Pitcha Namphadung and Nico Papke in an undated photo. Photo: R’foray Rujirada / Facebook
PHUKET — A German man harmed himself Sunday night as police surrounded a rented house in Phuket province to arrest him as a suspect in the murder case of a Thai woman.
Police said they tracked down Nico Papke, 36, after his Thai girlfriend disappeared for nine days before her body, wrapped in a mat, was found Sunday afternoon down a jungle slope a few kilometers away from the main road in Phuket city.
“He is now in stable condition but remains in the hospital,” said police Col. Akanit Dampitaksat Monday. “We can’t question him yet.”
Pitcha Namphadung’s body found wrapped in a mat Sunday by a roadside slope in a jungle in Phuket.
Neighbors said they heard Papke and his Thai girlfriend, Pitcha Namphadung, 35, engaged in a fight on June 30 at their apartment in Rawai subdistrict. That was the last time she as seen alive. Papke later disappeared from their apartment.
Pitcha’s uncle Lamduan Sridonsai, 62, on Thursday filed a police complaint over her disappearance. Pitcha’s niece Rujirada Onkorat, 19, on Friday brought the story to the Phuket Facebook community.
Police later learned Papke had rented a car before disappearing. On Sunday, they tracked the GPS signal of the car he rented and were led to the jungle where they found Pitcha’s body.
The body presented traces of assault and a stab wound. It had been covered in a bedsheet and wrapped in a mat before being dumped down a roadside slope.
Pitcha’s body was sent for detailed examination.
German national Nico Papke is taken to hospital Sunday night in Phuket province after he harmed himself during the raid on his house. Photo: Martichon
Police later found Papke rented another house in Rawai subdistrict which they raided at 7pm on Sunday.
“He was trying to run away but he saw we already covered the area so he pulled out a box cutter,” said Akanit.
Akanit said Papke was not charged as police were still waiting to question him Monday afternoon.
LONDON — Dozens of firefighters poured water onto a big fire early Monday at Camden Lock Market, which is a popular tourist destination in north London.
The London Fire Brigade said 10 firetrucks and 70 firefighters had been sent to the site shortly after midnight Sunday when a blaze erupted near Camden Stables. It said three floors and the roof of a building within the complex were on fire.
Ambulance crews also rushed to the scene, but authorities said no injuries had been reported.
The market is very popular with tourists and Londoners, who are drawn to the area by the shopping and nightlife on offer.
“The fire was moving very fast,” said witness Joan Ribes. “People were watching, but we were scared the building could explode at any time since there are restaurants with kitchens nearby.”
A different part of the market complex was ravaged by a fire in 2008, and vendors were not able to operate for several months.
Monday’s fire came less than four weeks after a fast-spreading blaze engulfed the Grenfell Tower apartment block in west London, killing at least 80 people.
Sunday, Panarat Chaiyaboon points to the downstairs toilet in her house where reticulated pythons slithered up to bite her in the bottom. Left, the python that bit her July 3.
BANGKOK — After a couple of pythons made themselves at home Sunday in the toilet of a house in western Bangkok, the family who lives there is wary of using their downstairs bathroom.
Suthiporn Praditkanok, 15, was washing her hands in the restroom at her home in the Taling Chan district, when she ran out screaming after a large python leaped out of the toilet bowl and began slithering towards her.
Hearing her screams, Suthiporn’s dad, Kanok Praditkanok, 41, ran into the bathroom, snapped a photo of the snake with his smartphone, shut the toilet lid on the creature and put the toilet tank cover on the lid for extra protection before calling the authorities.
The reticulated python that slithered into the Praditkanoks’ toilet Sunday.
“Snakes have been plaguing this house incessantly. This house cost almost 10 million baht; it should be safe to live in,” said Panarat Chaiyaboon, 42, Suthiporn’s mother.
It wasn’t the first time that the Praditkanoks’ 6.5-million-baht house – in a gated community – had been struck by the company of snakes.
In the afternoon of July 3, Panarat was on the john when she felt a sharp pain on her buttocks. She leaped up to find a large, spotted snake of unknown species wiggling about a half meter out of the toilet.
Panarat was shocked but gathered her wits about her: She trapped the snake by shutting the toilet lid and placed the tank cover on top – a move her husband would later copy – and rushed to Phyathai Hospital 3.
Doctors examined the one centimeter-deep wounds of 12 teeth, but said that they had to know the species of snake before they could administer the antidote. Meanwhile, back at home, security guards of the gated community freed the 2.5-meter-long reticulated python from the toilet and handed it over to animal control.
