Oil tanker seized in Laem Chabang

Two arrested for transferring 400,000 liters of illegal fuel

The boat’s captain, Kao Wanama told police that the fuel was contaminated and it was being transferred for disposal. The truck company owner, Mrs. Sureerat Bunyajitasittisak confirmed the story, but police detained them both while investigating further. A third individual allegedly disappeared just before police arrived.

A police probe revealed that the fuel had been illegally imported, so they seized the tanker and the 400,000 liters of type 5 fuel on board, as well as the six-wheel trucks from Chachoengsao.

Pol. Col. Satit Charoenpipob said the fuel was destined for distribution to fuel dealers via barges and trucks. He said the fuel would then be “mixed”, providing a huge savings for dealers by allowing them to avoid taxes. He said the practice costs the Kingdom millions of baht each year.

“The problem is extensive and poses a number of problems in addition to tax evasion,” Pol. Col. Satit said. For instance, “a boat named Playboy 3 was recently anchored just outside Pattaya Bay in international waters. It was in the process of transferring illegal fuel when it was involved in a collision and spilt its fuel into the bay.”

Both Kao Wanama and Mrs. Sureerat Bunyajitasittisak later admitted to the charges of bringing illicit fuel into the Kingdom, and told police that a string of buyers were waiting for the cheaper fuel.

Pattaya bar workers blockade North Pattaya Road

Protest 2:00 a.m. closing time

Hundreds of bar owners and bar workers converged on city hall on October 19 to protest the latest enforcement of the 2:00 a.m. closing time. The disgruntled mob arrived in pick-ups and motorcycles and proceeded to block off North Pattaya Road from 2:00 a.m. until past 6:00 a.m.

Pattaya municipal police deployed 200 uniformed officers to keep the protest from becoming violent. Although the scene at times was chaotic, the protest was peaceful and there were no reports of injuries or violence.

Pattaya’s bar business community converged on city hall and blockaded North Pattaya Road on October 19 to protest this year’s enforcement of the 2:00 a.m. closing time.

This year’s edition of the “yearly crackdown” was prompted by events in Bangkok that had little to do directly with Pattaya but nonetheless had an impact on the bar community.

The recent incident involving Wanchalerm Yubamrung at a Bangkok pub in Soi Thonlo brought remarks from the boy’s father, New Aspiration Deputy Party Leader Police Capt. Chalerm Yubamrung, who accused police of neglecting their duties, specifically the 2:00 a.m. closing time for bars.

In the past, the Ministry of Interior authorized a relaxed version of the closing time for bar businesses, article 6/2524, affecting entertainment areas in Pattaya and a few other tourist locations. The “relaxed” version extended closing times in these special tourist locations to 3.00 a.m. But Chalerm Yubamrung’s accusations sent Pattaya and Banglamung police into full gear, enforcing the law to its maximum. Sweeps were conducted throughout the city to close all establishments at 2.00 a.m.

The police initiative soon created a revolt in the bar business community. Bar owners and workers first joined together and confronted Pattaya Police Chief Pinit Satcharoen. Their main complaint was that the “early” closing time takes away a serious amount of their profits. The bar owner coalition told the police chief two shifts comprise the bulk of their business in Pattaya. The first shift begins during the early evening hours, and is followed by a second drove of business that begins at 1:00 a.m. This “second shift” constitutes a major part of their profits.

However, their pleas failed to impress the police chief, who told them he was just following orders.

The police chief’s response triggered quick action from the bar owners. They distributed fliers throughout the bar business community, calling for solidarity and the staging of a protest in front of city hall. On October 19, a mass of bar owners and workers converged on city hall shortly past 2:00 a.m. after being forced to close their bars, and proceeded to blockade North Pattaya Road.

A steady stream of people continued to appear at city hall until about 5:00 a.m. when their numbers were estimated at over 200.

