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Russian suspect
confesses, says fourth bank robber was a Thai
“Sura”, a Thai national named as
triggerman in murder of policeman
Felix Cheremnykh, one of three Russian suspects
arrested last week for the armed robbery of a South Pattaya bank and the
murder of a police sergeant major, confessed to the crime and told
police that the fourth member of the gang was a Thai man named “Sura”.
At the time of going to press, the other two Russian suspects, Mapat
Mimlikeev and Renat Udarov were continuing to deny involvement. A fifth
suspect, a foreigner named Illiyes Karfarleen (sic), who police now
believe to be of Colombian decent, and who police believe was the
getaway driver, is still at large.
Police say they are having trouble tracking down Illiyes Karfarleen
(sic) through immigration records because they believe they do not have
the correct spelling of his name.
Felix Cheremnykh told police that it was Sura who pulled the trigger
resulting in the fatal gunshot wound to the head of Pol. Sgt. Maj.
Songkitti Maneechote.
The three Russians were arrested when allegedly on their way to Prachuap
Khiri Khan by boat the day after the bank robbery, on Saturday, August
31. The three denied charges and refused to comment on the case until a
week later when, on Sept. 6, Cheremnykh confessed to his involvement.
Cheremnykh told police that Sura inside the bank during the robbery. He
said Sura had shoulder length hair, dark skin, is approximately 175-180
cm tall, and is between 30-35 years old.
Police have not yet determined the exact identity of “Sura”, and only
have Cheremnykh’s description to go on. A police sketch of Sura is
circulating around the country.
Cheremnykh told police that Sura planned the robbery and recruited Renat
Udarov to join in. Cheremnykh said that Udarov then called him and Mapat
Mimlikeev to complete the team.
Somewhat contrary to eye witness accounts, Cheremnykh said that Mapat
waited in the truck (not Illiyes as police suspect) whilst Sura and he
broke into the bank and swept up the money.
Cheremnykh said that he got into a struggle with Pol. Sgt. Maj.
Songkitti Maneechote over possession of the sergeant’s pistol. He said
that during the fight, the gun accidentally went off, hitting Cheremnykh
in the thigh. Cheremnykh said that Sura ended the struggle by brutally
shooting the sergeant in the head.
Cheremnykh allegedly said that he and Sura then grabbed the loot, ran
from the bank and sped off in the pickup truck that had been waiting
outside the bank. He said they drove to Soi Wat Boon and switched to a
Honda Civic.
A police spokesman said that Sura escaped with approximately 800,000
baht, and that they believe he was aided by another criminal they
surmise is a Thai citizen.
Police believe all the foreign suspects had been residing in Pattaya for
quite some time and had made many friends who they may have gotten
involved in the crime.
Police are using every means possible to solve this case, and said they
will pursue the maximum penalty allowed by law.
Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development holds National test workshop
Dr. Panom Pongpaibul,
advisor to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Development
Suchada Tupchai
On September 2nd, Dr. Panom Pongpaibul, advisor to the Department of
Curriculum and Instruction Development presided over the opening
ceremony of the annual ‘National Test workshop’ under the current policy
of the Ministry of Education.
The workshop is used to evaluate, analyze and upgrade educational
standards and systems at various levels of schools in the Kingdom.
The workshop was attended by Chonburi Provincial Education sectors 1 &
5, 12 committees, educators, and other officers from the Ministry of
Education and ran from the 1st to 4th of September at the Town In Town
Hotel in Pattaya.
According to the Ministry of Education’s policy under the new Thai
Constitution, readjustments to the nation’s school systems are the
driving force behind the ministry’s push forward to create a sense of
oriented learning for the community.
The department bears the responsibility of an annual evaluation of
teaching standards, mainly at secondary levels, but also including
primary school levels 3 and 6, and secondary levels 3 and 6 to ensure a
uniform level of teaching quality.