The guards noted the reptile had extremely dirty teeth, since it had been eating feces and sewage. Doctors on Panarat’s end quickly administered antibiotics and injected anti-inflammatory and tetanus shots to prevent infection.
The python that bit Panarat wraps itself around her toilet July 3.
Panarat’s night in the hospital and continuing shots cost her 18,000 baht – only some of it paid by insurance.
“I was so shocked,” Suthiporn said Sunday, of the snake which was larger than the one that bit her mother. “I’m too scared to live here anymore.”
Panarat said the reason snakes popped up in her gated community was because some houses had uneven foundations. Some had half a meter separating the foundation of the house from the ground – allowing snakes and monitor lizards to burrow there after slithering from the nearby jungle. Indeed, a monitor lizard crawled into her yard earlier this year, she said.
“The whole community is panicked over this. Now no one wants to use the downstairs bathroom,” said Panarat. “I want the building management to fill in the holes under the foundation with dirt, not just close them up with boards as a temporary solution. In this rainy season, only a few showers soaks through them.”
The family live in the Setthasiri Ratchaphruek Charan gated community, a building project by Sansiri Public Co. Ltd.
A python peeks out from the toilet of a neighborhood Sunday in western Bangkok.
The family is for now staying at Panarat’s sister’s house, since the python that that visted their house Sunday managed to slither away.
“We don’t know if there’s more snakes in the toilet, or if our house is on top of a snake nest,” Panarat said.
Snakes occasionally pop up in homes in Thailand, especially those built on recently-cleared forest land. In May 2016, a man had a tug-of-war with a python that slithered up to bite his penis, and in March a Nong Khai province man escaped a charming encounter with a cobra in his toilet.
The python that bit Panarat, extracted July 3 from its bathroom home.Animal control and neighborhood security guards with the reticulated python that bit Panarat, July 3.
Sunday, Panarat points to the bathroom toilet where two pythons surfaced in her home.
BANGKOK — An American R&B-soul-pop quartet known for 90s hit song “I Swear” will bring throwback tidbits to Bangkok as they perform in the city in August.
All-4-One, consisting of Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy, Alfred Nevarez and Tony Borowiak, will land in Thailand for their Bangkok performance to sing their hits “I Swear,” “I Can Love You Like That” and “I Will Be Right Here.”
The concert will take place Aug. 19 at Thunder Dome, Muang Thong Thani. Tickets range from 1,500 baht to 4,000 baht and will be available from Tuesday via ThaiTicketMajor.
The 90’s boy band rose to fame in 1994 when their cover of “I Swear,” originally a country song by John Michael Montgomery, won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It became the number-one hit in numerous countries.
PATTAYA — Thai amateur Atthaya Thitikul, or “Nong Jean,” became the youngest winner in Ladies European Tour history at 14 years, 4 months, 19 days Sunday, breaking Lydia Ko’s record with a two-stroke victory in the Ladies European Thailand Championship.
Ko was 15 years, 9 months, 17 days when she set the LET record in the 2013 New Zealand Open.
“I’m so happy for my win this week and feel so proud of myself. I give this win to all Thais,” said Atthaya, who said she was inspired by Thai star Ariya Jutanugarn.
Atthaya closed with an even-par 72 to finish at 5-under 283 at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Chinburi. Mexico’s Ana Menendez was second after a 75.
“I was nervous at the first tee,” Atthaya said. “But I didn’t think about the scores. I just focused on my shots and only on my caddie. I didn’t expect to win this tournament as I just came here to learn techniques from the pro players on the Ladies European.”
Atthaya said she wouldn’t turn professional for a few years because she needs more experience.
She began the fourth round a shot behind Menendez after rounds of 70, 71 and 70. But the Mexican player dropped four shots on the front nine, handing Atthaya a two-shot lead at the turn after one birdie and two bogeys on her first nine holes.
Ko also won the Australian tour’s 2012 New South Wales Open at 14 years, 9 months at 3 days, and set the LPGA Tour record of 15 years, 4 months, 2 days in the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open.
Vietnamese police officers inspect smuggled ivory in July in Hanoi. Photo: Associated Press
HANOI — Police in northern Vietnam have seized nearly 3 tons of ivory smuggled from South Africa in the latest action taken against the illegal trade.
Thanh Hoa provincial police said the ivory was found in boxes on a truck stopped by police early Saturday morning. The account posted on the police website quoted the truck driver as saying he was hired to transport the ivory from southern Dong Nai province to the capital Hanoi.
Police declined to give further information on Monday.
Last year, nearly 7 tons of ivory were seized in Vietnam’s southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh city.
Vietnam is one of the world’s major transit points and consumers of ivory and rhino horn. It bans hunting of its own dwindling population of elephants.
