Bavaria House owner taces deportation

Part of Minister of the Interior’s order to banish 34 undesirable foreigners from the country

The Minister of the Interior signed an order to banish 34 undesirable foreigners from the country. Among these was Wolfgang Ullrich, owner of the Bavaria House Restaurant.

Ullrich is allegedly known as the most powerful foreign ‘Godfather’ in Pattaya. He is accused of sending Thai women to Germany for the purpose of prostitution. Ullrich denies all charges and says he made his money ‘by the sweat of his brow.’ Ullrich is appealing the Ministry’s decision.

The police who arrested him are feeling uneasy, as Ullrich has ‘major influences’ backing him up.

The Ministry’s decision was revealed on September 14th by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suphathee Boonkhrong, Deputy Superintendent of the Saen Sukh Police Command, International Crimes Division.

Pol.Lt. Colonel Suphathee received the order from Police General Sanan Khajornprasert, Minister of the Interior. Pol.Lt. Colonel Suphathee was ordered to arrest and banish 34 ‘undesirable’ foreigners living in Thailand at this time.

One of these was Wolfgang Ullrich, 54, a German national and owner of the Bavaria House Restaurant in Pattaya. Ullrich has many other businesses and is well-known in the foreign community as a powerful ‘big brother.’ He is also influential in the foreign business community.

After Pol.Lt. Colonel Suphathee received the order, Head of Pattaya Immigration Colonel Prateuang Yimyai sent a squad of officers to the Bavaria House, Branch 2, where Ullrich lives.

Showing Ullrich the Ministry’s order, police escorted him to the Foreign Crimes Division of the Pattaya Police Station.

Ullrich went willingly but seemed quite nervous and anxious. He drove to the police station in his top of the line Mercedes-Benz SEL accompanied by Pol.Lt. Colonel Suphathee and followed by a police escort.

Arriving at the police station, Ullrich hurried into the interrogation room to avoid the many members of the media waiting to photograph him and ask questions. He became very agitated when photographers took his picture.

In the interrogation room, Ullrich asked many detailed questions concerning the charges levied against him. Pol.Lt. Colonel Suphathee explained in detail but Ullrich appeared not to understand. He told Pol.Lt. Colonel Suphathee that the charges were not clear. He claimed that the police were ‘grasping at straws’ and his wealth had come from his legal businesses.

Ullrich continued, saying that if Thailand did not want investors, there were many other countries which did, even the United States.

Ullrich said he had invested more than one billion baht in Pattaya even though he had gone bankrupt. He said he was now building a ‘Condominium for Senior Citizens’ at a cost of 300 million baht. He said this project would provide jobs for many hundreds of Thai people. He said as this problem had come up, he would have to move his investments to another country.

Later, Ms. Rosarin Chaiyasaman, 31, Ullrich’s wife, and Mr. Amnaj Thiengtham, his lawyer arrived at the police station.

They requested to post bail for Ullrich but this was not possible as Ullrich was ordered immediately ‘banished’ and had been given persona non grata status. The case was handed to the Immigration Division and deportation proceedings were to be implemented immediately.

Ullrich is to be deported on September 22, 1998. He carries two German passports which he willingly showed police officers.

Ullrich’s lawyer said that he still has the right to appeal the Interior Ministry’s decision. This would be under laws governing foreigners investing in Thailand. This caused considerable uneasiness among arresting police officers, because Ullrich purportedly has ‘friends in Khaki and green uniforms’ (the police and the army). He also is acquainted with many politicians in high places.

The officers are afraid if Ullrich should be allowed to remain in Thailand, they will bear the brunt of his anger.

The officers were told at the beginning that this was not a ‘shake-up’ arrest but was truly ordered by the Ministry of the Interior and the Police Department.

The officers were assured that the Ministry of the Interior and the Police Department could not have issued this order without detailed and conclusive evidence.

