Sutham Phantusak to run for local office

Sutham Phantusak receives an FCCT award from Pratheep Malhotra, Chief Editor and Publisher of Pattaya Mail.

The present Pattaya city council, headed by Pairat Suthithamronsawat, ends its term this month, with the election for the new city council to be held in 60 days.
Mr. Sutham Phantusak, the head of the Hotel Association of the Eastern Seaboard, announced that he would like to enter the political arena. His platform is based on being one of the leaders of the hotel and tourism business in the city.
Sutham has stated that if politicians in Pattaya truly wish to benefit the city, there must be no exclusivism and all who wish to run must be allowed to do so. At this point in time, the people of Pattaya have no say in who runs the city. If this keeps up, the city’s government will not be a democracy but an oligarchy. This is because the public will end up being presented with ballots which are not ballots, but rather a fait accompli. The people’s only choice would be whether to chose to waste ink on saying ‘yes’ to the one choice. If they don’t, the candidates merely fill out the votes and elect themselves by a majority of less than 20 votes.
Sutham has also said that there is a group which wished to benefit society which calls itself the Nong Yai Patana group. It is led by Mr. Manoch Nongyai, a very wealthy businessman with endless financial resources, who is thinking of bringing his group in to vie for the leadership of Pattaya.
Mr. Aphiset Khatkhet, a member of the Pattaya City Council, said he would like to have some people with some real knowledge of administration join the city government. He said he doesn’t want to see one group controlling the city government.
So far, there have been no clear favourites or ‘shoe-ins’. All have failed their examinations in the public’s opinion. Also there is only one team and no competition.
Before the last election, it was rumoured that Pairat Suthithamronsawat and Anu-pong were breaking off and forming their own separate teams. But by the time the news came out, the two had joined hands again. This follows the political homily, ‘in politics one has no true friends and no permanent enemies.’ When this is accepted the political atmosphere becomes brackish and Pattaya is a prime example of this.

Three Africans detained on fraud charges

The three African fraudsters along with the loot and the props used in their scam.

Tiwa Appoli Noine, 30, Joseph Kengne, 32, of Cameroon and Nipolyte Demba, 28, of the Congo were arrested last week and charged with fraud after attempting to embezzle $100,000 U.S. from a local Thai.
The men had allegedly contacted Somsak Chaiwong-sriarun, 35, in a shopping centre and suggested he join them in producing U.S. currency, especially $100 notes. Their method was to make copies by transfer of ink from a genuine note, thereby doubling the amount. They told Somsak it was his job to find the originals, at least 10,000 of them.
They told Somsak that after they made the copies, they would give the originals back to him along with half of the copies. That way, everyone would gain.
The three men then made an appointment to show Somsak the method they used. After demonstrating this, they told Somsak to bring them the genuine money the next day.
Somsak pretended that he believed the men, but at the next date he asked them to demonstrate the copying process again. As they were doing it, police officials stormed the room and arrested two of the three foreigners. They also confiscated 1 box of laundry soap, 1 pair of rubber gloves, a mask used by police to prevent polluted lungs, 1 bag of Tapioca flour, 2 bags of cotton balls, 2 bottles of tincture of merthiolate, 1 bottle of dish washing liquid, 1 ream of white paper, 22 $100 dollar notes and bank-notes from other countries.
The men admitted to trying to play their scam on Somsak and were charged with attempted fraud.
All three are also wanted by Bangkok police for having already carried out this scam successfully in the capitol.

“Dead Finn” released on bail

Another international criminal, Yari Antero Laine, has slipped through the cracks of the local judicial system.