The department will study the outcome of the evaluation and develop it
as a tool to control the quality of education in the kingdom in the
future.
Bank of Thailand prints 15 million special 100 baht banknotes on September 7 to mark its 100th anniversary
Front and back of the special
commemorative 100 baht banknotes.
Shetavee Chareonpitak, deputy governor of the Bank of
Thailand (Administration Department) revealed that the Bank of Thailand has
printed and put on sale 15 million special 100 baht banknotes on September 7
to observe the 100th anniversary of banknotes used in the Kingdom.
The lot is available at various commercial banks. One is eligible to buy up
to only 20 notes and must present one’s identity card at the counter to
prevent stocking notes and overpricing them afterwards. Notes with nice
numbers, like 9 Ko (first alphabet of Thai scripts) 9999999 and other 13
banknotes will be presented to HM the King. Some of them will be kept in the
museum at the BoT and some will be auctioned later.
On the front side of the note to the right are the portraits of His Majesty
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the reigning monarch, and His Majesty King
Chulalongkorn (Rama V), each wearing a suit. The portrait of King Rama V was
included because on September 7th, 1902, during His reign, the first
banknote was produced and used.
The Royal-Coat-of-Arms is printed in the center of the note in a grayish
green and yellow elaborate circular design. The front of the note is printed
in brown, with a light yellow, pink, and orange background.
The back side of the note is brown, as this was the color used 100 years
ago. In the upper center of the back is the Royal-Coat-of-Arms, printed in
dark brown over a yellowish green background. Under the Royal-Coat-of-Arms
are the Thai words and expressions: “Government of Siam,” and “The
Government of Siam promises to pay the bearer on demand in Siamese
currency”, printed in dark brown.
Further down to left and right are the signatures of the authority and that
of the Minister of the Royal Treasury.
The outer frame is an elaborate design. At the bottom is the legend,
“Characteristic of the 1st Series of 100-Baht denomination banknote, Type 1,
the issuance was announced on 7 September B.E. 2445 (1902).”
The size of the 2002 version is exactly the same as that of the 1902
version, with the width of 105 millimeters and length of 165 millimeters. It
is the size of the 5 baht bank note used 100 years ago.
Security features include the note paper being white in color and
incorporated with a watermark depicting a three-headed elephant, which can
be observed on both sides by viewing the note against light.
Incorporated in the paper are scattered invisible fibers, which are
luminescent in blue, red, and yellow under ultraviolet light.
Vertically embedded inside the paper is a gray metallic color security
thread, which contains non-staggering translucent micro-letterings: “100
years of Thai banknotes” in Thai numbering and alphabet.
On the lower right corner of the front, the Thai numerals indicating
denomination “100”, printed with optically variable intaglio ink (OVI),
change from magenta into green when the lower edge of the note is flipped.
On the front, the orange and grayish green background design and the
elaborate design are printed with special ink, which turns luminescent
orange and yellowish green under ultraviolet light.
The Thai alphabetical code with Thai serial number and the Roman
alphabetical code with Arabic serial number are printed with special dark
blue ink, which turns luminescent blue under ultraviolet light.
Above information was supplied by the Bank of Thailand. For more info, visit
the website http://www.bot.or.th
Unithai responds to allegations from Laem Chabang District Department
of Public Affairs and Environment
Claims “facts distorted”
John E. Hunter, a Unithai senior management official,
spoke to Pattaya Mail in response to the September 6th article
titled “Laem Chabang District tells Unithai to clean up its act”. The
following is a summary of the conversation:
“Unithai Shipyard and Engineering have requested that the record be put
straight and offer the following statement in response to the published
article:
“Regarding the statement ‘The Laem Chabang District Department of Public
Affairs and Environment has ordered Unithai Shipyard and Engineering
Company to immediately repair its wastewater piping leading into the sea
or face a lawsuit,’ we have not been ordered to repair our wastewater
piping. We have storm drains that eventually discharge to the sea. All
of our storm drains are in a serviceable condition. We have not been
notified of any pending lawsuit.