Microphone holding representatives of the bar businesses held fast to their claim that bars in Pattaya are an important attraction to visiting tourists. They said that bars provide employment for many and are responsible for a good portion of the money brought into the country from the tourist industry. The protestors insisted the situation caused by enforcing early closing would be detrimental to tourism and planned to take the protest all the way to the prime minister. They said that tourists were already wondering why businesses were closing up, and were walking away in dismay.

At around 6.00 a.m., Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat arrived, accompanied by leaders from the city and province, to meet with the protestors and listen to their grievances.

In the end, the mayor said he was sympathetic with the protestor’s plea for fairness and told the group he would relay their justification for relaxing the laws through appropriate channels.

The next day representatives of the bar community drafted a document outlining their justification to relax the 2.00 a.m. closing time in Pattaya. The document was addressed to the provincial governor and the office of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok. Included in the document was supporting data released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand stating that 3 million tourists visited Pattaya in 1999, bringing into the Kingdom over 34.9 billion baht. The document requested the closing time for bar businesses in Pattaya be changed to 4.00 a.m.

Fire blazes through BMX warehouse

50,000 baht in damages

An expensive fire broke out in the BMX Bicycle warehouse in Naklua last week. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the second storey storeroom, but 50,000 baht in damages were done to the company’s stock.

The fire was reported to Banglamung Police at 3:30 p.m. on October 21. Fire trucks were dispatched along with Sawang Boriboon Rescue Unit personnel to the warehouse off Sawang Faa Road in Naklua.

Firefighters battle a blaze that broke out in the second storey of the BMX Bicycle shop in Naklua.

When firefighters arrived, thick black smoke was billowing from the balcony. One group of firefighters broke the inner door down and other firefighters were hoisted up to the balcony to fight the fire from two sides. It took nearly 45 minutes to completely extinguish the fire due to the amount of smoke.

The warehouse is located amongst a row of shophouses, and the residents on adjacent sides expressed thorough relief once it was over, as they feared the fire would spread.

The 61-year-old owner of the 30-year-old bicycle shop, Mr. Somporn Sanpichai said a neighbor came running up to him, excitingly telling him that smoke was billowing out of his shop. He said he immediately called police.

The initial investigation identified a faulty light fixture as the probable cause of the fire.

Community incensed as 12-year-old boy is accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl

Social values put on trial

by Vichan Pladplueng

The mother of a 4-year-old girl registered a complaint with Bang Lamung police on Friday October 13, accusing a 12-year-old boy living next door of sexually assaulting her 4-year-old daughter.

The alleged rape took place near the mother’s home in Nong Prue while the mother, a merchant, was working on Larn Island on October 7. When the mother returned home in the evening, she observed her daughter walking in an unusual manner and complaining of pain in her pelvic region. After questioning her daughter she discovered the area was discolored. The little girl told the mother that the 12-year-old boy next door had caused the pain.

Bang Lamung police summoned the boy and his guardian for questioning. The 12-year-old boy denied any wrongdoing, but other information collected from neighbors conflicted with the boy’s denial of the little girl’s account of what took place.

Eventually, the boy’s guardian compensated the girl’s family, and to avoid any future altercation the boy was sent to stay with relatives outside of Pattaya with the intent of correcting the boy’s behavior.

Angry neighbors commented on how the incident clearly displays the current problems prevalent in society. Young children are confronted with adult activity that is commonly seen in the media and on the streets of Pattaya, creating awareness in today’s youth before they are prepared to accept the associated responsibilities. They said the disturbing act supports the need for stricter parenting controls to protect young people and the future social structure.

Frenchman on trial for raping 11-year-old Pattaya girl

France enacts law enabling prosecution of sexual crimes committed abroad

48-year-old Paris railway worker Amnon Chemouil is on trial in France for raping an 11-year-old girl in Pattaya six years ago. If convicted, Chemouil could be facing up to 20 years in French prison.

