Patcharapol Panrak
Two men kidnapped a primary school class 2 student, bound his hands, blindfolded him, caged him in an empty building, and demanded a 350,000 baht ransom from the boy’s distraught parents.

Parents Tanapat and Kampun, relieved to get their boy back unharmed.

Officers at Plutaluang Police Station in Sattahip received a report during the morning of July 31 from Tanapat Kamoldet, a 35-year-old engineer with Thai International Airways at Utapao airport, and his wife Kampun, a 32-year-old teacher at Ban Pansadet School in Sriracha, saying that their eight-year-old son Daechawat had disappeared from near their house at Samakkee Village 14 in Plutaluang at about 10:30 a.m. that day.
Police investigations quickly revealed that a red car had been seen in the village at the approximate time the boy disappeared.
Later, a man called on Tanapat’s cellphone and demanded a 350,000 baht ransom in return for his son. An appointment was made to deliver the money at a fence on Sukhumvit Road in front of Utapao airport. Tanapat and Kampun were afraid for their son’s life, and were prepared to take 150,000 baht with them in an effort to negotiate.
During the day, however, police and military officers had heard a noise from a three-story deserted building inside Utapao, near the fence. Searching inside, they found Master Daechawat. His hands were tied with rope, and he was blindfolded and gagged with tape.
Daechawat told his rescuers that he had ridden a bicycle from the family house along with his sister and a friend to buy ice cream in front of Samakkee Village. His sister had gone back before him. Then two people in a car came alongside, pulled him into the car, warned him not to shout, and blindfolded and gagged him. He didn’t know where there were going. He knew only that they had taken him to a three-story building, and that no one was there. He struggled until the tape on his mouth came off, and then he started to shout for help.
Kampun said that on that morning, she had gone to work on an exhibition in Chonburi, and that Tanapat went to work at Utapao. Finding their son gone, she had called the police.
Pol Col Pairat Supasawat, deputy commander at police headquarters in Chonburi said that they believed the kidnappers were based at the Utapao military camp, and knew the boy’s parents very well. The boy heard them saying they needed money to clear their soccer debts.
Police say they have the names of two suspects, and that they will obtain photographs from the Civil Registration Data Base to show the boy. If he identifies them positively, arrest warrants will be obtained.

Electric shock kills man who unzipped at pier

Boonlua Chatree
A man who went to urinate near to Bali Hai Pier died when he touched a power pole that had not been properly insulated.
The incident happened shortly after midnight on August 2. An officer at the Bali Hai radio center reported that a tourist had been fatally injured between piers A and B, and Banglamung police and Sawang Boriboon Foundation rescue workers rushed to the scene.
The dead man was identified as Prayong Ngamsa-Ad, a 25-year-old resident of Udon Thani Province. He had suffered an electrical burn to his right hand. He was taken to Banglamung Hospital but was dead upon arrival.
Samphan Taepho, a 32-year-old stevedore who had been with the dead man, said that his friend had gone to urinate. He came into contact with a power pole without noticing there was a cable connected to the pole. The end of the cable was not insulated with duct tape. There was an explosion with sparks, and Prayong fell to the ground. His body convulsed four or five times, then he lay still.
The police took detailed photographs of the scene, and will follow up with the responsible departments, requesting that checks be made of other installations.

Shooting was result of argument between drug dealers say police

Theerarak Suthatiwongse
A man was shot and injured at a house on Soi Yailao during the evening of July 30, in what police believe was an argument between drug dealers.
The man, who was taken to Banglamung Hospital by rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation, was identified as Akkadej Sangwal, a 33-year-old resident of Udon Thani. He was shot with a gun of unknown caliber to his right arm, the bullet passing through and burying itself in his right ribs. He was reported as being in serious condition.
Ms Mayuree Lunlahui, 23, Akkadej’s girlfriend, stated that she was resting in the house when a man aged around 30 years called Akkadej, who went outside to talk to him. An argument broke out, and the visitor pulled out a gun and fired one shot at Akkadej, who fell to the ground. The gunman fled through a wooded grove.
Police believe that Akkadej, who was involved with a narcotics gang in Yailao Village in the past, was involved in a drugs deal with the man, and that a disagreement broke out. They plan on interviewing Akkadej once he is in a fit state to talk to them.