The situation is not unsimilar to that of Lothar Kroehn, former owner of Ocean View Hotel, Baby Go-Go’s 1, 2, & 3, and the former alleged Number One Godfather in Pattaya. Kroenh was banished and has not been able to return despite many attempts.

Wastewater plant on schedule

Samphan Petchtrakul, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and engineers of the Samprasit Construction Company met with the media and the public on September 3rd to provide details of the work in progress of the wastewater treatment system currently being built for Pattaya.

The project is approximately 40% completed. Work began in October of 1997 and a clause in the contract stated that the project was to be completed within 600 days. The company said the problems affecting Thailand’s economy were great obstacles in completing their work, however.

The company said one main concern was the inconvenience the construction would cause business operators and tourists during the high season from November to April. The company has therefore modified its plans to accommodate the tourist season. There will also be other changes, as the rainy season follows the high season. Although the company didn’t elaborate, they did say that this will cause additional difficulties.

The company has set up a special team to repair roads, and drain water trapped due to construction, and has also set up a complaints department so citizens may notify the company of any additional problems.

To report any problems, residents may telephone (038) 410-225-7, ext 30.

The company is confident that all digging and laying of pipes will be finished by March 1999. The treatment plant will be finished according the conditions of the original contract.

The target of the project is to collect all of Pattaya’s waste water into one treatment plant within Pattaya’s ‘pollution control’ policy. This policy was formed due to the pollution and deterioration of quality of the water on Pattaya’s shoreline.

The Department of Environmental Standards, seeing this problem, issued a dictum in 1994 that Pattaya be declared a ‘pollution control zone’.

The Department ordered a central collection area for wastewater be built. Pipes will take the water to a treatment plant of the Activated Sludge type. This plant has a total land area of 80 rai. (32 acres).

The plant will have the a capacity of receiving wastewater from a 15.60 sq. kilometer area in Pattaya and a 12.65 sq. kilometer area in Naklua. The plant will be able to process 65,000 sq. meters of water per day in the first year of operations, and 137,000 sq. meters of water per day in the second year.

The processed water may be used for every purpose except bathing and drinking.

The water will flow to the plant using the natural laws of inertia and not need a pumping system. Once at the plant, a pump system will suck the water into the treatment apparatus. After treatment, it will be released back into existing klongs.

TAT courting over 55s Chinese

Targets 4 ways to increase tourism

As the Russian economy collapses and the value of the ruble falls, the city of Pattaya has decided to court all nationalities as potential tourists.

The disastrous drop in the value of the currencies in Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia has also affected tourism in Thailand. Due to the conditions set by the IMF, Thailand must have an inflow of currency.

On September 3rd, Mr. Jurin Laksanvisit of the Prime Minister’s Office revealed the impact that the economic crisis has had on the Thai tourist industry. Mr. Jurin said that Pattaya was most affected by the economic crisis.

At a meeting on September 8th, the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced new rules for tourists. The TAT especially wants to encourage tourists over 55 to visit the country. There are 4 ways in which the tourism authority intends to increase tourism.

1. Tourists over 55 years of age may stay in the Kingdom for a period of 1 year. This privilege will be extended to nationals of 57 countries.

2. Nationals of Taiwan need not apply for Thai visas in Taiwan but will receive a ‘visa on arrival’.

3. Nationals of Mainland China may enter Thailand with or without passports and visas. They must have a ‘letter of guarantee’ from the Chinese authorities, though. Or they may have a visa issued to them upon their arrival in Thailand, which will allow them to travel to any place in the country.

4. Malaysian nationals need not have a passport but will be issued a ‘border pass’ or ‘visa on arrival’. They may stay in the country 7 days but not go farther than 25 kilometers from the Malaysian border into Thailand.

Mr. Seri Wangphaijit, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that Aeroflot Russian Airlines expects the number of tourists to Thailand to drop by 20-30%. But he continued and said that, "We must wait and see how the ruble performs in September."