Yari Antero Laine, a Finnish citizen arrested on 4 May 97 for illegal possession of .38 caliber cartridges, and who police believe to be a member of an international gang (see Pattaya Mail, 16 May 97), has inexplicably been released on 70,000 baht bail.
When he was arrested during the second week in May, Laine told police his name was Pasi Kalevi Vouri and produced a copy of a passport to verify that fact. However, police learned that the real Pasi Kalevi Vouri, born 19/04/1966, was a well known drug dealer who was found dead in 1993 resulting from an overdose of drugs. The man claiming to be Pasi Vouri has been identified as Yari Antero Laine, another well known Finish citizen in Pattaya, who might possibly have obtained Vouri’s passport back in 1991.
Police learned that before his death, Pasi Vouri had gone to the Finnish embassy in Bangkok sometime in 1991 to report the loss of his passport, and received a new passport at a later date.
Pol. Capt. Phao Phakorn, the officer in charge of the case, told Pattaya Mail how the Pasi impostor, wanted by Interpol, managed to slip through the cracks of the local system.
“The man was brought here with the charges of; (1) being in the Kingdom without travel documents; and (2) possession of bullets without a license. While preparing the paperwork on the man, he was able to provide a copy of his passport to me, so I fined him 200 Baht for not carrying his passport. Regarding the possession of the bullets, he bailed himself out with 70,000 Baht. It was late at night, I could not do anything more than what I have done, plus that he claimed his wife was pregnant and could deliver the kid at anytime, so I let him go on bail,” concluded Capt. Phao.
Capt. Phao Phakorn stated that when he contacted the bailer to bring Yari back to the station, the bailer could not find him, saying that no one knew his whereabouts.
Sources have revealed that Yari left the Kingdom last week, walking over to Malaysia, with a plan of catching a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sweden.
Yari is also wanted by police authorities in Finland on fraud charges, and for being part of the Finish underworld. One of the members, Marku Hyvarinen, was arrested year ago in Sweden. More members of the gang are believed to be living in Pattaya.

Shrine’s removal already reaping bad tidings

Comatose Police Sergeant Kiartisak Chanjit is carried away from the scene of the latest accident in front of the police station where a Buddhist shrine once stood.

The removal of the Buddhist shrine in front of the police station is already beginning to have dire consequences, at least that is how the people of Pattaya who were totally against its removal view the bizarre happenings of late.
It has only been a month since the decision was made to remove the shrine to make room for a single parking space and already one person has died, another is in a coma, and a third has had an automobile accident. Locals are blaming all three incidents on the removal of the shrine.
The first incident took place on the day the order was announced that the shrine would be removed. Leucha Utharkang, a 26 year old unemployed restaurant worker, committed suicide directly in front of the shrine by climbing into high voltage power lines (Pattaya Mail, Vol. V, No. 19, p. 2).
The second incident involved the Deputy Commander, Police Lt. Col. Prakarn Prajong, who gave the go-ahead orders for the removal. Lt. Col. Prakarn was involved in an accident in which a car overturned. He escaped with minor injuries.
The latest development involved Police Sergeant Kiartisak Chanjit. While buying watermelon from a vendor who was stopped in front of the shrine area, a German tourist driving a large motorcycle ran into the Sergeant and his car. The Sergeant hit his head on the handlebars of the motorcycle and is now in a coma at the hospital. Doctor’s prognosis is guarded as to whether the sergeant will ever regain consciousness.
The motorcycle driver, who did not even fall off his bike, was arrested for possible manslaughter and reckless driving.
The local populace predicted that things would get spooky when the shrine was removed as the ground where it stood is what parapsychologists call a ‘cold spot.’ They warned that the place would become haunted. Before the first shrine was built, the patch of ground was known for being quite hostile at times. Indeed, the shrine was built to appease the “ghosts” and attempt to bring to an end the many deaths that were occurring in the direct vicinity of the ground where the shrine was built.
The lower ranking officers at the Pattaya police station are feeling quite ‘spooked’ now, especially those who helped carry the Buddha image out of the shrine.

Unlucky money

Bemused police watch as Martin points out the thieving woman.

