recently released the following information on the AIDS situation in Thailand.
As of October 31st, 1996, there were 69,675 cases of AIDS/HIV in Thailand.
20,584 people were in the second stage and 13,339 have already died.
80.02% of AIDS cases were caused by risky sex.
The age in which most cases occur is in individuals between 25-29 years of age. 28.40% of the cases were found in this group.
The employment group in which most cases were found was labourers-general employees. 46.12% of the cases were found in this group.
The following is a list of the ten provinces with the highest number of AIDS cases in Thailand.
1. Chiang Mai 6,867
2. Chiang Rai 5,098
3. Bangkok 4,670
4. Phayao 2,764
5. Lampang 2,373
6. Rayong 1,759
7. Lamphoon 1,454
8. Chonburi 1,242
9. Khon Kaen 1,047
10 Ratchburi 860
Total 28,134
This report is issued to inform the public of the AIDS situation in Thailand.

Speed dealer busted

Banglamung police, acting on a tip-off that amphetamines were being sold in Daraban Housing project, went to the scene and asked to search the interior of a house belonging to Ms. Riem Phromthorn-phanao, 24. Police found 145 amphetamine tablets in a white plastic bag hidden in a kitchen cabinet.
From questioning Ms. Riem, officers learned that she worked in a beer bar in South Pattaya. She sold ampheta-mines as a way to supplement her income. She said her customers were both Thai and foreign.
She was arrested, and could face the death penalty under Thailand’s law against selling amphetamines.

Mr. “Ghost” becomes a ghost

Mr. Phi (Ghost), a vagrant who hung about in the area of the Lady Tabtim Shrine on Beach Road near the Siren Bar in South Pattaya, died of unknown causes last week. Unfortunately, his final resting place (before being carried away for cremation) was next to a waste bin, perhaps a cosmic metaphor of the end of his life.
On the day of his death, a patrol car was hailed by a citizen and officers were told that a man had fallen down dead next to a waste bin while walking.
At the scene, police found Mr. Paeng, 52, putting a garland on the body of Mr. Phi (ghost). Mr. Paeng said he didn’t know his real name or who he was, but that he liked to get drunk every day.
On the day of his death, Mr. Paeng saw him stagger and then fall down. He said that as many people walked and sat in the area of the Lady Tabtim Shrine, people probably thought he was just another dozing tourist.
The body was taken for autopsy.

“Major” wife’s revenge

“Major” wife, Ratana, perhaps calling her lawyer from Pattaya police station to finally put an end to the soap opera like saga.

Mr. Subin Kwanmuang, embroiled in a major wife vs. minor wife dispute, asked police to arrest his major wife, Ratana Nuekmai, on charges of theft.
Subin said he was now living with his minor wife, but still supported his six year old child from his major wife. He could not believe it when he came home from work and found his house totally cleaned-out.
He went to his major wife’s mother’s house and found Ratana drinking with a group of friends.
When questioned by police, Ratana said it was very upsetting that Subin had decided to have a minor wife and why shouldn’t she sell everything? Police went to the pawn shop, found the goods and acted as go-between for Subin and Ratana. No charges were filed and Ratana agreed to get the goods out of the pawnshop. Officers then suggested and helped her to file for divorce.

Did the katoey kamoy?

A tourist from mainland China was the victim of a robbery while watching a local cabaret show. Zho Xiao Hong, 27, said her purse had been robbed of 200,000 baht worth of cash and valuables.
Police arrived on the scene and learned that there were many tourists having their pictures taken with the transvestites who work at the club. Ms. Hong told police that she had come to see the show with a group of friends. But as she herself had seen the show many times, she did not go in, opting to wait outside.
Two of her male companions brought the groups’ bags and left them in her care for safekeeping and then went inside to see the show.
After the show, the performers came outside so the audience could have their pictures taken with them. Ms. Hong had many pictures taken with them herself, and afterwards, when the two men came to collect their bags, she opened her purse and found all her valuables missing.
Missing were: 28,000 baht in Chinese currency (Yuan), a ruby ring worth 56,000 baht, a diamond ring worth 14,500 baht, a gold and diamond encrusted Buddha worth 30,000 baht and a credit card issued by the Bank of (Mainland) China.
The police found no suspects at the scene of the robbery, and surmise that the perpetrator was probably one of the transvestites who did it during the crowded photo session.
The officers returned to the station to record the theft in the day book.