Authorities are hailing the arrest and trial as a stern warning to sex tourists. “This is a trial that should give pedophiles cause for fear, and convince them there is no impunity,” said Jacques Hintzy, president of the French branch of UNICEF. “Pressure must be brought on public opinion to stop these outrages from continuing. Millions of people are having their childhoods stolen and being treated like merchandise.”

The rape, caught on videotape by a traveling companion of Chemouil, occurred in 1994, the same year France adopted laws making it possible to prosecute sexual crimes committed by its citizens abroad.

Chemouil was arrested after Swiss police raided the home of Viktor Michel, who was wanted for child pornography. Among the items confiscated from the Swiss man’s home were pictures and a videotape of Chemouil forcing the 11-year-old girl to perform oral sex on him, which, under French law, constitutes rape.

Michel identified Chemouil in the tapes and the Swiss police passed the information on to the French authorities.

French prosecutors arrived in Thailand in 1997 to find the girl, now 17, who was recently flown to France by UNICEF to give evidence in the trial. The girl’s name is being withheld, and she was deposed behind closed doors to protect her from the press and the public.

Chemouil, meanwhile, has admitted to paying to have sex with the girl and has begged for the girl’s forgiveness.

Local police dealt with 3 unrelated deaths of foreigners’ last week

Dubai tourist, French businessman and American tourist perish in Pattaya and Jomtien

Local police and the Sawang Boriboon Foundation were kept busy last week dealing with 3 unrelated deaths of foreigners.

Dubai tourist Alshamsi Sultan Humaid Khalifaali died of unknown causes in his South Pattaya hotel on Friday October 13. The body of French businessman Daniel Goepfert was found in his home on October 14, although the condition of the corpse suggested the death had occurred at least a week before it was discovered. And American tourist Brad Hopkins drowned in the early morning hours of October 17 whilst swimming off Jomtien Beach. Of the 3 deaths, police are considering only that of the Frenchman as suspicious.

Alshamsi Sultan Humaid Khalifaali, age 28, was found slumped over a couch in his South Pattaya hotel room on October 13. The hotel’s telephone operator, Miss Sirirat Khamthai, attempted to transfer a phone call to his room, and when he didn’t answer and she saw that his room key was not in its box, she summoned the bellboy to investigate.

The bellboy, Mitrachai Katuay, peered inside a crack in the door and saw Khalifaali slumped over on the sofa.

Investigating police found no evidence of foul play and there were no marks on the body. Results of the preliminary examination suggest the death occurred approximately seven hours earlier.

Khalifaali’s passport showed that he had entered the Kingdom in July 1996. The cause of his demise has yet to be determined and police are waiting for further information from the forensic lab.

French businessman Daniel Goepfert was found dead in his home in the Village Homes community off of 3rd Road after residents complained of a foul odor emanating from his residence.

Police and personnel from the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Unit forced open his door and eventually found his decomposing body on his bed on the 2nd floor. The condition of the corpse suggested the death occurred at least one week prior to being discovered.

Police searched the house and found business cards identifying Goepfert as the owner of the “Imagine Not Alone” import-export business.

Evidence suggests his house had been searched before the police arrived, and his passport was nowhere to be found. There were also bloodstains in the bathroom.

A medical examiner from Banglamung Hospital conducted a preliminary examination and reported only a slight abrasion located on the forehead, which, he said, was certainly not the cause of death.

Police collected documents and supporting evidence and after fingerprinting the body transferred the corpse to the forensic lab for further examination.

American tourist Brad Hopkins, age 34, drowned while swimming off Jomtien Beach in the early morning hours of October 17.

Pattaya Police received the report at 5.30 a.m. that Hopkins had been transferred to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital by personnel from the ocean rescue unit after his friends had pulled him from the water. Hospital attendants attempted CPR but were unable to revive him.

A motorcycle taxi driver witnessed the accident and told police he saw three tourists, a man and two women, swimming off Jomtien Beach near the Som Prasong Plaza. Within 10 minutes the two women called for help as they pulled the unconscious body ashore. The driver said he quickly contacted the rescue unit for help.

