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CHALONG: Four construction workers from Phuket were crushed to death and two others were seriously hurt when a 10-wheel truck crashed on Patak Rd in Karon on Saturday. Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of Chalong Police Station told the Gazette that the truck was carrying a 3½-ton excavator as well as 10 construction workers, four in the cab with the driver and the other six riding behind with the excavator. The accident took place as the truck was descending the steep hill into Karon on the road from Chalong circle. The driver, Liang Muangsakul, 66, from Bangkok, told police that this was the first time he had driven in Phuket. The weight of the machinery in the back of the truck, he explained, made it difficult for him to brake. This, combined with the tight bends on that stretch of road, resulted in his loss of control. The truck ran off the road and fell onto its side. The workers, thrown overboard, were crushed by the falling excavator. … [Read more...] about Four crushed to death in truck accident

TAMBON MAIKAO: A motorbike taxi driver, stopped yesterday at a police checkpoint because he looked suspicious, was found to be carrying 200 amphetamine (yaba) pills in the lining of his helmet. Police, who set the checkpoint at Tambon Maikao near Thalang said the 30-year-old man admitted he had bought the drugs in his home town in Phlypraya District in Krabi Province for 70 baht a pill, and intended to sell them to fishermen in Phuket for 150 baht each. He was charged with possession of drugs with intent to traffic. … [Read more...] about Motorbike taxi driver caught with yaba

BANGKOK (AFP): A 52-year-old British school teacher has been sentenced to six years in jail after pleading guilty to sexually molesting a Thai pupil, court officials said today. A judge in Thanyaburi court in Bangkok’s northern suburbs initially sentenced Peter William Maxey to 12 years in jail, but halved the sentence after taking into account his admission of guilt. Social workers said Maxey, a teacher of English and music, was arrested last October and charged with fondling a six-year-old pupil on several occasions. Maxey told the court he did not intend to harm the girl. A social worker from the group ‘Fight Against Child Exploitation (FACE)’ said Maxey had testified that “The girl enjoyed it; every girl enjoys it.” Court officials said Maxey would not appeal his sentence as he hoped to receive an amnesty on the occasion of HM the King’s 72nd birthday in December. … [Read more...] about British teacher jailed for molesting six-year-old

BANGKOK, June 10 (AFP) – Thai police detained an American man accused of a racist killing in the United States after the FBI issued an arrest warrant, officials said yesterday. Immigration police Colonel Wisanu Muangpraesri said officers arrested Matthew Robert Stedman, 27, at a Bangkok apartment on Wednesday after he entered the country using a British passport. “The US embassy and FBI contacted us to ask for his arrest (in connection with) the 1994 murder of a black woman,” he told AFP, adding the man was alleged to be a radical racist. US officials here confirmed an American citizen had been arrested, and said he had entered the country using a British passport under the name of Duncan Robert Allen Smith. They said Stedman was wanted for murder and arson. Thai police said the suspect had fled the US to Germany and Britain before travelling to Thailand. … [Read more...] about Police nab American accused of race killing

PHUKET TOWN: A Public Works officer has warned would-be buyers of townhouses that they must be sure the structure of the building is safe before they buy. Khun Nakonthon Kittisittho, chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Works Office, issued the warning following the collapse of a row of townhouses in Bangkok earlier this month. “My advice to would-be home buyers is that, first, they should find out how strong the foundations of the house are. If the main structure of the house is strong enough, it won’t collapse.” Second, he said, buyers should understand that they may not build extra floors onto a house without proper plans drawn up by an engineer and permission from a local government office. “Before you buy a house or townhouse, you should ask the owner for the plans. Then seek advice from an engineer, or someone you know who really knows about construction. If in the future you want to expand the structure, you can show the plans to an engineer who will … [Read more...] about Home Buyers Warned To Check Structure Carefully

PHUKET: Thai banks here and across the country have quietly followed the legions of tuk-tuk drivers and street vendors who practice “two-tier” pricing – one for Thais and another for foreigners. In this case, the pricing relates to interest paid on savings accounts and fixed deposits. While the rates paid to foreigners vary from bank to bank, almost all are substantially lower than the rates paid to Thais. The sole exception to the two-tier interest policy in Phuket is Bank of Asia, now majority-owned by Dutch banking giant ABN-Amro. It currently pays 3.25% on savings, regardless of the nationality of the account holder. A spokesperson for the nation’s central bank, the Bank of Thailand (BOT), said that the institution had not issued any guidelines or directives relating to deposit interest paid to foreigners, and that it was up to the banks themselves to set their own interest rate policies. The only stipulations the BOT has made are that banks must keep their … [Read more...] about Thai banks slash interest rates for foreigners