Oy Falang!

Having never heard of officer Chachawan the police invite the feisty Frenchmen to enjoy a night of complementary accommodations on Soi 9.

On January 24th, Tourist Police arrested Mr. Bernard De Levy (sic), 40, and Mr. Antony Christian (sic), both French nationals. The men were charged with disturbing the peace and public quarrelling and drunk and disorderly conduct.
Tourist police said that on their regular patrol in a squad car, they reached the centre of Soi Post Office when they saw the two men engaged in a fight, no-one daring to try and stop them. This was because both men said they knew a police officer named Chachawan and no-one dared arrest them.
Even after being arrested by tourist police and taken to Pattaya police station they were still talking about their police friend, Chatchawan. But police weren’t interested in who they knew. They were put in jail to await trial.
When police asked for their passports they said they didn’t have them on them. The police were very upset by this and asked them didn’t they know that all foreigners in Pattaya must carry their passports at all time to facilitate police checks? They should not leave their passports sitting at home.

Cat Burglar on the prowl in Pattaya

Victims of the “Cat Burglar” report their losses at Pattaya Police Station.

Several recent thefts in Pattaya, all of which seem to have been perpetrated with the same m.o., are being attributed by police to one or two individuals whom police are referring to as “cat burglars”.
The following burglaries, all of the ‘cat’ burglar type, are believed to have been committed by this person or persons:
Pattaya tourist, Mr. Jorgen Thunben (sic) a Danish national, reported to police that his room had been jimmied open at the balcony door. The thief had entered and stealthily made away with his credit cards, passport, driver’s license, bankbook, a chequebook, 500 US Dollars, 400 Thai baht, and a camera taken from the safe in his room.
An Austrian tourist had over 60,000 baht worth of valuables taken from his hotel room.
An Australian had all of his valuables stolen, worth approx. 100,000 baht.
A German tourist lost about 95,000 baht worth of goods to the thief.
Another German national lost 95,000 baht in cash and goods.
The total of all reported losses thus far amounts to approx. 500,000 baht.
Police say that there were no less than 2 thieves working together. The thieves had studied their victims, knew when the tourists would be going out, and took advantage of their absence to clean them out. They also knew all the exits, as the getaways were so smooth. Investigations continue.

East meets East?

The middle-aged wanna-be pugilists get signed in by Pattaya’s finest.

Pattaya Police rushed to the scene after receiving a report of a brawl between Thais and Koreans at the Royal Hotel Karaoke.
At the site of the fight, police found over 10 Korean nationals involved in a bloody melee with Thai hotel employees, many of whom were using iron pipes as weapons. When the Korean tourists, who have apparently been in Pattaya long enough to speak Thai, saw the officers, they threw down their pipes and ran.
Police were able to apprehend 2 Koreans and 1 Thai who was bruised over his entire body. The Koreans were taken to the police station for questioning.
Upon reaching the police station, Korean national, Mr. Chang Phan Dae, and Thai national, Mr. Somchai Nuangjamnong, both told police that they did not want to file charges against each other. Instead, they shook hands and tried to leave.
The police filed charges, though, of public unruliness, and fined each 100 baht.

Drunken driving leads to accident

A pink jeep carrying Russian tourists collided with the kerb, lost its balance and overturned, injuring two passengers, Elena Dorbechova, 31, and Elena Kosikova, 30. The two were wounded and required medical treatment.
The driver, Aleksander Fadis, 31, admitted to having the accident. The tourists had apparently been out drinking and were returning to their hotel.
Fadis was charged with reckless driving and endangering others.

Aren’t I as good as a Farang?

The love-sick and broke, “rich” actor, after his amorous advances were spurned by an ungrateful waitress, is forced to empty his pockets of what little money he had left to pay compensation to his victim.

