French Woman’s Will to Her Housekeeper Highlights Thai Business Law Issues

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May 5, 2024 5:16 pm

KOH SAMUI – The inheritance of a French woman to her Thai housekeeper reveals legal issues for foreigners doing business in Thailand.

The case of a French businesswoman, Madame Catherine, 59, who committed suicide by shooting herself and left her fortune, including a luxurious villa on Koh Samui in Surat Thani Province to her Thai housekeeper, known as “Pa Tim,” in her will, reveals the legal limitations in Thailand that affect foreigners.

The French woman’s intention to leave her inheritance to someone she trusted seems to be difficult in practice unless there is cooperation from the Thais who hold shares in Madame Catherine’s company.

samui law1 — A luxurious villa on Koh Samui, which Madame Catherine stated in her will that she wished to bequeath to Pa Tim, her close Thai housekeeper.

According to the police investigation, Madame Catherine registered a legal entity on April 19, 2012, named G.V.N.E Co., Ltd., located at Moo 2, Tambon Mae Nam, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province. The business type is 55101, hotels, resorts, and apartments, to operate rental accommodations, resorts, bungalows, and vacation homes. The registered capital is 2 million baht, divided into 20,000 shares.

Madame Catherine held 49% of the shares (9,800 shares) in accordance with Thai law, which stipulates that foreigners can own no more than 49% of real estate in the kingdom.

The other two Thai shareholders are Mr. Thongsai from Tan Sum District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, a businessman who holds 35% (7,000 shares), and Ms. Ratchaprapa from Cha-uat District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, a businesswoman who holds 16% (3,200 shares).

french patim — An envelope containing the will documents, which Madame Catherine addressed to Pa Tim, her close Thai housekeeper who had worked for her for 17 years.

Mr. Ratchaporn Poolsawat, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, commented based on his experience with foreigners investing in Samui and facing problems. He said that the shareholding proportion in Madame Catherine’s company might be a problem in the future regarding how the assets will be transferred to Pa Tim without the consent of the company’s partners.

“The nominee problem in foreign investment in Koh Samui is that many investors do not understand Thai law. Especially after the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian investors brought a lot of money to invest in buying real estate but still do not understand the law, causing problems,” Mr. Ratchaporn said.

He also said that this affects local investors in Koh Samui who do everything correctly according to the law and pay taxes correctly. But the nominee groups do not pay taxes to the state and do not proceed correctly according to the law. Some foreign investors do business without knowing Thai law.

samui law4 — Mr. Ratchaporn Poolsawat, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association

In addition, some were deceived by some law firms and accounting firms in processing documents to comply with Thai law. Some had invested more than 100 million baht and eventually were arrested and prosecuted, so he felt very sorry for this group of investors.

“I would like to call on the government to investigate because if left unchecked, it will become a double-edged sword, causing damage to Koh Samui’s tourism,” Ratchaporn said.

He also said that the Koh Samui Tourism Association is ready to be a mediator in coordinating between investors and government agencies, especially the Revenue Department, Immigration Police, or local authorities, to publicize in foreign languages, especially English, Russian, and Chinese, or organize workshops for foreign investors to understand Thai law.

french patim1 — Pa Tim cooperated with the police on May 2, 2024, while they went to inspect the luxurious villa where Madame Catherine committed suicide.

Pol. Col. Krairit Ngamsri-on, superintendent of Koh Samui police station, said that in the case of Madame Catherine, it is expected that the authorized attorney will have to file a lawsuit with the court to obtain a court order to the estate administrator and proceed with the distribution of the inheritance according to the will. Within 30 days, if there is a dispute, the interested parties can proceed directly to the court without going through the police officers.

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Opinion: Bangkok’s Heat Wave Needs to be Addressed Now

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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May 5, 2024 1:00 pm

A French friend in Bangkok posted a few days ago that he was thankful for the man who invented the air conditioning machine (There is a debate whether in fact it was the American man by the family name of Carrier or not but would not get into that here).

I am thankful too, BTW, and wonder how one could possibly survive the ever-hotter Bangkok’s summer without an aircon. The Meteorological Department said, and Buddha forbid, the temperature rose to 41.1 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, April 30, somewhere in Don Mueang district.

Can’t complain, the record heat went to Lampang province’s Thoen district on April 22 at 44.2 degree Celsius and it is definitely not as dry as in Dubai. The Health Department earlier this week said 38 people have died from heatstroke wave in 2024 so far.

