Jenphop Charged With Drunk Driving, Obstruction of Justice

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18 March 2016, 19:15

Jenphop Viraporn arrives at Ayutthaya Provincial Court on hospital stretcher on Friday afternoon.

By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

AYUTTHAYA — Police have filed additional charges against a driver who caused two to die in a flaming wreck Sunday for refusing a sobriety test in the aftermath of the crash.

Previously, Jenphop Viraporn, 37, was only charged with fatal reckless driving for the Sunday’s collision on Ayutthaya highway. The case sparked accusations on social media that police were shielding Jenphop because of his standing as a wealthy owner of a luxury car company.

National police deputy commander Pongsapat Pongcharoen said police Friday filed charges of driving under the influence and obstruction of justice against Jenphop after hospital nurses told him that the suspect refused to be tested for alcohol and drug use.

“They confirmed that police officers told him to get a blood test, but Mr. Jenphop refused,” Gen. Pongsapat told reporters after visiting the hospital in Ayutthaya today. “Mr. Jenphop said, ‘No, sir, I cannot let you do a blood test, because I’m afraid of needles.’”

Pol.Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen talking to one of the nurses on Friday.

Pongsapat said Jenphop then requested to be transferred to Samitivej Hospital in Bangkok, where he is still being treated for what police described as knee and head injuries.

Under a recently enhanced law, motorists who refuse alcohol and drug tests are automatically considered guilty of being under the influence.

Jenphop stands accused of slamming his Mercedes-Benz into another car on Ayutthaya highway at high speed, killing two people inside. Both victims – Krissana Thaworn, 32, and Thanthapat Horsaengchai, 34 – were killed after flames engulfed their car. They were both graduate students at a university in Bangkok.

Police on Friday brought Jenphop to the Ayutthaya Provincial Court for his bail hearing. According to Pongsapat, the court subsequently granted him bail on the condition that he does not drive, travel outside the country and must report to police every 12 days. His bail was reportedly set at 200,000 baht.

Jenphop arrived and left the court on a stretcher. Reporters were not allowed inside the courthouse. His lawyer, Charoen Kaewyodlah, declined to answer reporters’ questions.

Officers Removed

The first several days that followed Sunday’s collision were marred by delays in the investigation and outcry on social media over why Jenphop was not tested for substances at the scene.

Many voiced fear that police will be lenient on Jenphop, owner of an import car company called Luxotic and son of a wealthy businessman.

“This case is not an accident, it’s clearly, clearly, clearly intentional! Look at how fast he was going!” Facebook user Supawad Keawpannai wrote in a comment on Facebook page CSI LA, which has been campaigning for impartial police work on the case. “But it it will be the same. He will escape jail with no trouble at all, because the law only benefits the rich and the powerful.”

Another user, Somchay Nitimongcolchai , wrote in the same page: “Hey, CSI LA admin, you want to bet with me? I say this case will just disappear with the wind. You can only spark controversies, but ultimately everything will be the same like in previous controversies. In Thailand, the rich are the bosses.”

After criticism intensified and spread, the national police responded by replacing officers in charge of the investigation with a new team, and setting up a committee to find out whether officers were negligent.

The head of the police station overseeing the case against Jenphop has also been transferred to an inactive post.

Officers In Charge of Ayutthaya Deadly Collision Removed

Jenphop Plowed Through Toll Booth Before Deadly Crash (Video)

Teeranai Charuvastra can be reached at [email protected] and @Teeranai_C.

Romanian Village Gets Boost from Snoop Dogg

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Associated Press

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18 March 2016, 18:37

In this Feb. 24, 2016 file photo, Snoop Dogg attends the 2016 All Def Movie Awards held at Lure in Los Angeles. Photo: Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press

BUCHAREST, Romania — A small village in northern Romania is reveling in the virtual attention caused by a spelling mistake by U.S. rapper Snoop Dogg.

Posting a selfie on Instagram, the rapper who has been on tour in Bogota, Colombia, told his fans he was in Bogata, in Transylvania.

Romanians soon spotted the mistake and began posting about it. A tourist website, visitbogata.com, also popped up, describing the village of 2,000 as the "best place for chillin' in Romania."

There's no hotel in the village, so visitors are advised to bring a sleeping bag. If they get hungry they can feast on a twist of the famous Hungarian goulash.

"It was a mistake but it's a good advert for us," Bogata mayor Laszlo Barta told The Associated Press Friday.

Story: Associated Press

Singer Apologizes for Vandalizing Thai-Laotian Border Marker

Sex Worker Arrested for Attacking Italian Tourist in Pattaya

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Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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18 March 2016, 17:01

Pattaya City Police Station in an undated file photo.

PATTAYA — A transgender woman was arrested in Pattaya yesterday for assaulting an elderly Italian tourist, police say.

