French can do more than play football

Some are very powerful runners

A motorcycle taxi rider requested help from the Pattaya Municipal Police Station following a foreign tourist’s refusal to pay a 30 baht fare after driving him all around the city. The rider said the man was obviously inebriated and all he asked for was the 30 baht agreed upon fare.

Levorc David Yues being escorted to a comfy cell the by the local constabulary after his dashing adventure

Police officers investigated the incident and brought the man into the Police Station for questioning after he refused to acknowledge he owed the 30 baht motorcycle fare.

However as Police were in the process of charging the man with being drunk and disorderly he jumped up and ran from the building with a group of police officers chasing after him.

After initially giving them the slip, one hour later the man was cornered in Soi Bua Khao, but he continued to resist arrest. Police were forced to call for reinforcements from local traffic volunteers, ending up with over 10 people finally overpowering him and taking the man into custody back at the Pattaya Police Station.

The man’s mental state prevented any information being taken and he was given a room for the night to recover from his drunken adventure. A search of his possessions, before being put away, found 17,000 baht in his wallet and his French passport identifying him as Levorc H. David Yues.

Elderly out do the young in beach clean-up

Takes more personnel and more time than outhorities imagined

Mrs. Sawanee Thawinkeo from the Chonburi Socal Welfare Center organised the clean up day of the beach area behind the Bang Lamung Boy’s Home.

Young and old doing their bit for the environment

Also participating in the activity were the staff workers from the Chonburi Welfare office and the Bang Lamung Home for the Elderly, the Karunyawed Assistance Home, the Bang Lamung Boy’s Home, the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Vocational Training Center and the Chonburi Juvenile and Family Assistance Center.

The “Big Clean Up Day” covered five kilometers of the coastal beach area collecting all the rubbish and debris. The activity was unable to be completed on the one day; however, with many people from the Assistance Centers and Homes in Bang Lamung showing up in the early mornings and continuing the cleaning just for the exercise.

The day’s activities helped increase the younger children’s awareness of the importance of taking care of the environment.

Dolphins seen again in Pattaya Bay

Unfortunately the dolphin was deceased

A security official conducting a routine patrol along Naklua beach reported finding a small dolphin floating near the shore. The Bang Lamung police relayed the information to the Chonburi Fishing Department and personnel from the Sawang Boribun Rescue Foundation were dispatched to the scene. The ‘monk’s bowl head’ dolphin weighed approximately 60 kilos and was estimated to be between 2-3 years of age. The body of the dolphin had open wounds from unknown causes and examiners suggested that the dolphin had died about 10 hours earlier.

Decidely deceased dolphin washed up on the shores of Pattaya Bay

Officials from the Chonburi Fishing Department instructed the Sawang Boribun Foundation to keep the dolphin refrigerated until they arrived to investigate the matter the following day.

Older residents and fishermen can attest to former times when dolphins were a common sight in Pattaya Bay, but over the years the dolphin has vanished from the local waters. Initial speculation suggests that the dolphin was either killed by fishermen, illegally using explosives, or from the water pollution caused by factories and other businesses not treating wastewater to acceptable standards.

Pattaya Redemptorist School damaged by fire

4 workers injured in blast

Firefighters quick to the scene

The fire at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind in Naklua occurred as workers were finishing construction of a reception room for visitors.

The sudden blaze erupted from the room on the second floor of the building. Fire fighters spent 30 minutes extinguishing the flames, and four construction workers from the S.K. Construction Company were injured and were sent to the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital. The four workers were working near paint thinners when the explosion occurred with each worker receiving serious facial burns.

Investigators believe the cause of the blast and the resulting fire may have been caused by a short circuit near the flammable liquids. Luckily no students were injured during the fire that was very near their living quarters. The overall damages to the building are estimated to be in excess of 200,000 Baht.

Unexplained death of a Swede

Police waiting for evidence to turn up

The body of 36-year old Swedish national Tedeltus Kenta was found in his room at Jomtien. Apparently somewhat down on his luck, he had been staying rent free with the good graces of a restaurant owner, Miss Nitiya Malaikul.

The 23-year old owner of the restaurant, Miss Nitiya, told police she first met Mr. Kenta about four years ago and recently he became very ill without having any means or money to look after himself. Feeling sorry for his situation Miss Nitiya said she allowed him to stay in the room upstairs and even provided him with free meals, usually calling him for his evening meal between 8 and 10 pm. However, on this occasion when she went to call him she realised he had died and notified the police.

Initial examination of the corpse suggests that death had occurred about five hours earlier. No indications of violence or struggle were evident; however, a lot of blood from both nose and mouth covered the man’s face. The untidy appearance of his belongings indicated that a search may have been made of the room.

Police are continuing with the investigation whilst awaiting results from the forensic lab’s examination.

Cleaning Woman turns to crime

Arested after robbing 8 apartments

Metta Taeng Awn and her sortie of cash

The Tritana Apartments on 3rd Road called in the police to investigate a number of robberies resulting in the arrest of the apartment cleaning woman, Metta Taeng-Awn, aged 31. The investigation revolved around eight rooms at the Apartments being burglarized. Pattaya police questioned a number of people, with the cleaning lady being the prime suspect, who during the subsequent interrogation, broke down and confessed.