The scorching heat wave in Bangkok must have been so debilitating Al Jazeera called me from Doha, asking for a brief on-air interview three weeks ago only to learn that I was indisposed to their urgent request.

Here in Bangkok, we need to acknowledge that not all can afford to live in an air-conditioned environment or work in an air-conditioned environment. At the same time, those who can afford are in fact generating more heat into the outdoor environment as they turn the aircon on. Cars also generate more heat to the environment as well. There is no control as to the proliferation of air conditioners and cars in Thailand’s sprawling capital city. That, combined with more high-rise condos, means an incrementally hotter summer, a heat island.

Can we put a lid on the number of aircon, car, or high-rise condos, and buildings in hope of reducing the level of heat generated, thus creating an urban heat island effect?

What we can do is to apply heat or environmental tax on aircon and car owners and users, high rise building project owners, and use the money to create and fund pockets of green areas, creating new pocket parks, partly fund larger parks and make Bangkok greener – and less hot.

We can debate about the rate of the heat tax to be slapped on each aircon user per annum, say 100 or 200 baht for a smallest unit, 500 baht per annum for each vehicle owned, but it should be clear now and those who are creating more heat at the expense of the everyone else in the city that they must pay to help make Bangkok greener and less hot.

Greening Bangkok (and hopefully making it less hot, and less PM2.5 micro dust air-polluted particularly during summer) should be a priority task of the Bangkok governor, but he (or she) needs support from the national government as well. BTW, I learned from a reliable source that Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has an outstanding invitation to visit Singapore. Perhaps he should head there soon, spend at least a few days with his team, and learn the ropes on how to make Bangkok decisively greener and less hot – heat wise.

Viral Suvarnabhumi Airport Ginger Cat Launches Fan Page Amid Fewer Appearances

By

Khaosod English

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May 5, 2024 2:08 am

SUVARNABHUMI – A 9-month-old male ginger cat named “Nuu Rang” became an overnight sensation when a video clip was shared on social media last week, showing him enjoying sitting on the airport’s escalator LED directional sign pillar, where tourists came to take pictures with him.

However, his owner was warned later by airport officials not to bring him unnecessarily after some netizens raised a dramatic issue about how the airport could allow pets to wander around. They expressed concerns that the cat may cause problems to those allergic to cats, reflect negatively on the airport, and possibly pose a danger to the cat itself or spread disease.

airport cat33 — Nuu Rang the ginger cat walked on the handrail of the escalator with his owner’s leash attached at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Suvarnabhumi Airport authorities revealed on Friday that there are strictly no rules preventing a pet from being at the airport. In light of this incident, they may consider introducing new legislation or regulations. At the very least, they might mandate that pet owners keep their cats or dogs on a leash while in public areas.

Ms. Nokporn Charoenjitchinda, a 31-year-old Pathum Thani resident and the owner of Nuu Rang, has not given more interviews to the media about the AOT authorities’ order. She said earlier that since the social media trend began, she has had a big headache because people keep contacting her.

airport cat4 — Ms. Nokporn Charoenjitchinda, a 31-year-old Pathum Thani resident and the owner of Nuu Rang

She explained that she is a person who doesn’t like anyone to bother her much. But when she took Nuu Rang out and someone came to greet him, ask for photos, talk, or play, that was fine. However, when returning to her room, she needs privacy.

In a previous interview, Ms. Nokporn said that Nuu Rang is very attached to her and obeys only her after she raised him since he was a baby.

Nuu Rang’s mother got lost and came to her house, giving birth to 4 kittens. Not long after, the mother was bitten to death by a snake. The kittens were not yet weaned, so they had to be divided among acquaintances to take care of them. She took Nuu Rang to raise and recently had him neutered.

airport cat5 — Nuu Rang’s mother got lost and came to her house, giving birth to 4 kittens.

When she went to help her boyfriend work at Suvarnabhumi Airport, she took her beloved cat with her because Nuu Rang can’t stay alone in the room. He would destroy things in the room, so she had to take him with her, putting him in a motorcycle basket.

Her boyfriend works taking care of tourists, mostly Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. She helps carry packs of water bottles onto the bus for tourists, which is not a full-time job, so she has time to look after Nuu Rang.