Thai women in Pattaya, as much as foreigners, seem to be stereotyped by their own countrymen. At least that seemed to be the case last week on Soi 7.
Pattaya police responded to a report of an altercation at the entrance to Soi 7. Arriving at the scene, police found a man and a women in a very heated argument.
From questioning, police learned that Ms. Ornanong Tattanawongsa, 19, a bona fide waitress at a restaurant on Soi 7, was walking out of the Soi after work when accosted by Boonchoo Laosing, 24, from the cab of his pickup.
Boonchoo, who is an actor in a traditional Thai Likay theatre, had parked his truck and hailed Ornanong at the top of his voice, asking if she would like to have sexual relations with him.
Ornanong was so confused and afraid by this verbal assault that she replied that she was going home to sleep. The helpful Boonchu offered to give her a ride home and told her he would buy her a drink. Ornanong told him that she had never seen him before and to please go away and leave her alone. Seeing that he was very drunk, she walked as far away from the truck as possible.
Boonchu drove the truck after her and came to a stop, blocking her way. He then proceeded to ask why she would not sleep with him. Did she think he didn’t have any money just because he was Thai and not a Farang?
This made Ornanong understandably angry and being already afraid, she yelled for residents of nearby houses to please help her and call police, which they did.
A very drunken Boonchoo told police that he didn’t understand why these Thai women sold themselves to Farangs but not to him. He boastfully continued that he was with a Likay troupe and after finishing that evening’s performance was out looking for free sex from a prostitute and that he was very handsome. Police had heard enough and ordered him to pay 1,000 baht to Ornanong for defamation of character in a public place. But the braggart Boonchu only had 160 baht on him, so police fined him that amount and gave him a stern lecture and a warning.

Police raid nets amphetamine dealers

Police Colonel Kasem Sangkhapan, Commander of the Banglamung District Police, released news that officers had apprehended 3 amphetamine dealers and confiscated 404 tablets of the dangerous substance.
The Colonel and a special unit burst into an unnumbered house on a nameless Soi in Banglamung only 500 metres from the Banglamung police station. Narcotics officers had received a tip-off that the house was a source of amphetamines and the dealers main customers were teenagers and students.
122 orange tablets were found hidden in the bedroom of Mr. Suradej Khiendee, 19. Police confiscated the drugs and took the suspect for questioning. Suradej confessed to selling drugs provided by a wholesaler. He said that business was good so he kept selling. He sold the tablets for 100 baht each.
Another haul was made when police searched a newly-built numberless house in Soi Nern Plab Warn where 132 tablets were confiscated. Mr. Sutin Thavilwong, 29, admitted that the drugs were his and he had them hidden under his mattress.
They also searched Ms. Chan Dahngoh, 32, who had 150 tablets hidden in her brassiere.
Sutin admitted bringing the tablets from Minburi and wholesaling them for 40 baht after which they were retailed for 100 baht. He said as there was a police drug clean-up in Minburi, he decided to move to Pattaya.

Profitable pot bust in Pattaya

Boonliem was arrested in his home for possession of 2.5 kilograms of marijuana.

Boonliem Saiyorm, a 37 year old employee of the P.P. company in Pattaya, was arrested with almost 3 kilograms of marijuana last week as he sat in his house on Soi Thepasit partaking his cash crop.
His supply of marijuana was in 70 small plastic bags and two large fertiliser bags which contained 2 and one half kilograms of the illicit herb.
He confessed that his job as a guard did not pay so well so he decided to augment his income. He went and bought marijuana in Cambodia for 500 baht a kilogram, then retailed small bags of it for 50 baht each. One kilogram would provide enough for 200 small bags, making it a very profitable business. He had just brought 3 kilograms in from Cambodia and was preparing to sell his stash to bar girls in Pattaya.
He was sent for questioning and booking to the central investigation division.

MPs join war against drugs

Vitaya Khunpluem, MP from Chonburi, said that the Chart Thai party realised that addictive drugs, especially amphetamines, are a large problem among teenagers and young people in Chonburi.
He said that the Chart Thai Party is now formulating a plan to institute a program to remedy this situation, which has received much attention from the extremely powerful Ministry of the Interior.
The Chonburi MPs have made signs of cloth with anti-drug slogans These will be put up all over the province.
There will be free anti-drug concerts by famous pop and rock singers in April.
There are many other programs which will be revealed soon.
The MPs ask for the public’s help in the war against drugs.

