German women beaten by baht bus driver

Pattaya Police unsympathetic

Are certain baht bus drivers protected? Or is Pattaya’s regular police just plain apathetic?

These questions came up after the local police seemed unsympathetic to the plight of two German tourists who were savagely beaten by a baht bus driver over a 90 baht discrepancy.

Six hours after contacting the Tourist Police, Ms. Stecher and Ms. Palesher were in the station, pointing out their attacker.

Ms. Cornelia Anita Stecher, age 28, and Ms. Angelika Palesher, age 40, both from Germany, attempted to hire a baht bus from the station across the street from Pattaya Shoe on South Road on the night of March 31st. The two wished to return to their hotel on the road to Jomtien Beach.

The driver, later identified as Buserm Liewthong, age 34, told them that it would cost 100 baht. The ladies answered that they didn’t intend to charter the bus, but just wanted to go as normal passengers (5 baht each). Buserm continued to insist on 100 baht since it was midnight.

The ladies told him that if he insisted on 100 baht, then they would report him to the police. Allegedly, as soon as Buserm heard "police", he got out and gave one of the ladies a punch on the face. He continued to beat the women until another baht bus driver stepped in and stopped him.

Ms. Stecher sustained the most injuries, receiving three broken teeth, a black eye and other injuries.

The two victims went to Pattaya Police to file charges, then went to the hospital to receive treatment.

Ms. Stecher and Ms. Palesher file their report with Police Captain Yanyong of the Pattaya Tourist Police.

The report was filed with the Pattaya Police after midnight on April 1st. Six days later, on April 7th, there was still no progress in the case. So, on the advice of a German friend, the victims took their case to the Tourist Police.

"I just cannot understand the way the police work here," Ms. Stecher told Pattaya Mail. "I had written down the bus number, 608, plus the plate number. I described what the driver looked like. I saw the man many times on the road in the same bus. Now it has been almost a week and the police still cannot find him. I then met another German tourist who advised me to go to the Pattaya Tourist Police, and that’s why we are here today," she concluded.

Pol. Capt. Yanyong received the complaint at about 3 p.m. on April 7th. He reported the matter to Pol. Lt. Col. Supaseth Chokechai, Chief of the Pattaya Tourist Police, who then ordered the investigation team to follow up on the case.

By 9 p.m. the same evening, Tourist Police had spotted the bus and followed it into Soi Noen Plub Wan. One of the officers stopped the bus and asked the driver to follow him to the station. The driver was identified to be Buserm Liewthong, age 34, who, after interrogation, confessed to the crime. Officers then called the two victims to identify him. Both ladies pointed out that it was indeed the same man.

Buserm Liewthong was charged with assault. He was sent to the Pattaya police station to prepare the case for trial.

Pattaya Police station has over 450 officers who are only in charge of the area of Pattaya City. The Pattaya Tourist Police have only 60 officers who have to look after the area of 8 provinces on the east coast.

After Pattaya’s regular police "couldn’t find" the baht bus driver in six days, it took Pattaya’s Tourist Police just 6 hours to locate him.

Inside sources say that the baht bus stand on the corner of South Pattaya Road and Second Road behind the school is well-known for "causing troubles". The source also says that the buses at that stand are being looked after by some of the Pattaya Police. Several cases between the baht buses and the tourists happen there. This taxi stand is locally known as the "Mafia’s Stand".

Both the victims have been regular tourists to Thailand since 1993. They usually stay at Koh Chang a couple of months per year. This year they just felt like visiting Pattaya for a change. It was their first visit.

Police spend busy week in sex show bars

Raid 4 establishments, arrest dozens

Pattaya’s Tourist Police and the Banglamung Police last week chose sex show bars for their latest clean-up campaign. On April 5, 6 & 7, 4 bars were raided and 28 people arrested for promoting or taking part in explicit sex shows.

Police maintain that these shows are damaging the image, culture and traditions of Thailand.

The Harlem Bar on Moo 5 Naklua was the first to feel the wrath of local law enforcement. On April 5th, undercover Tourist Police officers entered the bar, observed the proceedings and took pictures for evidence. The "theater-style" bar was packed with mostly Chinese tourists of all ages.

Having seen enough, the officers arrested 12 gay men and women of the second category, along with the manager of the establishment Sao Ouncharoen, and Jarast Pathanasatian, a guide.

Hundreds of Chinese tourists of all ages were watching explicit sex shows at the Hariem Bar when police raided the venue.

The 12 gays were charged 200 baht each for performing nude in public. The guide was charged 1000 baht for engaging in shameful business activities and operating against Thai laws.

The manager was charged for operating a business with the intention of offering sex shows to the public and for operating without a license. He was sent to the Pattaya police for further processing under Thai law.

Show Girls or Tuno A Go Go on Pattaya Second Road was the second venue on the first night to be investigated by police.

Again acting undercover, "officers witnessed two young women performing nude on stage, leaning against the chrome bar, touching and feeling each other in front of tourists."