While at the airport, this ginger cat would stay with her all the time, including when he sat on the airport’s escalator LED directional sign pillar at the escalator. She would always be there. People who met Nuu Rang would be surprised why there was a cat at the airport. As for Nuu Rang, he would always look at her.

airport cat2 — Nuu Rang the ginger cat loved siting on the airport’s escalator LED directional sign pillar at the escalator.

When she went to carry water packs, Nuu Rang would sit and wait there, not going with others. And he often slept on the trolley no matter how loud the noise was or what happened, he wouldn’t wake up. Some days if she doesn’t go to work at the airport, Nuu Rang won’t go either.

Normally she goes to work around 1 a.m. and comes back around 3 or 4 a.m., returning with her. Her boyfriend works until 5 a.m., sometimes until 7 a.m.

Nuu Rang really likes to go outside, so he will go sit and meow at the door. She will open the door and let him out to run and play. The reason she puts a bell on Nuu Rang is so she can listen to the sound to know where he is. And there’s a flashing light too to guard against snakes.

Nuu Rang now has a Facebook page for fans to follow, called “Nuu Rang, Suvarnabhumi’s Ginger Cat”, with pictures from when he was a baby and cute clips for cat lovers to follow, even though they won’t see him at Suvarnabhumi.

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Bangkok Deadly Manhole Cover Prompts Thai Authorities To Act

By

Khaosod English

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May 4, 2024 10:23 pm

Police officers from Chokchai Police Station inspected the scene where a 59-year-old man stepped on a damaged manhole cover for electrical cable ducts and fell into the hole on May 3, 2024.

BANGKOK – The family of the man who tragically fell into an electrical cable manhole for underground electrical cables on the road’s median and lost his life is demanding 10 million baht in compensation from the responsible state agency.

This shocking accident, which took place on Friday, April 3, involved Mr. Kamthorn Jaruanan, 59, stepping on a wooden cover of an electrical cable manhole and falling into a pit about 15-17 meters deep, opposite Soi Ladprao 49. The autopsy results revealed that the victim died from drowning in the manhole, along with a broken neck, presumably from the impact.

This incident has prompted the public to criticize state agencies for neglecting the safety of people’s lives and property, as similar incidents have occurred before, with other unfortunate individuals being injured.

hole4 — The deadly manhole cover was a wooden cover that the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) had placed to temporarily cover the cable duct hole after the metal cover had been stolen.

On Saturday, May 4, the family of the victim collected his body from the Police Hospital for religious ceremonies at the scene of the incident and at Wat That Thong temple.

Mr. Kamphon, the younger brother of the deceased, said that the family would sue the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) for 10 million baht in damages as the agency directly responsible for using the “deadly manhole cover” to cover the opening.

The MEA has earlier expressed their condolences and stated in preliminary investigations that the permanent steel cover of the underground electrical cable manhole in the area had been stolen prior to the incident, prompting MEA to install a temporary cover.

Mr. Kamphon demanded that state agencies must come and change the manhole covers completely, “don’t just do it half-heartedly,” because even wooden planks can cause children walking by to fall in as well. Moreover, the area around the manhole cover has trees and soil covering it, making it difficult for people crossing the road to notice.

hole2 — Buddhist monks performed a ritual to invite the spirit from the spot where Mr. Kamthorn Jaruanan fell into the electrical cable duct hole, in order to conduct the funeral chanting ceremony on May 4, 2024.

He said that casting a new manhole cover should not take long, and if they were afraid of the cover being stolen, why didn’t they install cameras? If cameras were installed, the perpetrators could have been caught immediately. The budget for procuring manhole covers is state money, so why are the agencies still being slow?

The younger brother of the deceased said that the family is demanding 10 million baht in compensation because they believe there will be negotiations. They also sympathize with the eldest sister, who normally lived with this brother all along, just the two of them. But from now on, the sister, who suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, and is elderly, will have to live alone.

“If my brother were still alive, money would not matter, because even though we were not wealthy, on Saturdays and Sundays, he would still take her out and have meals together all the time,” he said.

When asked by reporters if he would forgive the responsible agencies, Mr. Kamphon said no and asked to send a message to the agencies involved: “Try letting your own family members walk there.” And if the agencies claim that there are not enough manhole covers, why were they able to quickly install a concrete cover immediately after the incident? This shows that the concrete covers were already available, but the agencies were just careless and refused to do it.

chatchart hole — Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, pays respects to the body of Mr. Kamthorn Jaruanan while attending the funeral on May 4, 2024

Later on Saturday evening, Mr. Vilas Chaleysut, Governor of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), Mr. Thitiwut Ngoenkhlai, Deputy Governor of MEA, and Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, attended the funeral ceremony of Mr. Kamthorn. They all expressed their condolences to the family.

