CHIANG MAI — Following a tip-off from American officials, police arrested a British national in Chiang Mai province yesterday on charges of uploading child porn to the internet.

Fabian Frederick Blandford, 64, was arrested at his home on Wednesday after the US Homeland Security Investigation team contacted Thai police about the matter, a spokeswoman of the US Embassy in Bangkok told Khaosod English.

“The United States has a long history of law enforcement cooperation with Thailand, including collaboration on key issues such as fighting child exploitation,” spokeswoman Melissa Sweeney said today. “U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) recently shared with Thai authorities information which assisted an investigation leading to the Jan. 6 arrest of a British national for the possession of child pornography in Thailand.”

Sweeney said US law enforcement officials regularly work with Thai law enforcement officials to tackle child trafficking and child exploitation in the Kingdom. The HSI alerted both Thai and British authorities about the investigation on Blanford, she added. 

Blandford was arrested in a joint operation between the local police force and the Division of Special Investigation (DSI). He has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography on a computer. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. 

Police said Blandford is a former Buddhist monk who has been living in Chiang Mai’s Fang district for a number of years. 

According to an officer at Fang Police Station, Blandford sometimes brought kids to his home, took lewd photos of them and uploaded the images to the internet. “American officials found the photos and contacted the DSI about it,” Police Col. Chollathep Maichai said yesterday. 

A press officer at the British Embassy in Bangkok confirmed today that it has been informed about the arrest. “We are in contact with local authorities following the arrest of British national in Thailand on Jan. 6,” said the officer, who requested not to be named, citing Embassy protocol. 

Another police officer at Fang Police Station, Worachit Nitiprasart, said Blandford is still being interrogated at the time of writing. The suspect will be taken to Fang Provincial Court to formally face charges tomorrow, Police Lt.Col. Worachit said. 

“The suspect confessed to the charges,” Worachit told Khaosod English. “We have the evidence to implicate him. We have confiscated more than 15 items as evidence.” 

Representatives from British and American authorities were also present during the arrest, Worachit said.

He added that Blandford has declined to appoint a lawyer to represent him throughout the interrogation. Blandford’s wife served as his interpreter, Worachit told Khaosod English. 

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SAMUI — A Croatian tourist fell down to his death from the cliff edge next to a waterfall last night.

The man was identified as Tomislav Laco, 32. Police said they entered Thailand with his wife Danie Magan on Dec. 30 for their honeymoon, and visited Khun Si waterfall on Samui island yesterday afternoon.

Magan, 26, told police via an interpreter that she and her husband were at the eighth stage of the waterfall, at a height of around 25 meters, when the man walked around to explore the area by himself.

Magan said that after a while she heard the sound of something falling and hitting the rocks. She spotted her husband’s body at the bottom so she sought help from nearby residents.

Police Capt. Sirachat Kamunee said  police officers and rescue teams had to trek through thick jungles and abseil down to locate the body.

Laco was found dead at the scene. His death was due to a fatal head wound and injuries to his body, according to Sirachat. He added that the body has been sent for an examination at Koh Samui hospital, and the Croatian Embassy has been informed about the man’s death.

Tourism officials promised to have warning signs installed at several dangerous attractions soon, Sirachat said.

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By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

CHIANG MAI — A British national and longtime resident of Chiang Mai province is under arrest on suspicion of uploading child pornography from his computer, police say.

The 64-year-old Briton was arrested at his home today, following a request made to the Division of Special Investigation by the US authorities to detain the man, according to a police officer at Fang Police Station. 

“He ordained as a monk years ago. He’s been living here for a long time already. He later left the monkhood and married a woman from Fang,” said Police Col. Chollathep Maichai. “He’s a charitable man. He likes to visit [and give donations] to many neighborhoods. He also likes to visit young children.” 

Chollathep continued, “But the DSI told us he sometimes brought kids to his home and made them take a shower, and he took photos of them and uploaded them to the internet. American officials found the photos and contacted the DSI about it.” 

The Briton is still being interrogated by police at the time of writing. 

The arrest was made jointly by DSI officers from Bangkok and local police officers. Although the Bangkok Post reported that British police officers observed the arrest, Chollathep said no foreign police officers were present at the scene. 

A press officer at the British Embassy in Bangkok said the Embassy has not been informed about the arrest of the British citizen. Chollathep confirmed that officers at his station have yet to alert the British Embassy about the matter. 

Asked whether the suspect is receiving legal counsel from any lawyer, Chollathep said he’s not sure, and referred the question to another police officer, who could not be immediately reached by phone. 

The British man has reportedly been charged with distributing child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and/or a 140,000 baht fine. 

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KRABI — A French tourist was struck and killed by a speedboat propeller as she was snorkeling in Krabi province yesterday, police say.

The speedboat driver surrendered himself to police earlier today, a day after fleeing the crime scene – an action a police officer brushed off as a "misunderstanding." The suspect has been charged with reckless behavior leading to the death of another. 

According to police, Thiebau Hylie was snorkeling with her family near Poda island on Tuesday when a speedboat approached the area. Marine police officer Anurak Prinyasthirakul said her relatives waved and tried to warn the driver not to come any closer, but he didn’t notice their warning. 

The blade hit Hylie’s head as the captain was turning the boat, Police Lt.Col. Anurak said. The boat driver then fled the scene, Anurak told reporters. Hylie reportedly died at the scene. 

Police identified the driver as Yothin Suebsak. He works for a speedboat company called Amazing Canoeing. 

Sompong Thip-aphakul, head of Krabi Police Station, said Yothin surrendered himself to police today and was subsequently charged with reckless behavior leading to the death of another. He was allowed to leave the police station as there was no arrest warrant for him, Police Col. Sompong said. 

A police officer inspecting the boat on Jan. 5, 2016.

Asked about the attempt by Yothin to flee the scene of the crime yesterday, Sompong said there might have been some misunderstanding. 

“There was misunderstanding between the driver and the company. He was driving the boat for tourists for his company. So when he alerted the company that a tourist had died in an accident, the company thought it was one of its tourists and ordered him to come back to the shore,” Police Col. Sompong explained. 

A staff member at Amazing Canoeing Ltd. said her manager declines to speak to the media at the moment. 

Speedboats accidents are frequent in Thailand. In December 2014 a Norwegian tourist died after he was struck by a speedboat off Koh Tao, a popular diving destination in southern Thailand. 

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BANGKOK — A 29-year-old man died after he reportedly jumped in front of a bus during the Sukhumvit rush hour on Wednesday morning.

The air-conditioned bus number 511, which was traveling from Samut Prakarn to Bangkok’s southern bus terminal was forced to stop on Sukhumvit road in Bangna district. The bus driver, Narong Tonthongkham, 52, said the bus was decelerating as it was approaching the bus stop when suddenly a man jumped in in front of it. Being hit by the left front wheel, the man died  immediately amid the screams of passengers on the crowded bus.

The deceased was identified as Sarawut Chancaeng, 29. Police.Lt.Worawit Meekham from Bangna police station said some locals claimed the man was mentally-ill and regularly seen crossing the road back and forth in that area.

The bus driver was charged with reckless driving resulting in death. Officer Worawit said the security camera footage must be reviewed as well as an interview of his relatives to conclude the case.

The accident reportedly worsened traffic on Sukhumvit Rd., which was full of vehicles, in the inbound lane this morning.