“The majority of the storm drains have been here since the early 1990s.
We have never ‘deliberately discharged’ oily substances into the sea as
stated in the allegations. Our oily substances are taken off site to
licensed disposal facilities. Furthermore, we have an environmental
emergency response plan, which would be activated immediately in case of
any unforeseen accident resulting from our operation.
“Unithai has no knowledge of any pending lawsuit being pursued by the
Laem Chabang District Department of Public Affairs and Environment
coordinating with the Seaport Department.
“On Monday 2nd September, the senior officials of Laem Chabang visited
Unithai and commented that Unithai, ‘Are better than 90% totally clear
of any concerns, and that they wished all companies were as diligent in
their protection of the environment.’ We have asked the senior officers
of Laem Chabang department of public health and the environment about a
statement in the article, ‘Officials had previously warned Unithai, but
a recent inspection of the site showed that there were no signs of
improvement. Officials interpreted this as an intentional violation of
the law’, which they said, ‘is not the truth’, and said they would have
no reason to make this statement.
“Sonthi Khotchawat, secretary of the department board, who’s tasked with
monitoring environmental damage caused by industries in Laem Chabang
Seaport and petroleum companies in the Udom Bay area, (told Unithai) he
has ‘no knowledge of the origin of this story and Unithai is certainly
not on any black list.’ Khun Sonthi, the senior officer of the Eastern
Seaboard Environmental Committee, Department of the OEPP (Office of
Environment Policy and Planning) previously nominated Unithai for the
Thailand Environmental Impact Assessment Award, an award for Thailand
companies that fully comply with environmental regulations.
“It is true that at the beginning of year 2002 there was a meeting with
Khun Sonthi and members of the OEPP and Laem Chabang community. This is
an annual meeting to update them on environmental compliance issues,
which we welcome. These meetings are private and represent the process
of seeing where we can make continuous improvements above minimum
requirements. We believe the minutes of this meeting were leaked to the
press. Khun Sonthi made some suggestions to help with some improvements
to our community; Unithai has taken these steps and many others to make
our shipyard amongst the most environmentally friendly facilities in
Thailand. In general, any person with even the most basic operating
knowledge of a ship repair yard would recognise the points sited in the
article as borne from a lack of understanding of shipyard operations.
“The article stated that ‘Sonthi said Unithai has not complied and by
law the department is able to sue the company for non-compliance with
regulations set by EIO.’ This is not true. Unithai is not in breach of
any law. Khun Sonthi has never commented (to Unithai) on this subject.
Regular monitoring, constant external auditing and round the clock
surveillance ensures that we comply.”
Mr. Hunter reiterated the staunch policies of Unithai, “Our company has
the highest regard in matters of environment protection. We instill that
belief into the minds of all our workers, their families and into our
community. Unithai cares for Thailand and have the highest respect for
her people and her laws. We do not have any intentions of doing anything
wrong. Our commitments are and will always be for the protection of the
health and well being of the people. We truly believe in what we say and
fully back them with our deeds. We consider every level of employee to
be very important and care for them. Our shipyard is a community in
itself where hundreds of families live, accepting us to be a part of
their future and we consider them to be ours. The aforementioned
allegations are unfair, as we truly believe in doing the proper thing.”
TA Orange Telecommunication Company enters Pattaya and Eastern Seaboard
Suppachai Jirawanont, chairman of TA Orange, and Atirut
Totaweesaensukh, director of Business Line proudly announced their
telecommunication network is now available in Chonburi and the Central
Region.
The announcement was made at a gala launch at the Hard Rock Cafe in
Pattaya.
Supachai said the company is expanding its wire free 1800-megahertz
system within the Kingdom and 24 other countries. He said, “Our company
is undergoing huge growth and continuously receives compliments from our
consumers.”