"Aside from this, there will be indirect problems which we cannot avoid, especially from the European countries and many countries around the world which are major investors in Russia, even the United States and Germany. These countries may have problems, too. Since these countries are the largest markets and have the most potential of Thailand at present, in this matter we must attempt to find a solution to the problem in a step by step matter," the Guv concluded.

Interpol agents visit Pattaya

Here to observe local law enforcement

by Boonleua Chatri

Pattaya police and Interpol agents held a meeting on international crime on September 11th at Pattaya Police headquarters. Police Colonel Phinij Satcharoen welcomed the Interpol officers from Austria, New Zealand and the United States.

The Interpol agents were in Pattaya to observe the operations of the local police international crime unit. The officers also learned of the services which police provide tourists in Pattaya.

Photo: Interpol agents meet with Pattaya police at the Foreign Assistance Center.

Colonel Phinij explained that the International Crimes Unit was set up to protect tourist’s lives and property, to make tourists feel Pattaya was a safe tourist destination.

The unit also engages in the apprehending of foreign criminals and Mafioso who have set themselves up in Pattaya. This unit coordinates its work with foreign police units in all countries.

The Interpol agents spoke of the need for total cooperation between countries in police work. Not an official visit, this was merely an observation tour.

The International Crimes Unit is expanding operations in the near future. There was a lively exchange of ideas and information at the meeting.

The International Crimes Unit has apprehended foreign Mafioso elements who have come to Pattaya to elude prosecution in their own countries, foreign drug dealers, various criminals, some in the international flesh trade, and a host of others.

The Interpol stated they were very interested and impressed with the work being done.

Major speed bust on Soi VC

Over 3,100 speed tablets confiscated

by Boonleua Chatri

Pattaya Police, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Pranee, arrested an ‘unusually rich’ motorcycle driver who worked in Soi VC, South Pattaya. Police watched the suspect, Mr. Sornchai Kaewchaipun, 25, for over a week. Over 10 young people an hour would enter and leave Somchai’s house every hour.

Obtaining a search warrant, police entered the house and found Sornchai and Mr. Komol Thammawaja, 43.

Searching the house, officers found a cookie jar at the head of the bed. Inside were plastic bags of orange speed. Officers were a bit nonplussed at the amount. After a half an hour of counting, the total number of methamphetamine tablets found was ascertained to be in excess of 3,100.

Police confiscated the tablets and took the men to the Pattaya Police Station for further questioning.

Sornchai told police he had lived in Pattaya for approximately two years. A few months ago, he was approached by a middleman who asked if he was interested in selling the deadly drug at entertainment venues and to construction workers. Sornchai said the income was so good that he soon bought his own automobile. He then began his own business and would drive to Lampang Province in the north of Thailand and purchase 200 tablets of speed for 6,000 baht wholesale.

Komol told officers that he lived with Sornchai and knew he was a drug dealer but did not sell drugs himself. The police were quite skeptical.

Both were charged with possession and sale of schedule one substances. They now await further process of law.

Unruly drug dealer fires on police

After 30 minutes of gunfire, one man shot in leg

On September 11, a squad of police officers carrying a search warrant went to arrest a group of methamphetamine dealers in Moo 7, Banglamung.

When the police went to the house, they found four men and a woman inside.

Jaeng Thongsathit, 29, refused to let officers search the house. Picking up a pistol, he shot at one of the officers. The officer dodged the bullet and a thirty-minute gun battle ensued.

After the bullets stopped flying and the smoke had cleared, the police went into the house.

Jaeng had been hit in the leg and was moaning in pain next to the jungle in back of the house. He held a .22 pistol with one shell in the chamber. Officers arrested him.

The police also arrested the other three in the house, Mr. Snr Longthong, 37, Mr. Rungroj Thongprang, 22 and Ms. Rawiwan Kaewthong, 19.