The 18-year-old suspect struck the 69-year-old tourist in his face in Soi Bua Kao on Thursday morning before fleeing on foot, Pattaya City Police Station commander Sukthat Pumpanmuang said.

Police arrested the suspect later on the same day and charged her with physical assault, Sukthat said on Friday, adding that she has been sent to stand trial in court.

The victim suffered bruises and cuts to his face, leading to earlier reports of a knife being used, though Sukthat said the suspect denied this.

There are conflicting accounts as to why the assault took place. According to police reports from Thursday, the Italian tourist said the suspect asked him if he wanted a sexual service, but he refused which enraged the transgender woman into striking him.

But Sukthat said the suspect maintained that the tourist agreed to have sex with her for money and later refused to pay, so she hit him out of anger.

The officer said he believes the latter account to be the case. “I think what [the suspect] said is true,” Sukthat said.

Pattaya, a coastal resort town east of Bangkok, is well-known for its seedy red light district and high rate of crimes against foreigners.

Teeranai Charuvastra can be reached at [email protected] and @Teeranai_C.

Govt Wants Less Sex, More ‘Thainess’ for Motor Show Pretties

By

Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter

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18 March 2016, 15:44

A promotional model, aka ‘pretty,’ poses Dec. 1, 2015 for a photograph at Bangkok’s Motor Show.

BANGKOK — The biggest car show on the calendar rides into town next week, and with it the annual cry for decency from the appointed defenders of conservative culture.

Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat said his team had visited Grand Prix International PLC, organizer of Bangkok International Motor Show, to make sure that their models dress modestly.

“I believe they will fully cooperate as they welcomed us nicely when the team visited,” Veera said.

The expo is due to take place from Wednesday to April 3 at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani.

One of such shows main draws to many are not the souped-up cars, but the sexed-up models who pose in revealing or scant clothing and attract swarms of amateur photographers.

Veera said he has received complaints from citizens who fear that these sexy models present a bad image of Thailand to the world, and present a bad example for children to imitate.

The ministry also proposed that the organizer change the models’s dresses to ones representing “Thainess,” he said.

For years, the Ministry of Culture has tried to curb the use of Pretties in Motor Shows, without any success.

Last year the ministry went as far as threatening to take legal action against models that exposed too much skin, saying it violated public obscenity laws. However, there is no report of any charges ever being filed.

Expanding the Thaiger Empire: Luca Thaiger Taco Truck Debuts

By

Cole Pennington

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18 March 2016, 15:19

People order from Luca Thaiger taco truck March 15 in Ekkamai. Photo: Sofie Lisby

BANGKOK — When you’re a Los Angeles native dominating the burger scene in Bangkok, the next logical step is to bring more of the comfort food you know onto the scene.

For Mark Falcioni, the Angelino behind Daniel Thaiger, that means tacos. And that’s what Falcioni’s new Luca Thaiger truck does, serve tacos – but only on Tuesdays.

Together with his wife Honey, Falcioni’s tacos are inspired by the Tex-Mex of his upbringing in LA, where tacos are sold from taquerias and “catering trucks” alongside empanadas, lengua and cabeza (cow tongue and animal head, respectively).

“Back where I’m from, there’s a huge taco culture. I used to go to taquerias where they served it simply: meat, onions, and cilantro with a squeeze of lime.”

Things got off to a rough start at the launch on Tuesday March 15 at Conkey’s Bakery in the Ekkamai area when the truck proved unprepared for the turnout.

“We were in the weeds from the moment we launched at 6pm,” Falcioni said. “About 300 people showed up when we were only expecting about 150.”

Customers Tuesday March 15 at Conkey’s Bakery in the Ekkamai area. Photo: Sofie Lisby

About an hour in the tacos ran out, leaving throngs of hungry Bangkokians loitering in the bakery’s yard with unsatisfied stomachs.

Netizens on the Bangkok Foodies Facebook group bemoaned the taco-less outcome, leaving comments ranging from “Amateur thing. They should know better” to “Poor show guys.”

Samantha Proyrungtong, who helped promote the fledgling taco operation online, said she’d encourage them to “stock up like crazy next time.”

Falcioni said adjustments are being made in response to meet the demand for his Southwest fare.

“We have about 20 things that we’re changing in terms of operations,” he said. “The launch turned into a bit of a scramble.”

While preparing adequate supply is challenging, the difficulties started when Mark set out to create the taco. “In Thailand sometimes you have to swap out the chilis as it’s hard to find rancho peppers or any other varieties from central and South America,” he says. And it doesn't end there, the soft white corn tortillas traditionally used in Southern California and Mexico are difficult to source in Bangkok, so Mark is looking into making his own.

Once operations are addressed, Luca Thaiger will be “Something people can put on their calendars”, according the Mark.

