(From left) James Madigan, Group Liaison Office Immigration Volunteer, Pol. Lt. Col. Suwan Unanan, Inspector of Pattaya Tourist Police and Scott M. Bernat, Chief of Naval Security Force Protection Detachment of Embassy of the United States of America.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The United States Embassy in Thailand has presented a set of bomb blankets to Pattaya’s Tourist Police, for use in the event of a suspected explosive device.
Scott M Bernat, head of the Naval Security Force Protection Detachment at the US Embassy and Bert Kregory Brooks, president of the Thailand Navy League of the US paid a visit to Pol Lt Col Suwan Unanan, inspector at Pattaya Tourist Police Station on August 24 to present the bomb blankets.
The Naval Security Force Protection Detachment is assisting in the prevention and suppression of unrest in the country, especially the planting of bombs aimed at destroying the image of major tourist cities such as Pattaya. A few months ago a set of the blankets was given to Pattaya Police Station.
The bomb blankets are made of a special synthetic substance and are used for covering suspicious looking objects. They are able to withstand pressure from a blast and prevent shrapnel should a device explode prior to the arrival of the bomb squad. A demonstration on how to use the blankets was made to police officers prior to handing them over.
Pol Lt Col Suwan said that officers must be ready to cope with the unexpected at all times. The bomb blankets would be attached to mobile units of the Tourist Police centered on Walking Street.

Death sentence for gunman who killed two Russian women

Crime of extreme brutality shocked the world say judges

Pattaya Court has handed down the death sentence to the gunman who killed two Russian women on Jomtien Beach earlier this year, the judges saying that it was utterly brutal behavior that had no respect for the lives of others, for the law, or for the international reputation of the country.

On hearing the death verdict Anuchit’s face turned pale, his legs started shaking, and he burst into tears.

The judges added that although 24-year-old Anuchit Lamlert had confessed to the killings he had done so in the face of overwhelming evidence against him.
Anuchit had used a 9 mm pistol to shoot dead Miss Liubov Svikova, who was 25 years old, and Miss Tatiana Tsimfer, age 30 years, as they relaxed on canvas deckchairs at Jomtien Beach late during the night of 25 February. The killings shocked the world.
On March 3 police arrested Anuchit at house number 33/3 Moo 4, in Khaomaikaew Sub-District, Banglamung District. They also found a Norinco 9 mm pistol and a red and black Honda Wave 100 motorcycle that had been used in carrying out the crime. Anuchit said that he had only planned to rob the two tourists but they had seen him and so he felt he had to kill them.
After a six-month period of collecting evidence and preparing the case, Anuchit was brought to trial at the Court of First Instance at 09:00 a.m. on September 3. The case was heard at Examination Room No 7 on the 3rd floor of Pattaya Court.
The three judges on the bench decided for the case put by the public prosecutor, that Anuchit or Nueng Lamlert was guilty of premeditated murder, concealment of evidence, concealment of self for the purpose of escape, attempted robbery, possession of a Category 1 narcotic (amphetamines), and the carrying of arms and ammunition into a public place.
Relatives of the accused, the parents of the victims who traveled from Russia for the hearing, representatives from the Russian Consulate in Pattaya City, and Thai and foreign media crowded into the courtroom.
Officials from the Penitentiary Department in Chonburi Province accompanied Anuchit as he took his place in court. As the suspect in a capital crime he was put in irons.
The verdict was that the accused was guilty according to the Criminal Code, Article 259(7), the last paragraph of 339, 80, 371, 376 and 90. The judges said that although the accused had confessed he did so because the evidence against him was overwhelming, and that his confession could not bring about a reduction in the sentence. The crime, said the judges, was one of extreme brutality without respect for the lives of others, or for the law. It was perpetrated only in the interests of personal gain. The reputation of Thailand as a safe and hospitable country had been tarnished. The only sentence possible was the maximum allowed under Thai law, which was death.
On hearing the verdict Anuchit’s face turned pale, his legs started shaking, and he burst into tears. He hugged his parents, Suchart and Mrs Sathaporn Lamlert, and his sister and brother. Anuchit said in a trembling voice that he accepted the verdict as he had committed the offence and deserved to be punished. He said he had killed two innocent tourists and that he wanted to say to the people of Pattaya how sorry he was for the killings and for the loss of reputation that the city has suffered.
Anuchit said he knew in advance that the verdict would be death, and that no matter how he tried to calm his feelings before and during the hearing, he had been afraid. He said now he would discuss with his family whether or not to appeal.
Suchart Lamlert, Anuchit’s 42-year-old father, said that he would ask for an appeal and plead for a life sentence for his son, rather than the death penalty.
Anuchit was taken to the cells in Pattaya Court prior to being transported to the Central Prison of Bang Kwang, in Bangkok. There he will be placed on a suicide watch.
If Anuchit doesn’t lodge an appeal within 30 days, Pattaya Court would send the case to the Court of Appeals for consideration. If the Court of Appeals confirms the Court of First Instance’s judgment, within 60 days Anuchit could be put to death by lethal injection, under Article 245, para 2 of Criminal Cases (II)

South African caught red-handed with stolen cameras

Wayne Michael Niwemack was caught red-handed trying to steal cameras from a shop in Central Festival Business Center.