Mr. Chadchart also said that he would have officials from Wang Thonglang District take care of Mr. Kamthorn’s sister, who now lives alone, in addition to the compensation provided by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

“Problems of this magnitude are not limited to cable ducts. Every construction project in Bangkok must be inspected and anticipated in advance. I emphasize the need for thorough care and increased cooperation because theft, including cable cutting and manhole cover theft, has significantly increased. Collaboration among the BMA, MEA, MRTA, Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, and Expressway Authority of Thailand is necessary to reduce accidents,” he said.

hole7 — Mr. Thitiwut Ngoenkhlai, Deputy Governor of MEA, expressed his condolences and apologized to Mr. Kamphon for the loss of his elder brother in an unexpected incident.

Mr. Vilas, the Governor of MEA, gave 50,000 baht in cash to Mr. Kamphon and expressed his deepest condolences to Mr. Kamthorn’s family.

“I am truly sorry. The project was intended to improve the quality of life for city residents, but this tragic incident occurred. I assure you that MEA will not abandon you, contrary to the morning news reports. That’s why I came here in person today,” he said.

Mr. Thitiwut, Deputy Governor of MEA, added that all 150 stolen manhole covers were urgently replaced by purchasing concrete slabs from construction material stores to cover all the openings. MEA has now ordered precast concrete covers to replace all of them. Regarding the stolen covers, MEA has filed police reports at Phahonyothin, Chokchai, and Lat Phrao police stations, and will follow up on whether any suspects have been apprehended.

Airborne Microplastics a Dark Cloud on Horizon for Human Health

By

Kyodo News

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May 4, 2024 6:30 pm

microplastic1 — Microplastics found in snow in Hokkaido. (Photo courtesy of Hiroshi Ono, associate professor at Kitami Institute of Technology. (Kyodo)

Microplastics are widely recognized as a major marine pollutant, but their lesser-known presence in the air has become a major concern in recent years due to the possible risks posed to human health.

Japanese researchers leading studies on the issue have confirmed that microplastics have infiltrated the skies and gone on to make their way into clouds and snow. It is possible they can be ingested into the human body in their airborne state and could then move into the vascular system, they said.

Hiroshi Okochi, professor of environmental chemistry at Waseda University, and Hiroshi Ono, an associate professor at Hokkaido’s Kitami Institute of Technology, are among those dedicated to advancing research that is still in its infancy stage.

Microplastics measure less than 5 millimeters in length. They are produced when plastic waste is broken down by ultraviolet light and natural forces such as wind and waves.

Microplastics are considered chemically harmful to organisms because their relatively large surface area allows them to absorb and transport toxic substances. When ingested by organisms, the plastics release the chemicals which can enter the human food chain through fish and shellfish, damaging both natural ecosystems and the people that rely on them.

Okochi and his research team demonstrated for the first time through field observations conducted from 2021 to 2022 that microplastics were contained in cloud water collected in three locations, including the summit of Mt. Fuji.

microplastic2 — Photo taken in August 2023 shows a Waseda University research team led by professor Hiroshi Okochi collecting cloud water at the top of Mt. Fuji. (Photo courtesy of Hiroshi Okoch / Kyodo)

The airborne particles become less water-repellent due to ultraviolet degradation, with evidence to suggest they may act as condensation nuclei of cloud ice and water, the researchers said.

Microplastics emit greenhouse gases when degraded by UV light. The researchers think they might hasten cloud formation, making it more difficult for the sun’s rays to reach the earth’s surface and thus interfering with predictive models of global warming.

Okochi’s team hypothesizes that airborne microplastics originate both from land- and ocean-based sources.

“In Japan, the most likely source is marine microplastics, which are blown up from the neighboring seas by typhoons and winter monsoons from the northwest,” Okochi said.

Ono of the Kitami institute, who specializes in cryology, or the study of snow and ice, discovered microplastics in snow.

Analysis of snow collected at nine locations in Hokkaido from 2021 to 2023, including the World Natural Heritage site of Shiretoko and Mt. Asahidake, found microplastics at all sites investigated.

In Shiretoko and other similarly remote areas, the majority of the materials found were less than 0.06 mm, a relatively small size. They included particles of polyethylene used for plastic containers thought to have been transported in the air.