Metta admitted to the charges, claiming that her 2,800 baht a month salary was not enough to make ends meet. She then decided to start breaking into the rooms and stealing whatever was available.

She was charged with breaking, entering and stealing private property. Police recovered 1,000 baht and 150 Chinese Yuan worth about 1,000 baht from her room at South Pattaya.

Provincial Police Commissioner’s unannounced visit

Somchai’s surprise

Pol. Lt. Gen. Somchai Prabhasabhakdi, the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, conducted an unannounced inspection at Pattaya Police Station surprising duty officer Pol. Lt. Col. Chachawan Pisuttiwong.

The Provincial Police Commissioner said that he felt extremely proud after looking around and seeing that each department was fully manned and performing their duties. He applauded the station’s readiness and said he hopes that the police officers continue to perform their duties in such a diligent manner.

A little later the Police Commissioner came across Deputy Superintendent Pol. Lt. Col. Antapol Namnarot who appeared to be just arriving for duty. Pol. Lt. Gen. Somchai took the police officer aside for a private 30 minute chat before leaving the Pattaya Police Station in a more solemn mood.

23 year old Miss Kingkeo Sae Kwo was attacked by a crazed attempted rapist and suffered a severe knife wound to her throat, necessitating being taken to the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital where investigating officers questioned her after she received treatment.

Miss Kingkeo told officers that whilst she was washing clothes in her bathroom she was attacked from behind by a young teenage boy. He put a knife to her throat and dragged her to an area where he then attempted to rape her. She fought back at him in desperation and ended up with her throat being cut while the attacker ran away leaving her screaming for help. The attacker was described as a young boy with long hair and light skin, around 1.50m tall, wearing a light blue pullover shirt and long black jeans.

Later that evening Police Major Mana Phitak and the investigating officer from the Children and Women’s Rights Center, Pol. Lt. Nawarat Pramuanyat received a call from a 63-year old Buddhist nun, Miss Thawee Phongsathien. She reported that the boy who had committed the crime earlier that day was with her on Phra Yai Hill.

Police officers brought the youth, later identified as 14-year old “Lek” -(name withheld), and Miss Thawee in for questioning. “Lek” admitted to the crime saying he was intoxicated at the time and did not realize what he was doing. He fled after seeing the blood flow from the girl’s throat and sought the help of Mae Chee Thawee. “Lek” finally agreed to Mae Chee Thawee’s wishes to give himself up to the police.

Mae Chee Thawee told police that the boy had been entrusted to her 14 years previously, with the mother offering her 900 baht a month to look after him. The mother never returned so she assumed the burden of raising him. She described “Lek’s” unfortunate circumstances, saying she did the best she could in raising him and loves him like her own son. She put him through school up until M-1 until he refused to attend school any further. She said Lek ran around with a group of other wild children and had even attempted to take his own life once by cutting his wrists.

Lek is being charged with attempted rape and for assaulting Miss Kingkeo with a knife causing serious injury. As unfortunate as the boy’s circumstances were Pol. Maj. Mana explained that his duty was to hold the boy in custody until the court decides his fate.

“Lek”, after showing sincere remorse was allowed at his own request to apologize to the girl and he was escorted to the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital where he prostrated himself three times before Miss Kingkeo asking for forgiveness. Miss Kingkeo only replied she wished the incident had never happened.

Over 200 former employees from the Kennex factory in Khao Mai Keo presented a petition to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Sonthaya Khunpleum.

Laid off workers awaitng the outcome of their case

The upset employees had previously brought their grievances to the Khao Mai Keo Sub-district Administration Organisation (SAO) demanding better compensation after Kennex recently laid-off its workers.

The Khao Mai Keo SAO Chairman Jamnian Keeteepakun and Thidiphan Traithonsombat from the Chonburi Labour Department had agreed to present the workers’ concerns and to meet with representatives from the Kennex Company.

The laid-off employees were still waiting for answers which then prompted them to corner the Minister and ask for his assistance. Eight representatives for the employees presented the Deputy Minister with a signed petition for better compensation.

The Khun Nan Company produces tennis related sporting equipment sold world-wide under the brand name of Kennex and has been operating in Khao Mai Keo for over ten years. The Company employed up to 1,000 workers until six months ago when down-sizing began, leaving just 300 workers at the factory.

It is alleged laid-off workers were offered a compensation of one third of what is required by law. This caused much concern amongst the employees and led to the company cutting wages by 50% and stopping work for a period of 15 days. Employees were also informed that if they wanted to quit, to announce their intentions, demonstrating the company’s intention of forcing them out of their jobs without full entitlements. Following that, it was stated that the company’s management has disappeared.

After listening to the Kennex employee’s complaints The Deputy Minister called a meeting with Provincial Council Members led by Chanyut Hengtrakul, Jirawat Chulsiriwatanawong from the Chonburi Labour Control and Social Benefits and the Deputy Governor Suphot Lawatanasiri.

Jirawat disclosed that the matter had been forwarded to the Labour Courts, notifying it of the workers’ situation and answers are expected soon. If the Khun Nan Company fails to meet its legal responsibilities then further legal action can proceed.

M.P. Sonthaya later announced that the out of work employees have every right to present their grievances. However, he affirmed that the matter must be handled in accordance with the prescribed law. He called for the employees to be patient in waiting for the outcome, promising their rights will be maintained and their due compensation will be resolved.