The driver speculated that the early morning coolness must have shocked the swimmer.

National Accident Prevention Commission turns down Jomtien Palm Beach Resort’s request to reopen

Hotel needs more fire prevention improvements

After conducting an inspection of renovations and safety measures implemented at the Jomtien Palm Beach Resort, the National Accident Prevention Commission has initially turned down the hotel owners’ request to operate legally.

Inspection Committee Chairman from the National Accident Prevention Commission Wibhak Thanarach (far left) with committee members present their findings on hotel renovations at the former Royal Jomtien Hotel, which was gutted by fire in 1997.

Fire investigation committee members, led by Wibhak Thanarach from the National Accident Prevention Commission, conducted the inspection on October 13. The hotel, formerly the Royal Jomtien, has undergone renovations after the tragic fire on 11 July 1997 that resulted in over 100 deaths.

The Kiatpol Company, owners of the hotel, used data summaries provided by consultants from STS Engineering that indicated the fire damage to the hotel wasn’t severe enough to forgo renovations. The Two-R Engineering Company was also contracted to support the findings and create plans to request approval to renovate.

The request was submitted to Pattaya’s city administration on 4 August 1998, and before issuing approval the city administration enlisted independent engineering consultants from the University of Agricultural Science to confirm the building’s structural foundation was suitable to support renovations.

Pattaya City received the confirmation in February 1999, and issued renovation permits on 31 March 1999.

The Construction Line Company was then contracted to renovate the hotel. Renovations were completed in October 1999.

However, Wibhak Thanarach, chairing the inspection committee under Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankiri’s official capacity of overseeing the National Accident Prevention Commission, disclosed that the inspection results indicated the hotel renovations did not meet acceptable standards in some areas and requested to review the hotels renovation plans.

Specific areas were identified as unsatisfactory, requiring further adjustments. These areas involve various fire extinguishing equipment, including the emergency sprinkler head systems. Once the specified corrections are made to acceptable standards the hotel will more than likely receive the committee’s approval to legally continue business.

Mark 90th year of King Chulalongkorn’s passing

Banglamung District Chief Vichien Chawalit presided over the annual ceremony venerating the highly regarded and deeply loved monarch, King Chulalongkorn The Great (Rama V) on “Piyamaharach Day” (The Beloved King Day) observed as a national holiday each year on October 23.

Banglamung District Chief Vichien Chawalit presided over the annual ceremony venerating King Chulalongkorn The Great (Rama V) on “Piyamaharach Day” (The Beloved King Day) October 23.

Local government officials in full dress uniform, leading members from the private sector, students and the general public all attended the ceremony, which was conducted at the King Chulalongkorn statue in front of the Banglamung District office building.

Ninety years have past since the “Beloved King” passed away and the many noted achievements instituted during King Chulalongkorn’s reign of 42 years have been immortalized in the hearts and minds of the Thai people.

King Chulalongkorn is remembered for modernizing the Kingdom of Thailand. He established changes in government administration and implemented public utilities, projecting the country forward during a period when neighboring countries were being colonized by foreign powers.

The abolishment of slavery and royal visits to foreign lands topped the list of the great king’s achievements, which also included government sponsored education, a judicial system with police force, a postal system, hospitals, the first railroad in Thailand and procedures administrating religious affairs.

King Chulalongkorn The Great made a number of visits to Chonburi during his lifetime, first as a crown prince with his father King Mongut, and later during his reign as King. He constructed a summer palace on Sichang Island, which became one of his favorite summer homes. H.R.H. Prince Bhanaurangsri Sawangwongse, one of the King’s sons was born on Sichang Island.

The dearly “Beloved King” remains in the hearts of the Thai people for his many contributions to preserving the country’s sovereignty and his overall concern for the welfare of his subjects.

Thai people all over the country continue to venerate King Chulalongkorn The Great each year by commemorating his passing on 23 October 1910.