On the evening of May 26th, Tourist Police were out on patrol, checking Pattaya’s numerous entertainment venues, when Martin Cappel, (sic) an Australian tourist, ran up to them and led them to a group of Thai ‘service girls’ on Soi BJ, South Pattaya.
The Australian told police that 2 nights before, he had agreed to pay the woman, Thipawan Phodaeng, 500 baht for sexual services. He took her to a hotel in the South Pattaya area and after partaking in her services, he fell asleep.
Awakening, he found that Thipawan had disappeared along with 32,000 baht in cash that had been in his pocket.
Police arrested the girl and took her to the Tourist Police Headquarters for questioning, where she confessed and told officers after she stole the money, she went on vacation to Trat province for a day.
Unfortunately, she had met a very handsome Thai man in Trat and both slipped into a short time hotel. She fell asleep and when she woke, the money was gone.
It is not known whether the Thai man Thipawan had met in Trat used the money to visit yet another “short-time” hotel.
Police charged Thipawan with theft.

Unusual case of shoplifting

Police received a report of 3 shoplifters operating near an Isan restaurant in South Pattaya and hurried out to arrest them. Police were non-plussed, however, for when they began questioning the three women, they could not get a coherent answer to any of their questions.
Their subsequent behaviour caused much amusement to citizens who were at the station on business. One of the women made suggestive comments to a police major, but told him he wouldn’t get it for free. Another gave the duty officer, a captain, 10 baht and told him to ‘be a good boy’ and go buy her some noodles.
When officers tried to ask them questions, the three women guffawed, ‘look at the little man in his uniform! Isn’t he important. Wonder what he’d look like if he took off the gun and the uniform?”
The three women then laid down on the floor, said they were going to sleep and that they had some charges to file which they would do after they woke up.
One officer who worked downstairs eventually walked into the upstairs office and said, ‘Oh, these three. They sleep on the steps of the station every night.’
Apparently, all three women are active schizophrenics.
The plaintiff dropped all charges when he saw that the women were not responsible for their own actions.
The police managed to drag the women out of the interrogation room. If they let them stay, no work could be done.

Electric fishermen electrocuted

Suphamit Banklip and Somchart Khamwongngiow, both 26, were electrocuted last week after falling into a pond in front of a condominium on Jomtien Beach.
Arriving at the scene, police found a deserted pond which the owner of the land had dug. During investigations, police found electric wires which had been diverted from city power poles. The men had apparently been electrocuting fish in the pond but had made a miscalculation, fallen into the water and were killed by the current.

Bank robber flees with 320,000 baht

A lone gunman robbed the Nong Mon branch of the Thai Military Bank last week, taking away 320,000 baht. The crime was committed as bank staff were transferring the cash to the bank’s ATM machine.
The machine, located under a stairway in front of the bank, is a dream for felons.
Police have set up check-points throughout the province, as there have been no leads in the case yet. A special investigative unit has also been assigned to the case.
Police are also trying to determine the origin of the white Mighty X pick-up which was used in the robbery and the getaway.
Ms. Pailin Sodsai and Akhadech Thasanurak, the bank employees who were carrying the money, have been assisting police artists in making sketches of the robber. Unfortunately, Akhadech (male) only remembers the man’s watch and Pailin (female) can only recall the shape of his buttocks. The robber ordered them to look at the ground, keeping an 11 mm weapon aimed at them.
Fingerprints which the robber left on the ATM machine are being compared with those of known felons.
A witness who saw the white pick-up and knows the license number refuses to give any testimony to police. Police are hoping to convince the witness to talk.
Police are now being sent to watch over gold shops and other banks, though the Saen-Sukh division is quite short of staff.

Mayor on the move

Mr. Chatchai Thimkrajang, Mayor of Sriracha, presided over the presentation of badges of distinction to forty-four teachers from two levels and seven government divisions. Directors of three government schools were present. The ceremony was performed at the Sriracha City Hall.

Chatchai Thimkrajang, Mayor of Sriracha, presided over the opening of the new computer system to issue Thai ID cards. Many citizens came to see the machine and apply for new ID cards.