In urban areas, synthetic rubber particles and relatively large microplastics were primarily found, most likely of local origin from sources such as car tires.

Supplied photo shows microplastics found in snow in Hokkaido. (Photo courtesy of Hiroshi Ono, associate professor at Kitami Institute of Technology)(Kyodo)

According to Okochi, microplastics in the atmosphere are less than 0.1 mm, which is small in comparison to those in the ocean, but they deteriorate more quickly because they are exposed to strong UV light.

As for health concerns, inhaled microplastics are thought to accumulate in the lungs, with the finer particles making their way into the bloodstream and then spreading around the body. But they are difficult to expel unlike plastics ingested through contaminated food and drink, he said.

The first paper referring to microplastics in the atmosphere appeared in 2016. Due to it being a relatively new field of study with a lack of standardized methodology, there has been little progress on grasping the actual severity of the situation, such as the amount of microplastics in the atmosphere and their size.

“There are still many things we don’t know. We would like to clarify the health risks in particular and consider how to deal with them,” Okochi said.

Is the Thai Massage Parlour Business Really Doomed in the Future?

By

Khaosod English

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May 4, 2024 12:34 pm

BANGKOK – The closure and sale announcement of the famous massage parlour in Bangkok, “Emmanuelle Entertainment,” located in the Ratchada area for 645 million baht, just recently, seems to indicate the state of this business in Thailand quite well.

The location of Emmanuelle is on leased land, with an area of approximately 1 rai. The land in front is leased by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), with the lease expiring on 30 April 2027. Although it’s possible to extend the lease, the business owner has chosen not to do so.

Sopon Pornchokchai, President of the Thai Real Estate Information Center (AREA), stated that the massage business reached its peak in 2013 with 527 establishments in Bangkok alone. In 2007, there were only 390, indicating significant growth. However, many of these massage establishments, including spas and related businesses, are large-scale operations, contributing to the high numbers.

However, in 2024, there are only 71 authentic massage parlour in Bangkok, with the highest concentration in Din Daeng district (19), followed by Huai Khwang (18), Ratchathewi (9) and Bang Phlat (4). Otherwise, they are scattered, with only 1-2 businesses in each district.

The top five massage businesses with high registered capital are:

Youtopia Entertainment Complex, Huai Khwang District, Bangkok: 300 million baht
Plaza, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok: 88.2 million baht
La Belle Entertainment Complex, Huai Khwang District, Bangkok: 50 million baht
Velthee Pilar, Nonthaburi Province: 100 million baht
Wee Chai Somboon, Huai Khwang District, Bangkok: 80 million baht

There are 29 massage establishments in other provinces, most in Chonburi (6), followed by Nakhon Ratchasima (4), with only 1-2 establishments per province in others such as Krabi, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Phuket, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Sukhothai, Surat Thani, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

When evaluating massage facilities, assuming that each facility has about 50 service providers, which with 527 facilities in 2013 equates to a total number of about 50,000 service providers, with each person providing services about three times a day, the revenue would amount to about 82.125 billion baht per year, assuming an average rate of 1,500 baht per person.

emmanuelle12 — The massage parlor “Emmanuelle” ceased its operations on April 30, 2024 and put up a sale announcement for 645 million baht.

In this respect, the likelihood of massage businesses collapsing and disappearing is still low. If there are mergers between hotels and massage establishments or spas (of the higher category), the chances of survival are greater.

Sopon mentioned that from a financial perspective, currently, a typical 3-star hotel might have an occupancy rate of 60 percent with 100 rooms and a net income of 1,000 baht per night, resulting in a monthly income of 1.8 million baht. However, in the case of a massage establishment with 100 rooms, if the net room rate is only 600 baht per night (reflecting current market conditions) but with clients coming in once per day, the monthly income would also be 1.8 million baht. Moreover, other revenue streams such as food and beverages are likely to be higher compared to a regular hotel.

“Therefore, the possibility of massage businesses collapsing and disappearing altogether is still low at this stage. If there is further integration between a hotel and a massage facility or (higher-end) spa, the chances of sustainability will be even greater.”

The smartlocal.co.th website introduces massage parlours in Bangkok.

However, if property prices are rising due to the prime location, it might be better to sell the business. For example, if a massage or hotel business generates a net income of 1.8 million baht per month or 21.6 million baht per year with a plot size of about 1.5 rai or a price of 450,000 baht per square meter (after deducting construction and other costs), it would be advantageous to sell the business at a higher land price of 1 million baht per square meter. This avoids the complexity of running the business and allows investment in other ventures.