Police found 1 (one) tablet of ‘green speed’ and 114 tablets of ‘orange speed.’ Officers also confiscated 9 small bags of Marijuana. Continuing their search, the squad uncovered an unregistered .22 pistol and ammunition, a homemade pistol, one pistol of unknown caliber, an air rifle of unknown origin, one round of ammunition for an AKA and 10 knives which could be considered weapons.

Officers also found equipment for methamphetamine use and a 4 motorcycles possibly used in criminal activity. They were in various states of disrepair. Officers also found many electric appliances.

Police charged the four with possession of Schedule One Substances (methamphetamine) with intent to sell.

They were also charged with possession of Schedule 5 substances (Marijuana) with intent to sell, possession of illegal and unregistered firearms and sharp instruments which could be used as weapons, resisting arrest, assaulting an officer of the law with firearms, hampering an officer of the law in the carrying out of duties and grand theft.

They now await trial.

How police handled the Town-In-Town incident

Police Colonel Phinij Satcharoen revealed the plan police used to foil the payroll robbery and murder of Mr. Suraphong Lertmetta of the Town-In-Town Hotel.

After assuring themselves that a ‘hit’ was definitely planned for August 31st, police examined the histories of the conspirators. The officers’ main investigations focused on Mr. Nob Khamloi who had a storied history of criminal activity.

The law enforcement officials began by carefully studying the layout of the hotel. The police noted the entrances, exits and areas where a ‘hit’ might occur. Officers also noted where people could be cornered. Decisions were made where to station plainclothes officers.

Utmost secrecy was necessary, as one leak could destroy the police’s plan completely.

When the time approached, officers who were certified marksmen were requested. They were also told that they might be risking their lives. They had not been apprised of this and some officers requested to be relieved of duty. They said they wished to see their children grow up, their grandmothers were ill and felt that a job such as this was not worth giving their lives for.

When the full plan was revealed, the first officer who was to pose as Mr. Suraphon, targeted for death, refused duty. He and two other officers felt that their lives were worth much more than 1,300,000 baht. On the fourth try, senior police finally found an officer willing to impersonate Mr. Suraphon.

At a final briefing, each officer was given a detailed description of his duty and then sent to his position.

During the time the police were waiting to carry out their plan, Mr. Felix Phichit Tantiprasert, General Manager of the Hotel, called Mr. Pranom Joysee, one of the ‘inside’ conspirators and he was arrested by police. This was to cut off any communication between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ conspirators.

As the dreaded time approached, police positioned themselves at their posts in the parking lot.

Police stopped Mr. Suraphon on his way back from the Thai Farmer’s Bank and requested they ‘hide out’ at a small hotel. This caused employees traveling with Mr. Suraphon a great deal of distress as they did not know what was happening.

When the ‘stand-in’ for Mr. Suraphon got out of the car at the hotel, the conspirators charged and grabbed the bag of money. This was their main mistake. The ‘stand in’ took this opportunity, pulled out his gun and gave the two conspirators (Nob Khamloy and Narong Klormkaew) a dose of lead. Both fell to the ground. The third conspirator, Long Khamloy, Nob’s younger brother who was waiting on a getaway motorcycle, raced to the back of the hotel, taking a police officer’s bullet in the back. He died on the way to the hospital.

After the shoot-out, police cleared the area. Only one police officer was shot in the thigh and is recovering rapidly.

Colonel Phinij gave three thousand baht for each of the dead men’s funeral expenses as they could not pay them themselves.

Colonel Phinij also notified the relatives of the conspirators who said they didn’t feel that bad as the three men had always brought trouble to their families.

Inside the Town-In-Town shooting

Two of the involved tell their side of the incident

by Kittisak Khamthong

"The whole situation was unbelievable," said Mr. Suraphon Lertmetta, General Manager of the Town-In-Town Hotel.

Photo: Suraphon Lertmetta, General Manager of the Town-In-Town Hotel, tells his side story to Pattaya Mail Editor Kittisak Khamthong and a "Crime Magazine" reporter.