Currently there are approximately 740,000 people being served by the
company’s network. Chonburi is the 5th region being installed with
Orange’s advanced network, and by the end of the year, 90% of the
Kingdom will be covered by the Orange network.
Orange Products and services are now available at various markets
including Pacific Park, Sriracha, Royal Garden Plaza, Big C and 7-11
mini-marts.
Deputy Mayor announces another new order for Jomtien Beach vendors
Suchada Tupchai
Starting in January 2003, only registered and licensed businesses will be
allowed to operate on Jomtien Beach.
Pattaya’s deputy mayor, Niran Wattanasatsathorn told a meeting of Jomtien’s
beach chair and umbrella vendors on Friday morning, September 6th that the
conditions for beach vendors have been revised, again.
 Pattaya’s
deputy mayor, Niran Wattanasatsathorn told a meeting of 50 beach chair and
umbrella vendors that the conditions for beach vendors have been revised,
again. Beginning January 1, 2003, only registered and licensed businesses
will be allowed to operate on Jomtien Beach.
Niran said, “Apart from the need to elect a new committee on the first of
October, all vendors must apply for operating licenses. This is to prevent
unscrupulous people from staking claims on businesses.”
The deputy mayor also reminded the 50 vendors in attendance at the meeting
that the policies handed down by Chonburi governor, Chadej Insawang are
still in effect. He said, “There must be order along the beach” and changed
his stance from last week, saying the order “includes the proposed ‘day off’
for vendors on the last Wednesday of the month.”
Niran said that the revised policy would affect three points along Jomtien
Beach: the Dongtan area, the Jomtien police box and the far end of Jomtien
Beach just inside the municipal boundaries.
He added that the new orders would come into effect as of January 1, 2003.
Only registered and licensed businesses will be allowed to operate, with
only 2 exceptions to the rule: the owner’s children or legally married
spouse will be allowed to operate in the owner’s absence.
A number of the vendors voiced their concern over the new regulations, so to
“quell their curiosity”, the deputy mayor announced another meeting will be
held in the near future to discuss any further amendments that may be
required.
Pol. Sgt. Maj. Songkitti Maneechote given hero’s funeral
Kingdom’s top policemen, politicians pay final respects
Officers from the National
Police Bureau, Members of Parliament, officials and business people pay
their last respect to fallen hero Pol. Sgt. Maj. Songkitti Maneechote.
Pol. Sgt. Maj. Songkitti Maneechote was given hero’s
funeral last week at Wat Chaiyamongkol in South Pattaya.
Pol. Sgt. Maj. Songkitti Maneechote was the police officer gunned down in
last month’s bank robbery in Pattaya.
Officers from the National Police Bureau, Members of Parliament, officials,
and business people attended the funeral ceremony and expressed their
condolences to the officer’s family.
Police General Amnuay Petchsiri, deputy director-general of the National
Police Bureau, spoke at the funeral, saying, “This was a great loss for the
Thai police department and Police Sgt. Maj. Songkitti Maneechote’s family.
The family will receive gratuity from the National Police Bureau and he will
be promoted post humously to Police Lieutenant Colonel, with a sum of money
to be used for the funeral ceremonies.”
Songkitti was shot and killed during the armed robbery of the Bank of
Ayuthaya in South Pattaya on Friday morning, August 30.
The body was kept in Wat Chaiyamongkol for 7 days for religious prayers. The
cremation was performed on September 7th.
The list of the many high ranked officials, friends and relatives who
attended Police Sgt. Maj. Songkitti Maneechote’s funeral at Wat
Chaiyamongkol included Police Lieutenant General Suthep Thamarak assistant
director-general of the National Police Bureau, Police Lieutenant General
Pakorn Suppakij, commissioner of division 2, Police Major General Sanae
Kumtienga, commissioner of Chonburi police, Chonburi Governor Chadej
Insawang, Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and Chanyut Hengtrakul,
advisor to minister of science, technology and environment.