HRH Princess Soamsawalee donates emergency supplies to victims of fire

Patcharapol Panrak
Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawalee has presented bags of essential supplies to help support the victims of a fire caused by lightning that struck a slum district in Sattahip during the early morning of July 28.

Mrs Somtahwil Yangyoo, assistant to Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawalee’s Royal Secretary, hands out necessities to victims of a recent fire caused by lightning.

The fire occurred on Soi Thammawithtaya, behind the Sattahip Government Service Center, and although no one was injured the blaze caused over 1 million baht in damage, destroying property belonging to 50-year-old Kritsada Luecha, who rented rooms out to others in the community.
During the morning of the day after the fire, Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawalee appointed Mrs Somtahwil Yangyoo, assistant to her Royal Secretary, to arrange a group to deliver 31 packages containing essential items including clothes, rice, dry food and medicine to those who had lost their homes and belongings.
The packages were distributed to 31-year-old Udom Chamreontham and his six family members, Wichai Chaisaensuk, 31, and four members of his family, Chokchai Kaonual, 31, Mrs Tum Muangchan, 40, Preecha Maenpimolchai, 60, and five members of his family, Mrs Somchit Pikulkaew, 66, and seven members of her family, Mrs Maew Wongmaneechai, 48, and two members of her family, Mrs Siraya Yoopum, 19, and her two daughters, and 48-year-old Mrs Wanphen Chanmuan.
The group was welcomed and given support services by Prakit Rotchanadilok, Sattahip District chief, and the Sattahip District Red Cross.
On the same day Narong Bunbancherdsri, mayor of Sattahip Municipality worked with the Rotchana Thammasathan Sattahip Foundation to setup an emergency disaster support center to receive other donations that were made to the victims of the fire.

Dusit Resort staff donate to Roi-et temple

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Employees of the Dusit Resort have made donations to support the construction of a pavilion at Dongpujaomahaesak Sitaram Temple in Roi-et Province, in a merit-making tradition known as Kathin.

Chatchawal Suphachayanont,
Dusit Resort Pattaya general manager.

Donations will also go towards improvements for a school in the area.
General manager of the Dusit Resort Chatchawal Suphachayanont, who is also chairman of the Thai Hotel Association Eastern Chapter, said the hotel has observed this tradition for the past 16 years.
Hotel staff members donate according to their ability, writing down their intended donation in a hotel account book. Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 baht in donations is collected monthly.
The income is divided into two parts. One part is presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for the Chaipattana Foundation, which was established 12 years ago. The second part goes towards a Kathin offering.
This year the hotel’s Kathin project is to help build a pavilion for priests and novices at Dongpujaomahaesak Sitaram Temple, in Artsamart Sub-district, Roi-et Province. Funds will also go towards improving the children’s classrooms at Huadonpluaey Pattana School, and donating a water filtration system, a water tank, and a pump to Ban Nonrasi School at Bung-Ngam Sub-district, Tungkaoluang District, Roi-et Province. This project is being prepared and will be presented on October 27.

Lightning causes blaze behind Sattahip Government Center

Patcharapol Panrak
Lightning struck a slum district behind the Sattahip Government Center on July 28, setting off a blaze that destroyed 11 homes and property worth an estimated 1 million baht.

Firefighters battle a blaze started by lightening in a slum district behind the Sattahip Government Center.

Sattahip police received an emergency call from Narong Bunbancherdsri, mayor of Sattahip Municipality at 5:45 a.m. reporting that buildings on Soi Thammawithtaya were on fire. Narong had already dispatched a fire engine from the Public Relief Centre, and chief administrator of the Sattahip Sub-district Organization Pairot Malakul na Ayutthaya was coordinating with Vice Admiral Chanchai Charoensuwan, commander-in-chief of Sattahip Naval Base to send a navy firefighting team, as the blaze was spreading quickly through the crowded slum area with its wooden buildings.
Three firefighting units fought the blaze, which burned fiercely despite the heavy rain. By the time the fire was eventually doused, 11 wooden houses had been burned. Nine of them were occupied, and although none of the residents was hurt they lost their possessions.
Kritsada Luecha, the 50-year-old owner of one of the houses said that at about 4:30 a.m. during heavy rainfall there had been several lightning strikes in the area. About an hour later lightning hit his house, starting a blaze that quickly spread. Some of the residents were not in, having gone to sell goods at Sattahip Market, but those who were in their homes fled for their lives, leaving their property behind.
Most of the houses in this district on Soi Thammawithtaya are made of timber, and are occupied by people from outside the area. Sattahip Government Service Center, which includes Sattahip District Office, Sattahip Police Station, the Department of Land, Sattahip Water Police, the Agricultural Department and official lodgings, is separated from the district only by a canal. Three days previously lightning had struck in this vicinity, killing the owner of a tour boat.