Suraphon had found that Ms. Anusra Sarasart, the Manager of Sales for the hotel’s Bangkok branch, had embezzled 200,000 baht from the hotel. She was consequently fired from her job. Her ‘guarantor’ repaid the money, and no one knew that this caused the personnel manager to swear a vendetta against Suraphon.

The personnel manager had told Anusra’s ‘husband’, Ritrat Sangkhasart, the hotel’s head of catering, who then quit his job in anger.

Ritrat then contacted some acquaintances and arranged a hit on Suraphon. One of these was Mr. Pranom Joysee, the head of catering for the Pattaya branch. The staff knew that Suraphon withdrew over a million baht on the same day of each month to pay the hotel’s employees. So, the group formed a plan to kill their employer, Suraphon, and at the same time rob the payroll.

On August 30, 1998, the three gunman, led by Nob Khamloy, checked into the hotel in order to carry out the robbery-murder the next day.

On the morning of August 31st, Suraphon, who also acted as financial controller, left for the bank. He was accompanied by two employees. Their destination was the Thai Farmer’s Bank.

Suraphon withdrew 1,300,000 baht and the group planned to drive back to the hotel.

However, the driver of the car had not even started the engine when Police Lieutenant Colonel Phinij Satyacharoen approached the car. Accompanied by a group of officers, he requested Suraphon and his employees follow him to a small hotel where he put them under police protection. He told the group that they were in danger and his officers would take the money to the Town-In-Town themselves.

The Colonel then had plainclothes police take the place of the employees and driver of the car.

At the Town-In-Town, the conspirators had come down from their rooms and waited for Suraphon’s return. Little did they know that Majurach (the mythical "King of the abyss" who metes out dire justice to all sinners) was creeping up on them.

A few heartbeats later, the car pulled into the Town-In-Town’s parking lot and parked at the entrance. The police officer who was wearing Suraphon’s clothing began to carry the bag full of money up the stairway.

At that moment, Nob and his gang charged in and grabbed the bag. The policeman dressed as a security guard jumped in and blocked the conspirator’s escape.

The conspirator’s were armed and a short gun battle ensued. When the smoke had cleared and the guns were silent, 2 of the conspirators were dead. The third died on the way to the hospital. None of the conspirators will ever know how their plan was leaked.

Suraphon Lertmetta, their intended prey, later said he had come to work at the Town-In-Town in April of 1998 and had done an audit in May. He found that over 200,000 baht had been embezzled by one of the sales staff.

The embezzler left the job in June, promising to pay back the money in installments of 10,000 baht per month. He could not understand why the employee should have a vendetta against him, as she was the thief, not he.

He found out about the ‘conspiracy’ in August of 1998 and began to watch his back. He also informed Colonel Phinij Satcharoen of the Pattaya Police and the Colonel put officers on duty to protect him. The police also put their informers to work, gathering information on the plans of the conspirators. No one in the hotel knew this was being done, as the informers would check into the hotel as guests and were totally inconspicuous. Security was so tight that nothing of the police’s plan to foil the robbery and the murder was leaked.

Officers succeeded in arresting Pranom Joysee. Police are now looking for the other two, Mr. Ritrat Sangkhasart and Ms. Anusra Sarasart.

In the future, employees of the hotel will be paid by direct deposit to their accounts.

Colonel Phinij said that the police’s plan was very carefully made and one slip up could have ruined it. The Colonel said that the police were lucky that there were no tourists, hotel employees or passers-by in the area which would have made it impossible for the police to return fire and which might have resulted in injury to innocent people. Only one officer was shot in the leg and is recovering quickly.

The officers admit that they are still a bit shaken by the incident and some are suffering from nightmares and anxiety.

Answering criticisms which people made, saying they felt the police should have arrested the conspirators, Colonel Phinij said that, "Two of the three were considered very dangerous and had warrants out for their arrest on many counts of violent crime. Trying to arrest them while they were ‘out for blood’ could have resulted in many people getting hurt or killed. We chose this method as the only feasible one."

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