BANGKOK — A Thai-Italian model was crowned Miss Grand Thailand 2017 Saturday night after winning a contest known for its extravagant if not outlandish costumes, representing each of the 77 provinces in the country.
Representing Krabi province, Pemika Pamela Pansinetti, 23, is fluent in Thai, English and Italian. She sported an eagle-winged rubber costume weighing 40 kilograms Wednesday during the qualifying round for four hours, dyed her hair deep black and learned to sing a Northeastern Thai folk song to please the judges.
Pemika won the crown plus combined prizes worth 6 million baht. She will compete for Miss Grand International’s crown in October in Vietnam.
Contestants will have to promote the provinces they represent for the next 12 months.
The contest was also notable for one contestant, Miss Grand Kalasin, Wanwisa Isarapayap, falling on the floor twice within seconds while on stage, wearing a heavy and elaborate costume, parts of which broke into pieces.
It was also marred by a leaked video of Miss Grand Songkhla, Aem-orn Orn-uma Worasiri, in which she appears to verbally promote smuggled goods for tourists in her official introductory video while talking about Hat Yai city in Songkhla province.
The incident led to the city administration accusing her of distortion. The beauty pageant’s organizers said the leaked video was not supposed to have been made available to the public and that it had been removed earlier.
KANCHANABURI — The head of a provincial national park said Saturday that it has become the latest favorite spot for owners of recreational vehicles, or RVs, to enjoy their getaway weekend with nature, the head of the park Saturday.
Thaewin Meesap, head of Khao Laem National Park in Kanchanaburi province, said the park has recently offered proper parking space for RVs, a move well-received by growing enthusiasts who own one – most of whom come from Bangkok.
The kingdom’s most popular group for RV owners is the Caravans Club Thailand, followed by more than 97,000 users on Facebook.
Thaewin said Saturday that spaces dedicated to station RVs are busy every weekend, and that this long weekend stretching to Monday, saw over 10 camping cars from the club visiting the park.
The park’s chief added that club members – who recommend suitable places for camping through social media – heard about the park’s offerings from local news reports. Thaewin said club members told him that over the years, the price of RVs has become more affordable, especially for second-hand models imported from the United Kingdom.
A look at the club’s Facebook site shows some old RVs being put on sale starting at more than 500,000 bahts. Thaewin said those wanting to camp out their vehicle should contact the park first – particularly during special holidays, as spaces are in high demand.
A concept design for Bangkok Observation Tower. Image: Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation
Towering at 459 meters above the western bank of the Chao Phraya River will rise a new landmark, the Bangkok observatory tower. Expected to be among the world’s 10 tallest structures, and certainly the tallest in Thailand, it is meant to become the new pride of Bangkokians, Thais and an object of marvel for the throng of tourists.
Likely, they will board the numerous noisy Chao Phraya river cruise boats passing the Khlong San district and not fail to take selfies or FB Live it to their friends around the world. The torch-like tower will also showcase Thai culture, advanced technology management and house an exhibit honoring the late king.
So why I am not impressed, and even skeptical?
The short answer is that there are many unanswered questions.
Let’s start with: What’s the rush all about? When the military junta’s cabinet approved the project last month on June 27, it skirted the mandatory competitive bidding process, arguing it would slow down the project, which was unlikely to find other takers because it’s not supposed to be a profit-maximizing enterprise.
The riverside plot of land belongs to the Treasury Department, but a little known foundation, called the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation, will raise the project’s estimated 4.5 billion baht.
The foundation was jointly established by Magnolia Quality Development, which is the property development arm of Charoen Pokphand Group, the kingdom’s largest corporation, and Siam Piwat Co., the operators of the Siam Center and Siam Discovery shopping malls. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s such a serendipitous coincidence that the tower will stand next to a much larger plot of land these same mega-developers are set to open a sprawling riverside mall called Icon Siam later this year, along with two posh condominiums towers.
So we’re talking about public land being gifted to private enterprise.
If the project is wholly private, as is Bangkok’s newest tallest building MahaNakhon, then I would have no qualm as long as they meet the required environmental review standards and planning regulations. But we’re talking about state land, which belongs to all citizens, going to a foundation set up by large corporations without any open bidding.
The observatory tower, if built at the spot will most likely has to be entered and departed through the mall’s ground as the state’s land is not directly connected to Charoen Nakhon Road. It’s no riddle figuring who will benefit the most, in terms of a windfall of valuable property and retail income from this observatory tower.