PHUKET: Pin Kewpaisal, president and CEO of Phuket Fantasea, has revealed that Dr Mahathir Mohamed, Prime Minister of Malaysia, has asked him to build a new theme park in Langkawi, and he has agreed. In an interview with Tansettakit newspaper, K. Pin said that he had already had two conferences with Dr Mahathir to discuss the Prime Minister’s plan. K. Pin did not reveal the total investment required, but said the Malaysian government had committed to provide 20% and to extend a low-interest loan to cover the remaining 80%. “We will create an adventure theme park better than any in the world. We expect to open it this year in order to be ready for Asian Travel Year [in 2001].” K. Pin said investing money in Langawi is more risky than putting it into Thailand but the risk might be offset by Malaysian government help in getting tourists to visit the theme park. “It is good because this could stimulate tourism in Langkawi,” Pin said. “Compared with … [Read more...] about FantaSea to build theme park in Langkawi

PHUKET TOWN: Funds raised from the StarAid event held at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket last June were used to organize a Christmas celebration for 30 HIV infected children at Vachira Hospital last Sunday. On the same day, 30,000 baht was donated to the slum village of Langho Prachum for the development of an HIV educational fund for the children living there. The Christmas party was organized by John O’Shea, General Manager of the Sheraton. The balance of the funds raised by the StarAid event now stand at 529,033 baht after deductions for taxes, the cost of the function and donations to the Phuket Aid Foundation. Phuket Aid Foundation projects have included AIDS awareness and prevention campaigns and donations to slum villages in Langho Prachum, Saphanhin, Bonamsia, Langsuenlueng, and Thaimai in Koh Kaew. The remaining balance in the fund will be used to support projects aimed at five additional slum villages. … [Read more...] about StarAid funds used to support several projects

PHUKET TOWN: Attempts to get Phuket Town’s first real bus service up and running – originally scheduled to start last May – are still on, and are still inching toward reality. Samkhan Saengfai, managing director of PB Holdings, which has a seven-year operating license from the Phuket Provincial Transport Office, told the Gazette that the service has been delayed because the company has not been able to find 26 buses of the right size for Phuket Town’s streets. Most buses in Thailand are 10 meters long, or longer, he explained. This makes them very hard to manoeuvre around Phuket’s narrow streets and tight bends. He said that the company had located buses for sale in South Korea that are just eight meters long. The problem is that Koreans drive on the right side of the road, so the buses must be modified to shift the steering and the passenger doors to the right-hand side. This, he pointed out, would be expensive. “Luckily, that is now our second … [Read more...] about Town to get bus service soon, maybe (Part II)

BANGKOK (AFP) – Authorities held a multi-faith exorcism in parliament today to drive out evil spirits believed to be responsible for a recent spate of deaths among members of parliament. Since elections in November 1996, eight of the 393 MPs have died in accidents or of natural causes while 11 more have resigned. Yesterday, an MP from the ruling Democrats was seriously injured in a car crash. In December, a Democrat MP was shot several times by an assailant and remains in a wheelchair. Several weeks ago another MP died of cancer. The Buddhist, Brahman, Christian, and Islamic rites were held one after another at the parliament building in central Bangkok. Nine senior monks from around the country were invited to perform the Buddhist rites. They were followed by a Christian priest, a Brahman holy man and an Islamic cleric. “These religious rites are good for everyone as we have organized them for every religion,” said Suchart Chamnarnsilp, an MP from Thailand’s … [Read more...] about Parliament acts to drive out evil spirits

PATONG: Two men who appeared to be Thai snatched a handbag from a Japanese tourist while she walked along a road at Patong Beach at approximately 7:40 pm on Saturday. According to Pol Capt Boonlert On-klang, the case investigator, Nana Nishizawa, 23, reported that two men were involved. One, described by Ms Nishizawa as a young Thai with long hair, was waiting on a motorbike without a license plate. The second man, who also appeared to be Thai, had short hair and was dressed in a black shirt and pants. He was sitting on a bench near the road where she was walking. The man with short hair snatched her bag as she walked past and ran to the waiting motorbike. A Thai man who witnessed the incident chased the motorbike until he reached Kalim Bay where a pick-up truck pulling out onto the road blocked him. According to the police report, there was 21,000 yen, 500 baht, and a camera inside Ms Nishizawa’s bag. She returned to Japan on Sunday. Police say they are still searching for the … [Read more...] about Tourist’s purse snatched in Patong

BANGKOK, June 23 (AFP) – Thailand’s banking sector plunged into fresh gloom Wednesday as US ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service said the crisis-hit industry remained “deeply impaired.” The judgment came at a time when many investors had been expecting ratings upgrades from foreign agencies for debt-laden Thai banks which have been struggling to recapitalise. In a report received here Wednesday, Moody’s said the banking sector remained in deep crisis and warned that all banks remain “heavily insolvent in true economic terms.” “Although the largest banks in the capital starved system have been able to move closer to satisfying current regulatory requirements for loan loss provisioning, the mid-sized and smaller banks remain well behind. Additionally, government assistance and/or regulatory action, including intervention, vis-à-vis these deeply impaired banks can be complicated by political considerations,” it said. … [Read more...] about Report casts gloom on Thai banks