So the massage business is not quite dead yet. There are still opportunities and potential for sustainability.

The massage parlour, or Ap Op Nuat in Thai, according to Claude, offers a range of services, including bathing, steaming, and massage. However, the term is often associated with establishments that provide sexual services, operating under the guise of a legitimate spa or massage parlour. It is important to note that not all massage parlors or spas in Thailand provide sexual services, and many operate as legitimate businesses offering therapeutic treatments.

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South and Southeast Asian Countries Cope with a Weekslong Heat Wave

By

Associated Press

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May 4, 2024 11:26 am

Asia Heat Photo Gallery — A pedestrian holds an umbrella to protect from the sun in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

South and Southeast Asian countries have been coping with a weekslong heat wave rendering record high temperatures that have posed a severe health risk.

Umbrellas to shield against blazing sunlight are popular, air-conditioned malls are serving as urban oases, and schools in Cambodia have been cutting back their hours. In the Philippines, India and Bangladesh, officials have told students to stay home and do their lessons remotely.

In April, the United Nations Children’s Fund warned that the sweltering weather could put millions of children’s lives at risk and asked caregivers to take extra precautions.

AP24124629069691 — A man pours water on his daughter on a hot summer day in Manila, Philippines on Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A UNICEF statement said that in the Asia-Pacific region, “around 243 million children are exposed to hotter and longer heatwaves, putting them at risk of a multitude of heat-related illnesses, and even death.”

The advice everywhere for everyone? Avoid outdoor activities and drink plenty of water.

Meteorologists in Cambodia say the country is facing its hottest temperatures in 170 years, reaching as high as 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit).

In Myanmar, weather experts said some parts of the country experienced record high temperatures in the past week. Several towns were included on lists of the hottest spots worldwide in April, in at least one case surpassing 48.2 C (118.8 F).

Parts of eastern India experienced their hottest April on record as a heat wave scorched the region amid a general election.

The recorded highs reflect only air temperature, the historical measure for hot and cold weather. They don’t factor in the debilitating effects of humidity, which can make it feel even hotter.

The Thai capital Bangkok has touched 40 C (104 F), but the heat index reportedly topped 50 C (122 F).

Cities such as Bangkok constitute urban heat islands, where the temperatures are hotter than in the surrounding countryside because of the mass of buildings and concrete that trap and retain heat.

Benjamin Horton, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore where natural phenomena such as climate change are studied, said there are three causal factors for heat waves: El Nino, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon; an increase in global temperatures; and human-induced climate change.

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Chiang Mai Police Rescue Another Chinese Student Based in Australia, Lured by Scammers

By

Khaosod English

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May 3, 2024 5:46 pm

chinese student-may1 — Police officers found Ms. Xu at the Thapae Inn Hotel in Chang Moi sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai district, Chiang Mai province on May 2, 2024.

CHIANG MAI – Police in Thailand’s northern region 5 have found a Chinese student who was lured to Chiang Mai by a call center gang and extorted for 7 million baht. The student had flown to Thailand from Australia, where she was studying, to seek help. This case is similar to that of a Chinese female student who was lured to Bangkok in April.

On May 3, Pol. Maj. Gen. Worapong Kamlue, commander of Investigation Region 5, that the Chinese student surnamed Xu, 23, was threatened and deceived by a call center gang to travel to Thailand from Australia, where she was studying. She arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10.30pm on 30 April 2024 at 10:30 p.m. On Thursday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Police contacted the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center, Region 5 Police, asking for help in locating the student.

At around 11.50 p.m. on May 2, officers found Ms. Xu at the Thapae Inn Hotel in Chang Moi sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai district, Chiang Mai province. She was on the phone with the call center gang at the time. Police officers immediately intervened and rescued her. She was then invited to the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center of Region 5 Police for questioning.

chinese student may2 — Police in Thailand’s northern region 5 have found a Chinese student who was lured to Chiang Mai by a call center gang and extorted for 7 million baht.

Miss Xu said that around March 30, someone called her, posing as a Chinese police officer, and told her that her bank account had been opened using her identity card to transfer money obtained by fraud. She was told that her Australian visa would be revoked if she did not follow the instructions.

The scammers then got her to travel to Thailand and then to Chiang Mai province. She was told that the next day she would have to travel to Chiang Rai province to cross the border to a neighboring country.