Boonlua Chatree
Police have arrested a South African man who was caught stealing cameras from a shop in Central Festival Business Center.
Mrs Suwadee Sri-Amdee, the 25-year-old manager of the Konica shop at Central Festival Business Center in North Pattaya, reported to police during the early afternoon of August 27 that a foreigner had snatched two cameras from her shop and run away.
Officers caught the man as he ran out of the store, and found on him an Olympus digital camera that had a retail value of 14,990 baht and a Panasonic digital camera, also valued at 14,990 baht. He was taken to Pattaya Tourist Police Station 4, where he was identified as Wayne Michael Niwemack, 42, of South Africa.
Suwadee said that Niwemack had entered her shop and asked to look at two cameras. While she was explaining them to him in detail, he suddenly took the cameras and ran away. She shouted for help before hurrying to notify the police, whose timely arrival caught the thief red-handed.
Pol Lt Col Suwan Un-Anan, inspector at the 4th Tourist Police Section in Pattaya, said that policy emanating from the top command of the Royal Thai Police and the Tourist Police was aimed at apprehending foreign criminals operating in Thailand.

British man arrested on ice charges

Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya police have arrested a British tourist on charges of possessing and selling methamphetamine, also known as the narcotic ice.

Briton Michael Snell was arrested for possession of the narcotic known as “ice”.

Michael Snell, age 48, was arrested at a rented room in AV Mansion, on Soi Luembamrung, South Pattaya at 1 a.m. on August 29.
In the room, the officers found 20 small bags of ice with a total weight of 16.1 grams. The narcotics were packed neatly in transparent plastic and hidden in a plastic container.
Snell admitted that he had been visiting Pattaya for four consecutive years and that because he himself used ice he had bought some from a Thai dealer, whose name he did not know. He said he would take some himself and sell some to his foreign friends. Snell was charged with possession for sale of a Category 1 narcotic.
Lt Col Santi Chainiramai, an inspector at Pattaya Police Station, said that several arrests had been made of both Thai and foreign drug users who said they had bought their supplies from a British tourist named Mike, who stayed at AV Mansion. A police officer posing as a buyer contacted Mike and made an appointment to meet him. Police then raided the premises.
It is believed that Snell knows many other people involved in the ice dealing gang, and police are optimistic of making further arrests.

PBTA president Jamroon celebrates his 56th birthday

Birthday boy Jamroon Wisawachaipan blows out the candles on his cake, cheered on by many of his friends.

Narisa Nitikarn
President of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association Jamroon Wisawachaipan celebrated his 56th birthday with a party at the Sunshine Garden Resort on Pattaya-Naklua Road on August 22.
Jamroon is a familiar figure in Pattaya, having been involved in the business community here for 10 years or more. He currently operates three companies based in Bangkok, namely Jetour (Thailand) Ltd, Hong Thai Travel Services (Thailand) Ltd, and Grand Spa Co Ltd, plus Sahasuk Co Ltd in Pattaya.
Many friends and colleagues attended Jamroon’s celebrations to wish him well, amongst them Pratheep Malhotra, managing director of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co Ltd, Thanet Supornsahasrungsri, past president of the PBTA, Chanyuth Hengtrakul, former parliamentary representative for Chonburi province, and Sopin Thappajug, managing director of the Diana Group and head of the Associate Judges at the Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court.

Volunteer Police have new office on Pettrakul Road

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn presided over the official opening
of the Volunteer Police office.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya police have opened a new Volunteer Community Police Office on Pettrakul Road, which will work in conjunction with Pattaya Police Station.
The office had its official opening on August 24, the ceremony being presided over by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn.
Pol Cap Prasert Cherdchoo, overseer of the Volunteer Police at Pattaya Police Station, said that three groups of 450 Volunteer Police officers had now undergone training. It was therefore necessary to expand the number of police checkpoints in the area.
The new office on Pettrakul Road will be used for meetings, planning, and training, and will act as a stop point for police patrols. Members of the public can contact the office 24 hours a day, said Pol Cap Prasert.

Upgrading will help Wat Chaimongkol Market remain competitive

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Wat Chaimongkol Market is to be upgraded, following a fall-off in sales of 50 percent within the past year.

Modifying the Wat Chaimongkol Market is being upgraded to a 5 star market.

Bubpa Songsakulchai of the Pattaya Public Health Department said that part of the problem of decreased sales was due to the opening of new department stores and shops in the Pattaya area, with former customers switching to the new outlets.
Stallholders at Wat Chaimongkol Market had discussed this with city hall and the decision had been made to upgrade the market from a 3-star rating to a 5-star rating.
Aree Rukekriangkrai, the owner of Wat Chaimongkol Market, said the market opened 23 years ago and currently has over 50 stallholders. There is now a policy of keeping the market cleaner and tidier, with better disposal of garbage, said Aree. A major cleanup took place on August 3, and this will be repeated on September 11.