Unauthorized Red Cross signs heads list at meeting of village leaders
Chief of the Banglamung district, Chaen Chuensiva
recently presided over Banglamung District’s monthly meeting with the
heads of the villages.
Two main topics were discussed at the meeting. One being the
unauthorized red-cross signs put up by many clinics and drug stores in
the provinces. Red-Cross is under royal decree and it is strictly
forbidden to put up the insignia without authorization. The officials
asked that the heads of the villages keep an eye on such acts and if any
violations are found to report them to the authorities immediately.
The second topic concerned the epidemic of diarrhea, which has resulted
in the death of at least one person this year. 19 cases have been
reported in Banglamung District. The authority asked for the heads of
the villages to cooperate in providing the right information to their
people on the importance of clean water consumption.
British resident shot dead
Gunned down in cold blood at Eak Mongkol Village
Matthew Whalley (sic), 34, a British national was
shot dead in Eak Village, Soi Kao Taloh. His wife, Vichitra
Jewjantuk, reported the murder to Pattaya Police.
His wife said that Matthew went out early that evening to Yungthong
Karaoke bar with his friend, FC Jackson, another British citizen.
On their return, an unidentified Thai man was sitting and waiting
for him at his house. He asked the man why he was there but received
a gunshot to the chest in reply.
The injured man dragged himself 20 meters away but the gunman
followed him and shot him in the head, killing him. The assailant
then fled.
Police interviewed the karaoke owner, but the owner said he did not
see any obvious commotion or argument between the deceased and
anyone in the bar.
Mr. Jackson was in deep shock at his friend’s death and was
unavailable for police interview.
Matthew is survived by his wife and a 1-month-old son.
Two men arrested for mini mart robbery
Late night robbery occurred next-door to Pattaya Mail offices
Krisda Panprasong, 23, and
Aree Panprasong, 19, were arrested last Sunday for the armed robbery of a
mini mart on Pattaya 2nd Road. Police ask that their other victims please
come forward and formally identify them.
Krisda Panprasong, 23, and Aree Panprasong, 19, were
arrested last Sunday for armed robbery of the mini mart next door to the
Pattaya Mail offices.
Jamree Manawang called police after the two men went into her mini mart on
Pattaya 2nd Road and threatened her with a gun, making her hand over the
5,000 baht in her cash box before fleeing on a motorcycle.
Traffic police became suspicious of a motorcycle passing at high speed and
gave chase, eventually apprehending the armed robbers on Thepprasit Road.
Police confiscated from them a .38 mm pistol, 8 rounds of ammunition and
1840 baht in cash.
The two were taken to the police station where they admitted to the crime,
telling police that they had pulled similar crimes more than ten times in
the past, always targeting small shops and stores.
Both are now in police custody and will be charged with illegally possessing
firearms and armed robbery.
Police have asked that their other victims please come forward and formally
identify the robbers.
Police and drug dealers engage in shootout
A shootout between police and drug dealers resulted in
one injury, one escape and cash, drugs and weapons being confiscated.
A second police team was dispatched after a first team of officers
became pinned down in a shootout while trying to arrest a gang of drug
dealers.
After twenty minutes, the officers were able to surround the suspects
and one injured criminal ceased fire. However, another managed to elude
police and is still at large.
Suspect Krisna Charoonchai was shot in the chest, leg and knee by law
enforcement officers. He had in his possession 20 methamphetamine pills,
15,000 baht in cash, a 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition.
Krisna was sent to hospital for treatment and will later face trial.
Police are still hunting for his accomplice.
Mother of the one-day-old baby found dead earlier this month was herself found dead
Boonlua Chatree
Last month, the body of dead child was discovered buried in Soi Jirapol off
Pattaya 3rd Road. Police began a search for the child’s mother, and
eventually found her dead, lying in Soi 9 Rai, Central Pattaya. The woman,
identified only as Ms. Namphon, was discovered by a garbage collector.