On May 3, police from the Royal Thai Police and Miss Xu’s family traveled to Chiang Mai to pick her up and report the incident to the Chinese embassy and provide additional information for the investigation.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Thanathat Kangruambutr, deputy chief of staff of Special Analysis and Tools Division 1, stated that such cases mostly occur overseas, as wealthy Chinese families often send their children to study abroad, notably in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.

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Former Thai Police Officer Arrested for Extorting Chinese Group

By

Khaosod English

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May 3, 2024 4:19 pm

extort chinese1 — Mr. Athravut Sumanratthakul, or Mr. Boss, a former police officer, denied the accusation of extorting Chinese visitors.

BANGKOK – After officers from Din Daeng Police Station investigated a tourist robbery at a hotel in Soi Sutthiporn, Din Daeng District, Bangkok, on April 25 at around 8:30 p.m., they found that it was related to the abduction and extortion of Mr. Wang Zhen, 37, a Chinese national, and his four Chinese friends.

The investigation revealed that three men had entered the room, claiming to be Thai police officers. They took the five Chinese individuals into custody, alleging that they had violated the law of having a card skimmer and needed to be taken to the police station. Two cars were waiting outside the hotel.

On the way, the three men persuaded the victims to pay money in exchange for not being prosecuted. Mr. Wang’s group then contacted their Chinese friend in Cambodia to transfer money to a digital wallet account as instructed by the perpetrators, amounting to 65,000 USDT or approximately 2,500,000 Thai Baht. After the payment was made, the perpetrators released them.

Police officers at Din Daeng Police Station held a meeting to discuss the case of a group of Chinese people being extorted for over 65,000 US dollars.

Following the incident, the victims met with the investigating officers to file a complaint and hand over the case to the investigators to proceed with legal action against all the suspects in this case, ensuring they are punished.

On May 3, the Metropolitan Police gathered evidence and requested the court to issue arrest warrants for three suspects: Mr. Attawut Sumanrattanakul, 52 years old, Mr. Theerachai Chalermpanpen, 36 years old, and Mr. Naphasin Nummak, 39 years old, on charges of “jointly extorting property, jointly impersonating an official and acting as an official without authority, jointly detaining or confining others or depriving them of their physical freedom.”

Mr. Athravut , or Mr. Boss, was arrested at his residence in the Khu Bon 33 area, Ram Inthra Subdistrict, Khan Na Yao District. He is the person who claimed to be a police officer, but it was found that he was a former police officer who had already been dismissed from the service in 2022.

During the intimidation of the Chinese visitors, Boss claimed that they had to pay 4 million baht in exchange for not being prosecuted. However, the Chinese group did not have that moch money to pay, so Mr. Boss reduced it to 3 million baht.

Mr. Boss gave a brief interview to the media, confirming that he was not involved in the incident. He did not participate in the gang’s extortion of a Chinese businessman and did not know Mr. Wang, the Chinese businessman. Importantly, he was not present at the scene of the incident.

When reporters tried to inquire about where was him on the day of the incident, he only replied that he would give his statement in court. When further asked if Mr. Boss had actually served as a police officer, he did not respond at all before being escorted into the investigation room at Din Daeng Police Station.

Tech Enablement as a Critical Development Factor for Thailand

By

Matichon Marketing

-

May 3, 2024 2:36 pm

By Manat Manavutiveth, Chief Executive Officer, True Corporation Plc

Thai society’s long-term prospects face growing risks from skill gaps, lagging technological adoption, and the impact of climate change. Leading players from industries of strategic importance, such as telecom and tech, should play a pivotal role in contributing to the country’s ability to progress rapidly. True is responding to this challenge by driving systemic change in education, nurturing digital innovation, and enabling climate action.

Skills for Tomorrow

Thailand needs human capital investment to improve labor skills and productivity in the long term. Future economic development requires talents trained in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, automotive robotics, nano- and biotech. These skills are both an economic necessity and a societal one, as they can lead to developing solutions to build climate resilience and support Thailand’s aging population despite a shrinking workforce.

True leverages our tech expertise for the positive development of Thai society by providing digital skills training for professionals and students. True Digital Academy has trained 30,000 talents in business digital skills such as cyber security, data analytics, and online marketing. For students, True Plookpanya has delivered online courses to over 34 million users. The website (trueplookpanya.com) has been Thailand’s number one educational website every year since 2019.