Runrat Thakutruea, aged 18, and Sombat Cheuythaisong, aged 26, were arrested along with the venue’s manager Setsan Boonchuay. All were taken in for further questioning.

The two performers told police they were paid 500 baht per show. Both were charged with "performing obscene shows in the nude in public" and fined 500 baht each.

Manager Setsan Boonchuay was charged with "running an illegal kind of business" and was sent to Puthong police station for further processing under Thai law.

Police later learned that the business was registered to Miss Suna Hormpromma, aged 27.

At that time, Tourist Police vowed to continue the crackdown. "This is just the start. There are still many other venues that are engaged in such activities."

It was also noted that on both occasions, police in charge of each of these zones did not seem to bother to act upon the activities and seemed to turn their back on them.

In the second night of the crackdown, April 6, Pattaya’s Tourist Police visited the Coconut Bar on South Pattaya Road and arrested 7 Thai women performing obscene shows on stage. The show’s manager, Attophon Houndee was also arrested.

Disguised as tourists, police observed 7 performers "doing obscene acts using cotton strings, knives, flowers, releasing birds, using cigarettes, popping balloons, opening soft drink bottles, blowing whistles and releasing ping pong balls from their genitals." The seven would also come down from the stage to meet the tourists between acts.

Yohy Khumprommee, aged 24 from Udon Thani, was arrested during her act of releasing ping pong balls into a glass of water. Police then went around the back of the stage and arrested the other six.

They also arrested the manager of the bar, Attophon Houndee, aged 35, and took him to the tourist police station for further
interrogation.

Attaphon admitted he was managing the bar and was aware of the shows. Police charged him for opening a bar without permission and for engaging in illegal business activities.

Yohy, who was caught whilst releasing ping pong balls, was charged with "performing dirty acts in front of the public."

Attaphon and Yohy were sent to the Pattaya Police station to await court proceedings.

The other six were fined 500 baht each for acting in an unacceptable behavior.

On April 7th, Banglamung police raided "The Scene Show" for producing nude sex shows in the Banglamung area. This same bar was raided by police and closed down for staging nude sex shows not long ago. Escaping South Pattaya, the bar relocated to King Resort Hotel and continued its operation.

When policed entered the bar they observed Miss Phennippha Saenjan, aged 20, performing obscene acts on stage. They arrested her, the manager Chalom Preasertchai, aged 32, and the DJ, Somchai Kaewjan, aged 18.

Police confiscated a dozen costumes among other equipment and material used for the show.

Miss Phennippha was charged 500 baht for unacceptable behavior.

The manager and the DJ were charged for engaging in illegal business together. They now await trial.

Hong Kong man arrested for making sex movies

Thousands of pictures and video tapes confiscated

Sixty-one year old Li Kwok Chak from Hong Kong was arrested last week for using local Thai bar girls in sex videos.

Arresting police confiscated 4 Sony video cameras, 4 Nikon SLR cameras, stands, over 45 movie cassettes and more than 1000 photos from Li’s room in a central Pattaya hotel.

Li told police that he took the pictures and movies for his own personal fulfillment and not to sell. However, police didn’t believe him, relying instead on complaints from local bar girls.

Li also attempted to bribe police for his release, allegedly offering any amount of money they would ask for. Police allegedly refused.

Li was charged with "shooting pornography for trade" and "insulting the image of the kingdom".

Li now resides in crowbar hotel where he waits for trial.

The 1.8 billion baht project to be completed by June 2000

On the 9th of April Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Mayor of Pattaya, chaired a press conference at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort to announce and clarify the project of the Rejuvenation of Pattaya’s Environment.

Also attending were Veera Sakulthap, deputy director of the environmental department on improvements, Dr. Yuwaree Inna representing the pollution control department, and Khun Panga Wathanakul, chairperson of the Pattaya Committee for Public Relations and Marketing. Officials form the various departments and associations were also present.

The theme of the conference was, "In the near future Pattaya’s beaches and waters will be clean".

Construction, stopped for Songkran, will resume at full speed along Beach Road after the festival.

The Makro Consultants Co. Ltd. and the Samprasit Construction Company are in charge of building the waste water treatment canals and plant. Both have been encountering many problems in trying to finish the project on schedule. This has caused extreme damage to the tourism atmosphere in Pattaya. It has also affected the businesses and the general public.

Work has had to stop incessantly, and requests have been made for a 180 day contract extension. This should effectively expire in June 1999. However, the cabinet was recently asked to grant another extension.

The consultant company and the Samprasit Co. Ltd. claim that the pipe laying and finishing of Beach Road should be completed by June 1999, while the rest of the pipe laying in the area should be done by September 1999. It would still take another year to install all systems to actually be able to run the treatment plants.

Khun Panga said that the most important projects for the rejuvenation of Pattaya are the 1.8 billion Baht waste water treatment plant and the beach reclamation and landfill project. These had to be dealt with expeditiously.