Local government wages war on drugs

Heads of local political organisations have stepped up their efforts to rid the populace of drugs in an attempt to improve the overall well-being of the citizenry.
Sujarit Pajchimnan, the Governor of Chonburi, Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, the Mayor of Pattaya and Thonglor Amphung, the head of the Citizen’s Volunteer Protection Committee presided over a meeting of over 500 volun-teers.
The stated purpose of the meeting was to find a solution to the drug problem which is invading the villages and affecting lives. The stated goal of the meeting was to strengthen efforts to wage war on every type of addictive drug.
The drugs targeted in the ‘war on every type of drug’ were amphetamines, which are an epidemic among teenagers.
The volunteers, being part of the community, were to sniff out and turn in all those selling and using addictive drugs and notify police at once.
At the end of the meeting, the governor awarded certificates to 21 people who had completed first aid or self-defence courses.

Baht Bus drivers meet for workshop

Baht bus drivers learn to be better ambassadors of their country.

Over 200 mini-bus drivers were called together late last month for a meeting of the Mini-Bus Co-operative at the Grand Sole Hotel. Sujarit Pujchimnan presided at the meeting, which doubled as a workshop for drivers in maintaining their level of service to the public.
Given that the number one tourist complaint concerns the attitudes and conduct of baht bus drivers, community leaders and leading members of the Mini-Bus Co-operative have taken it upon themselves to work on this problem. The main theme of the workshop was to give drivers helpful hints in obeying laws, existing policy and providing efficient service to passengers.
As Pattaya is a destination for both Thai and foreign tourists, special emphasis was put on development of service which will leave a good impression on those foreign and Thai tourists visiting Pattaya.
The workshop also increased drivers’ awareness of their responsibilities and duties to raise the standards of bus service to a higher level.
Attending the workshop was an expert from the Dept. Of Co-operatives and a representative from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Some Mini-bus drivers not getting the message

Pattaya police received a report from Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4 that the good Samaritan Khatawut Salanoi, driver of minibus no. 248, had brought two bloodstained Japanese tourists in for treatment. Mr. Masoka Yasuro had been beaten with a lead pipe and required 10 sutures on his head. The other victim, Mr. Suki Sikaru, was also beaten and required 3 sutures on his head and 2 on his left arm.

The unrepentant baht bus driver, Vichai Phraam-phorn, sits smugly in Pattaya police station waiting for the inevitable slap on the wrist.
Upon arriving at the hospital, police questioned Khatawut, who told them that while he was driving on Second Road, he saw the driver of mini-bus no. 300 chasing the two tourists and hitting them with a lead pipe. After they both collapsed, the crazed driver of bus #300 ran off. Khatawut then brought the two to the hospital.
From questioning the two Japanese, police learned that they had left their hotel to take in the night air. They had not bargained before getting in the mini-bus and when they got out, the driver demanded 100 baht each. Seeing that the distance was no more than 2 kilometres, they each gave the driver 20 baht, but he refused and took out the pipe and began to beat them with it.
After learning this, police searched for bus 300 and its driver with help from Pattaya’s Tourist Police. They finally found the bus driver, Vichai Phraamphorn, 31, at home. He confessed and police are holding him for charging and trial.
Another case of a baht bus driver damaging Pattaya’s image.

Baht bus driver “sets-up” local thespian

As tourist volunteers look on in amazement, Michael acts out the scene which landed all in the local monkey house for a discussion on rules of etiquette for the road.