City hall issues warning on police behavior

Wuttipol Charoenpol, chief clerk to the permanent secretary’s office
was very angry upon hearing about the bad reputation
Pattaya’s Municipal Police have obtained.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya Municipal Police have been issued with a warning from Pattaya City Hall following a number of complaints from the public regarding police behavior.
On August 28, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and Wuttipol Charoenpol, chief clerk to the permanent secretary’s office filed notice with Pattaya Municipal Police that stricter measures concerning police actions will have to be undertaken.
Ronakit said that the Municipal Police is an office under Pattaya City, and a rebuke and tough measures by city hall against them was therefore appropriate.
Complaints against the police include reports of officers exceeding their duties and soliciting for bribes.

Planning begins for Vegetarian Festival

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
This year’s Pattaya Vegetarian Festival will be held over the period October 10 to 20, and a meeting of the organizing committee took place at Pattaya City Hall on August 23 to discuss the arrangements.

Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon announces details for this year’s Vegetarian Festival.

The event is being organized between Pattaya City and the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon and foundation deputy head Prasit Thongtidcharoen presided.
Wattana said this year’s festival would follow the pattern of last year’s successful event, the only major change being that the signature dish of Angels’ Fried Rice would become Zmeal Fried Noodles.
The festival will open with a parade that is scheduled to begin at 12:29 p.m. on October 10, starting from Bali Hai Pier and proceeding along Walking Street to the police box intersection. There the parade will divide, the first section going along Beach Road to Pattaya Police Station and from there to the Central Pattaya Intersection. The second section will proceed along South Pattaya Road and turn left onto Second Road at the Wat Chaimongkol intersection. The two sections will meet at the Central Pattaya Intersection, and continue together from there along Soi Buakao to the third junction.
Parade members will then take a bus to restart the parade at Sawangfa Temple, this time going to the beach at Lan Pho for the opening ceremony.
Wattana said the roads would not be closed to traffic during the parade, but that the police would be implementing safety measures.

Navy officers learn English language skills

Mementoes were presented to the 12 English teachers from Pattaya City Expats Club to thank them for their kindness.

Patcharapol Panrak
The commander-in-chief of Sattahip Naval Base has distributed certificates to officers who attended an English language course.
Vice Admiral Chanchai Charoensuwan said it was important for both male and female officers to have a better knowledge of English for use in official work and daily life. Volunteer English teachers from Pattaya City supported this course, which took place over the period June 6 to August 22.
Thirty-two officers took part on the course, and received their certificates on August 28 during a presentation at the Officers Commission Club at Sattahip Naval Base. Mementoes were also presented to the 12 English teachers from Pattaya City Expats Club to thank them for their kindness.
Vice Admiral Chanchai said that English is an international language and is frequently used by foreigners whose own first language is not English to communicate with each other. Sattahip Naval Base itself regularly has visits from overseas government, military and private organization personnel, and good communication skills on the base were therefore of great importance.

Hotel staff taught seasonal economies in food preparation

Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Eastern Thai Hotel Association has been training hotel staff on ways of food preparation and menu analysis to reduce food expenses during the low season.

Food management specialist Prayad Palakawong na Ayutthaya teaches local F&B and kitchen staff how to be more economical during the slow season.

Rungtip Suksrikan of the association said that for many hotel restaurants, expenses exceed income during the low season and that it is important that food and beverage staff and kitchen staff understand that economies could be made during times when there are fewer customers.
Training began on August 17 at the Siam Bayview Hotel under food management specialist Prayad Palakawong na Ayutthaya. The course was divided into seven topics, namely seasonal structuring of a menu, financial planning and analysis, menu sections, forward planning, predicting and preparing, organizing staff and work areas, and contingency planning.

7 and 11 adds up to 24-hour convenience

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Have you ever noticed that the 7-Eleven name as it appears on the familiar signs is written in capital letters except for the final character, where the “n” appears in lower case? In other words, 7-ELEVEn.

Have you ever noticed the lower case n in the 7-ELEVEn sign?

No? Well, you are not alone. Few people do realize, despite the proliferation of 7-Eleven outlets in Thailand. There are 4,055 of them, and in fact Thailand rates fourth worldwide for the number of 7-Eleven stores, coming after the US, Japan and Taiwan. The first outlet opened in Bangkok on the corner of Patpong on June 1, 1989.
But as to the logo, no one seems to be quite sure how its odd lettering came about. Some say that the owner chose a lower case “n” instead of the upper case because it is shaped like a horseshoe magnet. This, goes the theory, would attract business and money into the store.
Others put it down to the whimsy of the owner’s wife, who preferred the smooth outline of the “n” rather than the jagged shape of the “N”. Rather more prosaically, others believe it was the decision of a graphic designer who found the all-capitals version to be too heavy.
As to original company, it was founded in Dallas, Texas, exactly 80 years ago, in 1927. In the early days the stores were open from 7am to 11pm - the 24-hour concept wasn’t used until 1962, again in Texas.
Like so many big organizations, 7-Eleven has its own mythology. But for us here in Thailand, it has become part of our daily lives.