She added that the project for the beautification and widening of the beach from the Dusit Resort to the South Pattaya pier was approved more than three years ago. The environmental commission to assess the damages that might occur with the washing away of the natural seashore has also stalled this.

Khun Panga proposed that to enhance the committee’s work in promoting and marketing Pattaya in the tourism market, it would be necessary to implement a few public relations activities, such as: 1. Set up an exhibition to show the work and progress of the 1,800 million baht water treatment facilities. 2. Hold a celebration along Beach Road to commemorate the completion of construction around the end of June 1999. 3. Erect signboards to inform the public of the progress of the project. The Samprasit Co. should do this. 4. The consultant company should organize a seminar to create an understanding for the public on the benefits of the projects and on the costs that the public have to bear when the project is completed and ready for use. This should be held before the end of this year.

10th Anniversary of the unification of the Marines

On the 1st of April 1999 the Royal Thai Marines celebrated their 10th Anniversary.

Admiral Thertsak Promsiri, Commander of the Marines at the Samesarn Camp in Sattahip, organized a social buffet at the Srisuwan room of the Star Hotel in Rayong to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unification of the marines.

Admiral Thertsak Promsiri, Commander in charge of the Marines, gives a summary speech on the administration of the marines over the past ten years.

Short history of the Marines Division

The Royal Thai Navy was granted approval from the Ministry of Defense to set up a Marines Division on 1 April 1989. The marines would operate under the Command Division.

The Marines Division is an entity in itself and is capable of engaging war on its own. It is part of the overall defense of the kingdom, giving and receiving support from other military divisions. It is currently part of the rank where the infantry division is the prime division, receiving support from the war division. The Marines are an independent division as per the ranking of the ministry of defense, which possesses the skills in war defense tactics. Responsibilities of the Marines are to destroy the enemy, using attack and take over tactics.

The Marines Division is located at the Samesarn Camp in Plutaluang, Sattahip. Supporting marines divisions are located in Sattahip, Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi, Songkhla and Narrativat provinces.

Apart from the above responsibilities, the marines have also organized and completed several projects, such as the royal projects: Thaptin Siam Project, Julaporn Pattana Project and Arts Project.

Marines responsibilities also include preserving the environment, aiding the public during natural disasters such as floods and drought, supporting private and public projects such as camping and visual education, and defending our borders in order to maintain the security and stability of the kingdom.

ISR, Pattaya City and Mercure join to clean the beaches

Fifty students from the International School of the Regents joined with 50 staff members from the Mercure Pattaya Resort for a beach clean-up campaign on 27 March.

The Environment Care Project kicks off in front of the Mercure Pattaya Resort.

Dr. Preeda Wairoch-Pan, Director of the Sanitation and Environment Division of Pattaya City, presided over the opening of the Environment Care Project.

The Environment Care Project aims to respond to the government policy on maintaining a good environment, open an opportunity for the government and private sector to cooperate in keeping Pattaya’s environment clean, and stimulate organizations in Pattaya, as well as Pattaya people, to realize the importance of maintaining a good environment.

The project was kicked off on March 27th with the joint beach cleanup between the ISR, Pattaya City and the Mercure Pattaya Resort.

As part of the project, Mercure has promised to continue to keep the beach in their area clean.

Public Committee of the Pattaya Tourist Police selected

Pol. Lt. Col. Supaseth Chokechai, Chief of the Pattaya Tourist Police, invited 5 people from Pattaya City to join a committee of the Pattaya Tourist Police.

The main reason in doing so is to follow the new policy of the National Police Department, which is called "Police for Public".

The committee is meant to be a kind of co-operator with the police authority. Their real role is to assist the officers in planning methods of working in order to get better results and to better relations between police officers and the public.

Altogether 5 local citizens were selected to be members of the committee. They are Supoj Pojnetrakhom, owner of the Palladium Discotheque, Sopin Tepajak, Owner of the Diana Group and member of the Pattaya City Council, Amorn Malhotra, Managing Editor of Pattaya Mail, Tossawan Rueksutt, Marketing Manager of the Pinnacle Resort, and Phantusak Saengchan, Director of the OD Bowl.

Moon River turn 4

Happy birthday, Moon River Pub! The photograph shows the mayor of Pattaya, Pairat Suthithamrongsawat with Michael Vogt, GM of Thai Garden Resort and his wife Marion cutting the birthday cake at the 4th anniversary celebration last Monday.

Cutting the cake - Moon River turn 4.

This party was just the beginning of one week full of fun and celebrations at this famous pub. All invited guests, amongst them many honorable celebrities of Pattaya, seemed to enjoy this anniversary event. Michael Vogt thanked all the regular customers for their support during the past four years and expressed his hope that this will stay on in the years to come. Mayor Pairat explained in his speech that he always likes to come to the Moon River Pub, especially when he feels a bit down or alone, because he always feels welcome there and best of all, he gets back his spirit in this cozy and homey atmosphere.

The "Soft Touch" and the "Soulhouse Band" did their best to entertain the customers until the early morning hours. Games being played also helped to make this evening a complete success.

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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.