Pattaya police received yet another complaint about a baht bus driver from a tourist, this time a Thai tourist known as ‘Michael’, aka Saknarong Srisawang, 23, one of the stars of the Thai television series “Coconut Heaven”.
Michael told police that when he recently came to Pattaya for a personal appearance, he hailed Minibus no 270 and asked the price to Soi 4, North Pattaya. Anongsak Srisorbsorm, 29, the driver of the aforementioned bus, asked for 20 baht for each of the 4 people, for a total of 80 baht. Michael bargained in a friendly manner, each time trying to lower the price to the usual fare of 5 baht per person.
The driver, Anongsak, yelled obscenities and suggested, “Walk, why don’t you?!”, then furiously drove away.
As they had no conveyance, they did walk, and were perambulating down the road with beers in their hands when they were shocked by the reappearance of Anongsak, returning in a fury. He stopped his bus beside them and, apparently unable to bear their happy attitude, said Michael, again shouted obscenities. Michael told police that he thought this was going a bit far, and to save his mother’s honour, pulled Anongsak from the bus and hit him on the head with his beer bottle, inflicting a wound which required 5 sutures.
Anongsak, the Minibus driver, reported the incident to the Pattaya Police. Following this, 20 tourist assistance volunteers who were also minibus drivers saw Michael driving a rented car and followed him. The young thespian beagan to get nervous, so he slid into the Pattaya Police Station, followed by the group of menacing and helpful volunteers. The posse pointed Michael out to the police as the thug who had hit their comrade and asked officers to arrest him on charges of assault.
Michael admitted that he had conked the minibus driver on the head. He said he lost his temper after being followed and repeatedly insulted by him. Michael logically pointed out that if the driver did not want to lower the price, he should have just said so and left. The minibus driver did not try to press charges but he did want compensation money of 3,000 baht, which Michael paid. Satisfied, they shook hands and left the police station.

The Ignorance which causes the Drug Problem in Thailand

Editorial by Boonleua Chatri and Jay Patterson
The constant growth in the number of people addicted to drugs in Thailand is a serious problem in Thai society. We say people addicted to drugs as opposed to ‘drug addicts’. This is an arbitrary division to make a difference between the ‘drug addicts’ who live on the edge of society and must prey on it to satisfy addictions. People addicted to drugs are those whose addiction is caused by greed on the part of drug companies, unethical pharmacists and the rapid industrialisation of Thailand which has no true infrastructure to educate people in non-addictive methods of dealing with stress. The main drug of choice in Thailand is alcohol and Thailand’s rate of alcoholism is one of the world’s highest. Thirty years ago this was not so. Young people are told of the danger of drugs in school but drinking alcohol is accepted and even encouraged in most sectors of Thai society.
The phrase “most sectors” is used because Thai society is highly stratified and the ‘old families’ and ‘old money’ of Thailand are in most cases highly educated and cosmopolitan (not a value judgement, but wealth and position gives one advantages that others do not have) and are more likely to have control over their own lives.
The young people of today, seeing the generations born in the 1940s, 50s and 60s turning to alcohol for solace, or having grown up in homes with alcoholic parents, turn to other drugs.
Thai society is also a very ‘image conscious’ one, and any addiction in a family is something to be hidden or explained away rather than dealt with. Thus, many parents would much rather call these addicts ‘unruly’ children (‘they’ll grow out of it in a few years’) rather than face the fact that their offspring have serious problems with alcohol or drugs.
The drug problem is now causing much furore in Thai society as more and more ‘quality’ people are being arrested on drug charges. Stimulant and depressant drugs are also being used more and more by young people who are in the work-force and have responsibility in certain areas of governing the country. But due to the stratification of Thai society it is sometimes not possible to bring these people to account for their actions or it would be ‘socially unacceptable to do so.’ This also makes honest narcotics officers job’s much more difficult as it is sometimes impossible or very dangerous for the officer to accuse these privileged people of using drugs.
Amphetamines have become a problem of epidemic proportions in Thai society. People are addicted to their stimulant and ‘mind-enlarging’ properties. First given to labourers in factories to increase their production, amphetamines are now used by students when studying for exams, by revellers at parties and in all parts of a rather unmotivated society.
Merchants in Thailand used to own their own businesses and work in them. If you are receiving the complete profits of your own work, it is an incentive to be productive. But the point of view here seems to be “I’m working in a department store but the boss gets all the profits, so why should I put out any effort?” There is a dangerous truth in this way of thinking. On one hand, it is true that the boss gets all the big profits while you work 10 hours a day. But does this justify destroying one’s own life by getting the ambition to do this unavoidable work out of a pill? The answers are not easy to find.
The truly dedicated sectors of the Public Health Department and the Social Welfare Department are constantly working on methods of dealing with this problem in a Thai context. This is difficult as the context has not existed in the same way in the past, and people here are quick to accept superficial change, but reject fundamental change equally quickly.