Pattaya Chonburi Road project scrapped

The new Pattaya Chonburi Road project has been scrapped due to high costs, Suwat Liptapallop, Minister of Communications, told members of the media recently when he was here to examine the Ministry’s beach project at Laem Chabang.
Suwat said that the Pattaya Chonburi Road project would cost 3,000,000,000 baht or 60,000,000 baht per kilometre. The minister said there should be some way to lower the cost. He said two issues must be considered; could the cost be lowered and should the old or new Pattaya Chonburi Road be expanded.
The purpose of his visit was to expedite work and solve problems which were hampering the Laem Chabang pier project. He was also scheduled to have meetings with the Telephone Organisation of Thailand, the Royal Railroads Authority and the Communications Authority.

City expands no littering area

The Committee for Health and Environment of Pattaya is initiating a public relations campaign to inform residents and visitors that the ‘trash free’ area is being expanded to include North Pattaya. The city administration asks for everyone’s co-operation.
1. All trash should be deposited in bins that the city has provided.
2. There shall be no spitting, or voiding of any bodily secretions or excretions in public places.
3. It is unlawful to discard any type of waste water onto the streets or in waterways.
4. Washing or lubricating any type of vehicle is prohibited in public places.
Any person found engaging in the behaviours above will be in violation of the public health laws and be fined not more than 2,000 baht. The law took effect on May 29th of this year.

Duke of Chumporn shrine opened

Admiral Vasin Sarikaphut, the Commander of the Royal Thai Marines, presided over the opening of the His Royal Highness, the Duke of Chumporn shrine in Sattahip. Garlands were laid and the Royal Image of the Prince was blessed. Scholarships bearing the Prince’s name were presented in his honour.

Navy helps improve market place

Once just a swamp, this area is once again a thriving market place.

The Royal Thai Navy has been making improvements in the Sattahip morning fresh market since March of this year.
Some of the projects have been building roads, connecting electricity, dividing the area into stalls to prevent disagreements between vendors, providing parking areas for vehicles and collecting fair payments for all these services.
A Royal Navy spokesman told reporters that the land the market occupies is Royal land under the Navy’s stewardship. Before it hosted the market it was an empty lot and before that a large pond full of useless weeds.
Whether it was a viable and valuable swamp ecosystem is not known.
The people wanted to use the land as a market so it was filled in.
As the place was slowly reverting to its natural state, and the headman of the area was worried about the vendors losing income, he implored the navy to step in.
Last March a new landfill was done, this time much higher so no water could flood the marketplace. A sanitation team was hired to keep the area clean. The market is now under the navy’s care and the people say with one voice, ‘We love the Navy.’

Police rescue training

One of the new, fully equipped rescue vehicles which the police department would like to obtain more of to increase safety rescue operations on the nation’s highways.

Police General Adisorn Jintanapat, the Commander of the Highway Patrol, presided over a training session on emergency procedures to increase the efficiency of the Highway Patrol’s rescue team.
Both commissioned and non commissioned police attended the session. The policemen attending were all well-versed in rescue procedures and were chosen to represent their various precinct’s rescue squads. They will take their newly gained knowledge back to their colleagues.
Statistics show that road accidents, injuries and fatalities are increasing rapidly in all regions. The police department still lacks enough personnel, state of the art rescue equipment and rescue vehicles. These are being requested from the government.
Forty-two new vehicles are being requested to be used in 7 divisions at 35 police stations throughout the country. Eleven vehicles have already been delivered.
The new vehicles are equipped with life-saving equipment which is technologically up-to-date.
General Adisorn gave highest praise to the demonstrations and demonstrators of the new equipment before returning to headquarters.
The Highway Patrol says any accidents or life threatening situations on the highways can be reported by telephoning 1193, 24 hours a day.

Sound company owner killed in crash

Police and rescue personnel work to pull the survivors out of the tangled wreckage.

Jarin Prajamkarn, 41, owner of Linda Tech, the largest sound equipment company in Chonburi, was killed instantly when the Jeep he was driving collided head-on with a large container truck on Krating Lai Road late Friday night, May 30.
Twenty year old Patcharee Prajamkarn was also killed in the accident.
Three other women, who were all riding in the back of the Jeep, survived the accident, but all three were critically injured and sent to Bangla-mung Hospital.
One of the surviving women told police that Jarin was their uncle and the family was on their way to a stereo exhibition.