Follow the Luca Thaiger Facebook page for info on the next Taco Tuesday.

Photo: Sofie Lisby

Jenphop Plowed Through Toll Booth Before Deadly Crash (Video)

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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18 March 2016, 14:01

Jenphop Viraporn blows through a toll booth barrier not long before causing two deaths Sunday in a still image from security footage.

BANGKOK — Not long before speeding on to cause two highway deaths, vehicular manslaughter suspect Jenphop Viraporn smashed through a Bangkok toll booth barrier in an incident also captured on video.

About an hour before the 37-year-old luxury car dealer slammed into a vehicle on a highway in Ayutthaya which then burst into flames, killing two students inside, Jenphop was filmed in the same Mercedes-Benz in a video uploaded to social media Friday.

Damkoeng Pankam, deputy director of the national expressway, Friday confirmed it was Jenphop’s car seen in the video. According to Damkoeng, Jenphop drove through the booth from Rama IV Road in Bangkok at 10:58am on Sunday.

In the footage, the Mercedes makes no visible attempt to slow down as it drives through the lowered toll arm.

Damkoeng played down the incident, saying there have been previous cases of drivers not stopping at toll booths or even smashing through them due to sensory malfunctions. However, Damkoeng said Jenphop did not bother to stop to inspect the damage, unlike other drivers.

“In this case, the driver did not park his car to look at what he had done. He simply drove away,” Damkoeng said.

About an hour later, Jenphop slammed into the back of the Ford Fiesta at high speed. The victims – Krissana Thaworn, 32, and Thanthapat Horsaengchai, 34 – were killed after flames engulfed their car. They were both graduate students at a university in Bangkok.

Jenphop is now facing charge for fatal reckless driving. The charge was only filed against him on Thursday, four days after the deadly collision. Police never tested whether Jenphop was driving under influence at the time of the accident.

Damkoeng said expressway authorities will not press charges against Jenphop because there was no damage to the barrier, which is designed to survive impact. They will however seek the unpaid toll.

Officers In Charge of Ayutthaya Deadly Collision Removed

Teeranai Charuvastra can be reached at [email protected] and @Teeranai_C.

Kasetsart Junction Shortcut to Finally Open

By

Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter

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18 March 2016, 12:59

John Winyu and 'Por Mor' of the satirical news show 'Shallow News in Depth' hosted a segment on the incomplete project on location in 2013. Photo: Shallow News in Depth / YouTube

BANGKOK — A shortcut to relieve traffic near Kasetsart Junction which took 16 years to construct will soon open, City Hall has promised, again.

After failing to open in December as guaranteed, City Hall on Thursday said again that the two lanes along Khlong Bang Khen connecting Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahonyothin roads will be open for use March 24.

It will open unfinished, as the completed road will have four lanes and other facilities which requires another 300 million baht and up to three years to finish.

“This temporary construction of the road did not use any further funds,” said Atthawit Suwannapakdee of the governor’s office. “It was built from leftover materials of other projects that City Hall is already responsible for.”

The 3-kilometer route runs from Yakult factory on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, continues alongside the canal to the entrance of Soi Phahonyothin 49/1. It is intended to relieve the traffic affected by construction of the Green Line Skytrain which will take at least three years.

Though the project was actually approved in 2000, it has been left unfinished as City Hall ran into resistance from property owners along the route.

In November, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said it would propose 318 million baht to complete the expansion this year.

At Last Minute, Transit Authorities Put Phahonyothin Closure on Hold

Phahonyothin Traffic Nightmare to Get Worse for Three Years

Shortcut Relieving Kasetsart Junction Traffic Opens Next Month

Officers In Charge of Ayutthaya Deadly Collision Removed

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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18 March 2016, 12:15

National police deputy commander Pongsapat Pongcharoen, at right, on Thursday night inspects the burned out remains of Ford Fiesta in the Sunday collision.

By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

AYUTTHAYA — The police officers investigating Sunday’s deadly collision that left two dead on an Ayutthaya highway have been replaced following criticism they failed to test the driver for alcohol and drug use.

Police said yesterday that new officers have been brought in to oversee the case against 37-year-old Jenphop Viraporn. He was only charged with fatal reckless driving yesterday, three days after he slammed his Mercedes-Benz into a Ford Fiesta at high speed, killing two graduate students inside. Both victims – a man and a woman – were in their early 30s.

“We have just appointed a new investigative team,” national police deputy commander Pongsapat Pongcharoen announced Thursday. “They are capable and knowledgeable. They have experience in working on many investigations. The public can trust in police work; we will not help anyone in particular.”

Businessman Charged for Fatal Collision Amid Mounting Criticism

An investigative committee has also been convened to find out whether local police breached any procedures in order to assist Jenphop, a businessman whose family owns luxury car dealerships.