Biker Daze raises over 400,000 baht for Sawang Boriboon

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Motorcycle enthusiasts taking part in Pattaya Biker Daze poker run on Saturday July 28 raised over 400,000 baht towards a new ambulance for the South Pattaya branch of the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation.

The charity ride, organized by John Williams (left), head of Mad Dogs Thailand, raised over 400,000 baht towards a new ambulance for the South Pattaya branch of the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation.
More than 120 bikes were revving up outside the Ace Cafe in Jomtien by 11 a.m. to begin a ride around Pattaya and its environs.
Organized by John Williams, head of Mad Dogs Thailand, the charity ride was joined by a number of local motorcycle clubs including Jesters, Pit Bull, Nagas, Burapa and Bad Boys, in addition to Mad Dogs.
From the Ace Cafe, the riders headed along Thepprasit Road, turned left onto Sukhumvit Road, continued to Sriracha, and stopped for lunch at the Berretta Bar. They then took off for 331 Road and made a U-turn to Kao Chichan and Yanasangwararam Temple, where they cut back to Sukhumvit, turned left onto Thepprasit Road, and ended up at the Handlebar.
The total journey was a distance of 130 km, and for part of the way the riders were lashed by rain, but the 400,000 baht raised testified to the success of the event.

The rumble of big bikes passing through town caused quite a stir.

The line of bikes stretched back a long way.

Cindy presents funds to support HIV patients

From left: Byron Bishop, Fr. Giovanni Contarin, Cindy Burbridge, Mike Franklin, Steve Graham and Gerry Germanis present 50,000 baht raised by the Pattaya Mail Mike Franklin Classic 2007 charity golf tournament to support the HIV patients at the Camillian Social Center in Rayong.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Actress and model Cindy Burbridge together with her husband Byron Bishop visited the Camillian Social Center in Rayong on July 28 where they presented 50,000 baht raised by the Pattaya Mail Mike Franklin Classic 2007 charity golf tournament to support the HIV patients there.
Steve Graham, managing director of European Safety Concepts visited the center along with Cindy, and on behalf of the company pledged 20,000 baht per month for the next three years to help support the center and its patients.
The Camillian Social Center is located on Soi Kiri, in Huay Pong Sub-district, and is operated on behalf of the St Camillus Foundation of Thailand. It had its official opening on January 29, 1996. The center supports children infected with HIV, and also provides information on HIV and AIDS to the public.

Golf tournament raises 1mn baht for charity

Funds from the Pattaya Mail Mike Franklin Classic 2007 charity golf event have been donated to six charity organizations in Pattaya City.

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
More than 1 million baht raised by organizing the Pattaya Mail Mike Franklin Classic 2007 charity golf event on June 29 at the Eastern Star Golf Club has been donated to six charity organizations in Pattaya City.
Jesters Care for Kids will use their share of the funds for the water purification project that presents equipment to unprivileged children in Pattaya City and neighboring areas. The Diana Group Foundation will use their donation for scholarships to provide training in hotel occupations, students being provided with jobs immediately upon finishing the training course. The Ban Dorntupab Pattana Primary School cafeteria construction project will benefit from an injection of funds. A donation was made to the ongoing Pattaya Young PR Ambassador program. And a donation was made to the Camillian Aids Center-Cindy Burbridge program to support HIV patients and to the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard who will oversee humanitarian projects for underprivileged children in and around our community.
The presentation took place on July 27 at Pattaya City Hall, led by Pratheep Malhotra, managing director of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co Ltd, Suwanthep Malhotra, executive director for sales and marketing, and Mike Franklin, tournament director. Deputy Mayors Ronakit Ekasingh and Wattana Chantanawaranon attended the presentation.