Sure, the government insists that the land will be leased for a period of 30 years to the foundation for 198 million baht, or about 6.6 million baht annually, after which the state will take over the land and tower. What’s more, profits from ticket sales, at 750 baht for foreigners and 375 baht for Thais (again, the old double-pricing double-standard), will be channel to something vaguely described as public good, promised military government’s assistant spokesman Col. Athisit Chaiyanuvat.
When Khaosod English first reported about the tower on June 28, the reporter didn’t even find any website or listed phone number of the foundation. I tried again Friday, ten days after, and there was nothing still.
On Thursday, architect Sitthiporn Piromruen posted on Facebook questioning how the design of Bangkok Observatory Tower uncannily resembles that of the Aspire Tower in Doha, Qatar.
“I am not being dramatic, but it’s shameful,” wrote the architect, posting photos of the two towers next to one another. The one in Doha, designed by architect Hadi Simaan, which is also torch-like but less slender, is only 300 meters. It was completed in 2007. The incident is doubly embarrassing as, this past September, another river project design was dropped for being identical to one by British architect Norman Foster.
At top, a rendering of the proposed Viman Phra In (Paradise of Indra) as presented by the Chao Phraya boardwalk design team. At bottom, a rendered image of Crystal Island as designed by British architect Norman Foster.
Would the government holding an architectural contest for the structure that would be lauded as the new landmark of the capital and the tallest structure in Thailand be more appropriate and participatory? A panel of eminent judges then can choose the best design that would tower over Bangkok for decades if not longer. The public will also have time to debate and perhaps vote on what they perceived to be the best design.
Can we also consider how such tall tower may or may not reflect the late king’s sufficiency economic philosophy?
A 375 baht entrance fee is still a day’s wage for many Thais. Would the state-owned land be better utilized as a riverside park, another small lung for Bangkok, and for all to enjoy for free regardless of their income level for perpetuity instead?
Who’s really going to benefit most from this mad rush to build the tallest tower in town?
Given the above questions regarding the handling and risk of favoritism, can the junta slow down and do things properly?
What’s the rush? Do they want to risk having the structure becoming an edifice of bad governance by the military junta? Need they be reminded that they actually don’t have any legitimacy since their seized their way into power?
Bangkokians deserve a more transparent and towering plan than this.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns to Latvia's Ernests Gulbis during their Men's Singles Match on day six at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Saturday in London. Photo: Tim Ireland / Associated Press
After Sunday’s day off, play resumes Monday with all 16 fourth-round singles matches.
Men’s matchups: No. 1 Andy Murray vs. Benoit Paire, No. 2 Novak Djokovic vs. Adrian Mannarino, No. 3 Roger Federer vs. No. 13 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 4 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 16 Gilles Muller, No. 6 Milos Raonic vs. No. 10 Alexander Zverev, No. 7 Marin Cilic vs. No. 18 Roberto Bautista Agut, No. 8 Dominic Thiem vs. No. 11 Tomas Berdych, No. 24 Sam Querrey vs. Kevin Anderson.
Women’s matchups: No. 1 Angelique Kerber vs. No. 14 Garbine Muguruza, No. 2 Simona Halep vs. Victoria Azarenka, No. 10 Venus Williams vs. No. 27 Ana Konjuh, No. 4 Elina Svitolina vs. No. 13 Jelena Ostapenko, No. 5 Caroline Wozniacki vs. No. 24 CoCo Vandeweghe, No. 6 Johanna Konta vs. No. 21 Caroline Garcia, No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska, Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Petra Martic.
Monday’s Forecast
Cloudy with a chance of rain. High of 73 degrees (23 Celsius).
Saturday’s Weather
Partly cloudy. High of 77 degrees (25 Celsius).
Saturday’s Results
Men’s third round: No. 2 Novak Djokovic beat Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (2); No. 3 Roger Federer beat No. 27 Mischa Zverev 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4.; No. 6 Milos Raonic beat No. 25 Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-5; No. 8 Dominic Thiem beat Jared Donaldson 7-5, 6-4, 6-2; No 10 Alexander Zverev beat Sebastian Ofner 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; No. 11 Tomas Berdych beat David Ferrer 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; No. 24 Sam Querrey beat No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-5; No. 13 Grigor Dimitrov beat Dudi Sela 6-1, 6-1, retired; Adrian Mannarino beat No. 15 Gael Monfils 7-6 (3), 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
15-0 – Roger Federer’s career record in third-round matches at Wimbledon.
Quote of the Day
“OK, thank you for reminding me.” – Angelique Kerber, last year’s runner-up at Wimbledon, when a reporter noted that she has lost her past four matches against fourth-round opponent Garbine Muguruza, the 2015 runner-up.