Police believe the woman had been dead for more than 2 hours prior being
discovered. There was evidence of severe genital bleeding.
Ms. Nid Kokkhunthod, the garbage collector, told police that she new the
deceased and said that Namphon gave birth to a child almost 1 month ago, but
the baby did not survive. Nid said she believed Namphon hurriedly buried the
child fearing she had done something wrong and would get in trouble with
police.
Namphon never received proper medical treatment after giving birth, and
developed a serious infection.
According to Nid, the woman’s condition got worse. She said she saw Namphon
that morning in great pain under a tree. She and other locals helped Namphon
to a local hospital, but she was refused treatment allegedly because she
would not be able to pay. Residents believe if she received treatment she
might have lived.
The Green Bottle revisits the Wild West during annual Cowboy Night
Billy the Kid’s Thai
connection: the Wild West Green Bottle Gang.
Winner Sue (2nd from right)
receives her “trophy” from Sopin Thappajug (right) for being the best
cowpoke at the annual Green Bottle Wild West Cowboy Night.
Taking a break from their
long, arduous cattle drive, these thirsty cowboys and cowgirls set up a
chuck wagon and stopped for some whiskey and song under the stars at the
Green Bottle.
The Green Bottle took its annual “trip” to the Wild West
last week with its annual Cowboy Night. Organized by the Diana Group’s
managing director, Sopin Thappajug, it was a refreshing evening with Country
& Western style music to go along with the theme.
Ten participants in full cowboy costume paraded around the pub for a Cowboy
Contest. Honorary judges included Ingo Rauber, president of the Rotary Club
of Taksin Pattaya, Nitaya Patimasongkroh, president of the YWCA Pattaya
Chapter, plus Dr. Ian Corness and Alvi Sinthuvanik, the past president of
Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya.
The winner of the night was Sue, our own newscaster from Texas Naklua who
came in with a borrowed hat and scarf. She won a bottle of Chivas Regal for
her efforts, which provided a little extra western swagger to her step.
The two runners up were Nuchanat and Sermsak Spanon with consolation prizes
going to Anna and Anita.
As always, it was an enjoyable evening for all, and with the Glass Band
playing Country & Western music until late, it was great fun for all who
joined in.
Yellow submarine sighted off Larn Island
Pattaya Pakarang semi submarine introduced to mass media
The Pattaya Pakarang at rest
dockside on Larn Island.
Veerachai Somchart
On September 2, Wanphen Meephan, managing director of the Pattaya Pakarang
Semi Submarine Co. invited the press to come and experience his company’s
huge seabed viewing boat. The new eco tour attraction attracted more than 30
journalists and TV reporters.
 Supervisor
and emcee Chaiyarat Sakdisreeth explains the exciting underwater sights to
the eager passengers.
The 70-ton, 13-meter long boat has been operating since the 1st of July from
7 a.m. to 4 in the afternoon.
The “semi-submarine”, which is actually a modern glass bottom boat for
observing marine life and coral around Larn Island, also has a team of 4
divers bobbing around it during each cruise to familiarize tourists with the
different aspects of the enchanting underwater world.
Chaiyarat Sakdisreeth, supervisor and emcee for the occasion, said that in 2
months a bigger boat valued at 35 million baht will be joining the fleet to
expand operations.
Both the Pattaya Pakarang and the soon to arrive “bigger boat” are fully
equipped with electronic safety and rescue features. Passengers are also
insured for 100,000 baht each.
The company also offers a ferry and speedboat service for Pattaya Beach -
Koh Larn island passengers.
Chaiyarat Sakdisreeth said their main groups of visitors come from Britain,
Korea and Russia, but they hope to expand their client base to other
nationalities as their attraction gets better exposure.
This being an ecological awareness cruise, the company volunteered to also
pick up debris on the seabed along their routes.
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