“[We will] investigate the performance of investigators that worked with such a delay that it caused doubts among society,” Pongsapat said at Thursday’s news conference. “If we find any wrongdoing, we will proceed with disciplinary action.”

Frustration has built on social media since Sunday over the possibility the case would go nowhere. That escalated when it emerged police didn’t test Jenphop for sobriety after the crash. In an interview with Nation TV on Wednesday night, Phra-Inracha station commander Pongpat Suksawasdi said Jenphop declined to be tested.

Jenphop has been hospitalized in Bangkok since the accident on Sunday, for what police described as injuries to his head and knees.

Scrutiny and frustration also built up on social media at police’s seemingly lenient treatment of Jenphop. Chief among the complaints was the police’s admission that they did not test Jenphop after the crash.

Ayutthaya police commander Sutthi Puangpikul said Thursday that there was “miscommunication” between the hospital and police about the sobriety test, while Col. Pongpat, head of the police station in charge of Jenphop’s case, told Khaosod the suspect’s family moved him to another hospital in Bangkok before police could test him.

Police also waited four days before formally charging Jenphop for fatal reckless driving. Pongpat said Jenphop suffered injuries to his head so he was only ready to give testimony Thursday.

Businessman Charged for Fatal Collision Amid Mounting Criticism

Teeranai Charuvastra can be reached at [email protected] and @Teeranai_C.

Literature Meets Politics at Double Event in Ubon Ratchathani

By

Khaosod English

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18 March 2016, 12:15

(The Isaan Record)

UBON RATCHATHANI – Two literary events in Ubon Ratchathani last week opened space for academics, students, and writers from Isaan and other regions to publicly discuss the intersection of literature, gender, and politics in times of severely restricted freedom of expression.

Celebrating a budding genre of Thai literature in response to the political turmoil of the past ten years, the events promoted the voices of Thailand’s literary political dissidents.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

Note: Khaosod English is not responsible for content on other websites.

Mexican Governor Makes Waves by Touting Legal Opium Poppies

By

Associated Press

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18 March 2016, 11:56

In this Jan. 26, 2015 file photo, an opium grower shows how he "milks" a poppy flower bulb to obtain opium paste in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains of Guerrero state, Mexico. Photo: Dario Lopez-Mills / Associated Press

MEXICO CITY — The governor of one of Mexico's most violent states is making waves by proposing that impoverished farmers be allowed to grow opium poppies for legal medical use.

Guerrero state is among Mexico's poorest, and many remote mountain communities already grow small plots of poppies, which are bought by drug cartels that have fought violent turf battles throughout the Pacific coast state.

It has become the biggest opium-producing state in Mexico, supplying about half the heroin used in the United States.

Guerrero Gov. Hector Astudillo suggested this week that farmers be allowed to produce opium for legal medical use.

Astudillo, a member of President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party, later said his comments were more thinking-out-loud than a concrete proposal.

In this Feb. 6, 2005 file photo, gubernatorial candidate Hector Astudillo casts his ballot in Chilpancingo, Mexico. Photo: Associated Press

But they illustrate the government's difficulty in weaning small farmers away from what is often their only alternative to migration. Local farmers often raise corn on their dry mountain plots, but don't grow enough to even meet their own needs. Many keep an acre or so of irrigated poppies to provide an income.

Some say that if more farmers worked for the legal market, it could undermine the power of drug cartels that are now their only buyers.

Lisa Sanchez, who oversees drug policy for the NGO Mexico United Against Crime, is among those who find the proposal interesting.

"The debate has to be oriented toward legal routes for growing poppies, because any orderly market would take power away from the cartels and reduce the violence, even though that is not a magic solution, nor the only one," Sanchez said.

But others say the proposal may be a nonstarter in a world where demand for legal opiates is already being met. They say the kind of controls needed for legal production can't be implemented in the remote, cartel-dominated mountains.

Antonio Mazzitelli, the representative in Mexico for the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said the proposal "is not at all viable."

"There isn't sufficient demand to justify more production," Mazzitelli said.

Instead, he said, Mexico should focus on "long-term development alternatives" such as roads, infrastructure and crop substitution that would permit farmers to grow non-drug crops.

The global legal market for opiates is overseen by the International Narcotics Control Board, an arm of the United Nations.

The board calculates demand based on each country's needs and organizes supply in a handful of nations — Australia, France, Hungary, India, Spain and Turkey are some of the largest — that must comply with security and quality requirements to be approved as producers. It also registers all legal global production and oversees transactions to avoid diversions into the black market.

Even if Mexico could meet those requirements, Mazzitelli said legal poppies could not be cultivated where the plant is grown now because of the difficulties, danger and cost involved in trying to monitor the crop in remote mountainous areas where the state has little effective control.

Story: Maria Verza, Associated Press

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