PHUKET: As the high season gets underway, authorities are keeping a close watch on jet-ski rental businesses operating on west coast beaches to ensure compliance with provincial regulations. Vice Governor Amnuay Sanguannam is overseeing the joint enforcement efforts of district, harbor, marine and police officials. Weekly reports are being filed by the various departments with the vice governor’s office in an effort to monitor compliance. As of November 30, a total of 53 agents have been registered to engage in the rental of jet-skis, while another 44 have applications pending approval. The 53 registered agents are licensed to rent out a total of 87 jet-skis. Of the five western beaches approved for the water sport activity, Patong has the highest concentration of agents and jet-skis, with 31 operators and 44 machines. Kata and Karon beaches have a combined total of 14 approved agents leasing 29 jet-skis; Kamala Beach, one agent and four jet-skis; and Bangtao Beach, seven … [Read more...] about Officials Keeping Eye On Jet-skis

PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Reporters’ Club is organizing a night of Thai boxing at Saphan Hin Stadium on Friday, February 26, to raise money for the club. Mr Yongyod Phruksarak, president of the club, said that Phuket Governor Chadej Insawang will deliver a short opening address as the event’s guest of honor. There will be nine matches, the first of which will start at 8:00 pm. The overall winner will receive a Cup from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization. Tickets for the evening are 500 baht. Those wishing to purchase them should contact the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office on Narisorn Road, Tel: (076) 216118, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. The Phuket Reporters’ Club was founded in 1991. It operates from a room donated by the boxing stadium. Its roughly 50 members, all of whom are Thai, are drawn from local newspapers as well as TV and radio stations. All proceeds from ticket sales will be used for reporter welfare programs, club activities, and the … [Read more...] about Boxing Match To Benefit Local Reporters

PHUKET TOWN: Phuket could be developed to rival Switzerland as a destination for well-heeled people seeking rejuvenation therapy or cures for chronic conditions, or simply wanting relief from the stress of life at home. Addressing an audience composed mostly of people from private hospitals, resorts, traditional massage centers and restaurants, Rachane Potjana, vice-director of the Department of Export Promotion, said Thailand should target people seeking to combine vacations with therapy – particularly the elderly. The potential financial gains could be very large indeed, he pointed out. Such people might stay in Thailand anywhere from one to six months, spending up to 600,000 baht each. Phuket, with its direct flights from Narita, would be particularly well placed to attract such visitors from Japan, he added. But he told the seminar, held at the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel last week, that Phuket must first must upgrade its health services to world standards. Khun Rachane also … [Read more...] about Phuket needs more geriatrics, says export chief

PHUKET TOWN: The Gazette has learned that Thai Airways is to raise fares on all domestic routes by a whopping 13 percent with effect from April 1. This is despite the fact that the national inflation rate in 1998 was eight percent, and that it is projected to fall to around two percent this year. A source at the airline said there would be no upgrading of inflight service, or increase in the frequency of sandwiches (ham, cheese, tuna, etc) following the price hike. The price for a single ticket, Phuket-Bangkok (or, for that matter, Bangkok-Phuket), will be 2,270 baht, with the round trip fare at 4,540 baht. International fares will remain unchanged. While THAI faces fierce competition on international routes, its domestic operations enjoy a virtual monopoly. THAI has remained silent about the fare hike, but did issue a press release yesterday about its recent publication of a series of exciting new brochures. … [Read more...] about Thai Airways To Hike Domestic Fares On April 1

PHUKET TOWN: Twenty people were killed in traffic accidents between January 20 and February 20, and a further 1,034 were injured, according to figures from the three state hospitals, Wachira, Thalang and Patong. Motorcycle accidents were to blame for the vast majority of deaths and injuries. Of the 20 dead, 19 were killed on motorbikes, with only one dying in a car. Of those reported injured, 951 were riding motorcycles. … [Read more...] about Traffic Accidents Kill 20, Injure 1,034

PHUKET: Phuket Health Office has reported that 5,421 people were involved in road accidents in the first six months of 1999. Of these, 4,835 – 92% – were on motorcycles. In the same period, 102 people died in road accidents. Again, bikes accounted for nearly all the statistics – 94 of the dead were on motorcycles. In June 765 people were involved in accidents, 32 of them in cars and 717 on motorcycles. Of those involved in motorcycle accidents, 11 died. The figures are made up of casualty totals from Phuket’s three government hospitals – Wachira, Thalang and Patong. … [Read more...] about 102 road deaths in first six months of 1999

PHUKET TOWN: Despite concerted efforts to reduce their opponents’ fitness by feeding them copious amounts of amber liquid the night before, the Phuket Gazettes rugby team were unable to withstand an Australian Army onslaught on Saturday, and were massacred 45-0. After the 15-a-side match at the Saphan Hin stadium, Gazettes skipper Patrick Cotter was gracious in defeat. “It was a tough game,” he said. “The ball was slippery, and we were playing in wintry English conditions. The better team won. We were simply outplayed by superior fitness and skills.” The Aussies scored two tries, both converted, in the first quarter of the match, with Mark Williamson and Michael Croo leading the charge. After the three-minute break, the Gazettes made a strong comeback, confining play mostly to the Australian end of the pitch. Sitthiha Singsuk, the sprinter of the team, nearly made it, getting within two meters from the goal line before being smothered by the speedier … [Read more...] about Aussie soldiers massacre Gazettes 45-0