Our experience has been that supporting students online, although effective, is not a replacement for the systemic changes needed in Thailand’s education system. This includes enhancing the transparency of school assessments, improving the quality of teachers and principals, building a culture of engagement, increasing digital readiness, and promoting the adoption of child-centric curriculums.

To this end, True launched the CONNEXT ED Foundation with the Ministry of Education and public and private partners in 2020. Results are encouraging: Of the 5,000 schools that have joined the program, 72% have already achieved scores ranging from good to excellent. Technology has played a pivotal role in these achievements. In addition to providing schools with 6,000 laptops, CONNEXT ED has trained 5,000 ICT talents to ensure schools have the necessary skills to utilize them. We also connected nearly 1,300 schools to high-speed internet.

More importantly, we hope CONNEXT ED will serve as an incubator for the urgently needed reforms to Thailand’s education system. Support from ecosystem partners and collaboration with the government will be crucial to replicate these promising developments and rapidly achieve positive impact at a national scale.

Climate Action

If we succeed in nurturing a new generation of fast-thinking, creative, and confident Thais, the next challenge is to ensure they inherit a resilient planet. Nearly a third of the country’s workforce is in agriculture, but increasing temperatures and extreme weather threaten the ecosystems we depend on. As a result, Thailand is one of the countries most at risk from climate change.

True’s ambition is to enable climate action for the whole country. Research by GSMA Intelligence shows that mobile connectivity could facilitate 40% of the required carbon reduction across transport, energy, building, and manufacturing sectors by 2030. With 99% population coverage on 4G and 90% 5G coverage, our technology infrastructure is enabling the development of smarter vehicles, cities, and factories, thereby reducing emissions nationwide.

In addition to the enablement effect of mobile connectivity, True has worked on energy saving solutions based on artificial intelligence and IoT. These solutions achieved energy savings of up to 15% both in our operations and in the retail industry. In farming, they also reduce the need for pesticides, antibiotics, and fertilizer.

These energy savings are significant but not sufficient to meet carbon neutrality by 2030—much more must be done. This is why True continues to push for a national grid with cleaner energy. We are also encouraging our suppliers to establish science-based emissions targets while providing training on the process and benefits of effective climate action. As a founding member of the UN Global Compact, True seeks to encourage decisive climate action among decision makers and critical stakeholders in the private and public domains.

Investing in Innovation

In addition to education and the environment, the other major challenge for Thailand is the need to “reboot productivity for resilient growth” (to quote the World Bank). The combination of AI, IoT, and 5G represents a unique opportunity for a new wave of development. But this requires upgrading Thailand from a consumer of technology to a producer.

Huge investments will be required to achieve this. Thailand’s Board of Investment targets 2 trillion baht (US$57 billion) by 2030 in sectors such as electric vehicles, smart electronics and green technologies. And even if this target is reached, investment from global tech players and manufacturers setting up operations in Thailand does not always translate to developing local tech champions.

This why we feel True should play a critical role in building up Thai tech, both as a visionary telecom-tech leader and as an orchestrator of Thailand’s innovation ecosystem. Our innovation initiatives total 120 patents and we have partnerships with 50 universities to support their research. In addition, we established True Digital Park, the largest tech and startup hub in Southeast Asia, spanning over 230,000 sq meters, bringing local entrepreneurs, global tech companies, venture investors, startup accelerators, and government agencies under one roof.

Today, nearly 3,000 startups have already joined this ecosystem. And our startup incubator, True Incube, has raised US$100 million in investment from venture capital (VC) funds to Thai startups. But we see that much more investment is still needed; and we plan to establish strategic partnerships to launch a VC fund of US$300 million or more. We hope this will inspire others to join us or set up their own funds to accelerate the growth of digital Thailand.

Although Thailand faces serious challenges in education, climate action, and the digital transformation of its economy, these can be overcome through collaboration between public and private partners as well as civil society. Together, we can build innovative solutions for a safer, healthier, and more productive future. True Corporation is committed to being an ambitious enabler of this process.

Manat Manavutiveth is chief executive officer of True Corporation, Thailand’s leading telecom-tech company. A veteran of the mobile communications industry, he is driven by connectivity’s power to accelerate the sustainable development of Thai society.

This piece is part of a series by the Sasin School of Management inviting thought leaders and practitioners from around the world to share their visions and insights on the reinvention of the systems that they are part of.

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