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Wife 'Bitter At Husband's Partying' Hangs Herself

(4 September) A woman in
Nakorn Ratchasima Province hanged herself to death, reportedly because she was bitter that her
husband had left her at home alone while he went out drinking.

Ms. Yanee Detchkhuntod, 31,
was found dead inside her house hanging herself with an electrical cord. Next to her body, police
found a letter addressed to her husband, expressing how much she loved him.

Police then
interrogated Ms. Yanee′s husband, Mr. Boonyard Bamroongkul, 50, who said that he went out for
a party with his friend and did not allow his wife to go along.

He believes that his wife
drank alone in grief, then committed suicide.

Police said they will perform a postmortem
examination over Ms. Yanee body in order to establish a clear cause of death.

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Russian Man Shows His Penis To 7-11 Cashiers

(4 September)
Seven-Eleven shop assistants in Pattaya were shocked when an unidentified Russian man showed off his
penis in front of them in the convenience store.

According to a shop assistant, the Russian
tourist, presumed to be between 35-40 years old, went inside the middle-size convenience store late
at night. The man, according to the witness, seemed confused and pretended to search for items on
the shelf.

The man waited until crowds left the store, before exposing himself in front of
the assistants.

A passer-by chased the man away, before police arrested him as he was
loitering in his neighbourhood.

Police obtained a CCTV record of the man′s behaviour in the
convenience store for evidence, and charged the Russian with sexual misconduct.

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Tony Jaa's Manager Threatens To Sue 'Fast & Furious 7'

(4 September) The motion
pictures tycoon Somsak Techarattanaprasert threatened a lawsuit against the producers of that
upcoming movie ?Fast and Furious 7? if they featured the Thai action star Tony Jaa in the
film.

Mr. Somsak, the president of Sahamongkol Film International, said the actor, whose real
name is Panom Yeerum, is still under a contract with his company,
therefore requiring his consent for any projects

Mr. Panom became famous after he starred in the action-comedy films Ong Bak
and Tom Yum Goong, which were produced by Sahamongkol. The actor also was reported that
he would also star in a sequel to the international hit Fast and Furious series.

Mr.
Somsak, known to the Thais as Siah Jiang, was speaking in a press conference alongside
Pratchya Pinkaew and Panna Rittikrai, directors of the movie ?Tom Yum Goong 2?, in which Mr. Panom
reprised his role.

According to the tycoon, Mr. Panom told him he would be featured in an
advertisement and did not inform him anything about a movie. A few days later, Mr. Somsak said, he
received a letter from Mr. Panom′s lawyer saying that the contract the actor has signed with
Sahamongkol is now terminated.

Mr. Somsak insisted that is not the case, as Tony Jaa has
recently signed a new 10-year contract with the company. He said he had submitted a notice to the
production company of Fast and Furious 7 that Sahamongkol would proceed with a lawsuit if the
upcoming film features Mr. Panom without consent.

If he [Mr. Panom] wants to star in a
foreign film, he must have our permission first Mr. Somsak said.

Asked if he has talked to
the actor, Mr. Somsak answered that he had hard time trying to contact Mr. Panom. I guess he is now
too famous to talk to us, the tycoon quipped.

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Authorities Plan Turning Prison Into Transport Hub

(4 September) Finance Transport
Kittirat na Ranong has announced a plan to develop a prison in northern Bangkok into a bustling
transport complex.

According to the plan, Klong Prem Central Prison would become a hub for
the planned monorail train routes linking Khae Rai district with Lam Salee. The lines will be laid
along Ngarmwongwan Road to Kaset Nawamin Road at the length of 21.9 kilometre.

The project
is expected to cost 45 billion baht, Prachachart has reported.

As for the hub, it would
include commercial assets such retail shops, a community mall, hotels, and serviced apartments, Mr.
Kittirat said. Klong Prem Prison is sitting on an area of 5 million square metres.

The
Finance Minister, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, expects to rezone the areas. The
vicinity around Ngarmwongwan Road will become residential zone instead of the current governmental
offices district.

Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA), Mr. Yongsit Rojsrikul,
said that he wishes to create a  Transit Oriented Development, to develop the area at the train
stations to increase profit for MRTA.

The new monorail line will link to other lines under
construction, e.g. Pink Line (Khae Rai – Meenburi), Red Line (Bangsue-Rangsit), Green Line (Mo Chit
– Saphan Mai), Orange Line (Taling Chan – Meenburi), Yellow Line (Ladprao – Samrong).

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Udon Thani Convict's Wife 'Raped' By Her Neighbour

(3 September) Police in
Udon Thani Province are hunting a man accused of raping his neighbour as her husband is serving a
jail sentence.

The woman gave the accused′s name as Mr. Nong. According to the victim, Mr.
Nong is a friend of her husband and a regular guest to her house.

 Before the incident,
she said, she had complained to him that she was lonely and financially struggling because her
husband is in jail.

Later that night, Mr. Nong visited, saying that he had something to tell
her, the woman said. Mr. Nong then reportedly punched her in the stomach and started raping
her.

Mr. Nong reportedly left a used condom and 500 baht on her bed before he fled the
scene.

The victim said that she had trusted Mr. Nong that he would understand her loneliness
as her husband is locked away in prison. I did not expect him to treat me this way, she said. She
intends to pursue legal prosecution against Mr. Nong.

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Van Driver Dozes Off, Injuring 5 Passengers

(3 September) A public
minivan slid off the road on Cha-Am – Pranburi Road, causing 6 injuries including the
driver.

The van was running on the Bangkok – Prachuab Kiri Khan van route.

First aid
was provided by rescue team to Ms. Kanchana Wongchan, 23, Ms. Pakklong Sakullim, 57, Ms. Bang-Orn
Ngarmburi, and Mr. Samroung Gleebgluea, 44. Rescue workers and some civilians transported the
injured to Cha-am Hospital

Mr. Anulom Detchpanyanarong, 40, the minivan driver, confessed
that he fell asleep while driving, causing the car to slide off the road.

Police will
further investigate the accident, and took Mr. Anulom under custody, after charging him with
reckless driving.

Thailand has seen frequent accidents involving the minivans, especially the
unregistered vehicles which are driven at high speed by unqualified drivers. Just last week, an
illegal van crashed into the back of 18 wheeler truck in Chachoengsao Province, killing 9
victims.

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Teen Drama 'Hormones' To Greet East Asian Audiences

(3 September) The hugely
successful teen drama series ?Hormones? may soon become the new export of Thailand to East Asian
nations.

Mr. Yongyut Tongkongtoon, international affairs managing director of GTH, which
produced the series, said his company has received several offers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia,
Vietnam and even China to re-produce or broadcast the series.

Some of them offer to novelise
the series, and some of them offer to broadcast it said Mr. Yongyut, Vietnam is likely to be the
first country to see the series, as soon as we finish making the subtitles for the
film.

According to the GTH manager, the company had never been offered a contract to release
the series abroad. This means the company must then take extra caution to make sure that the story
is told accurately in other languages, Mr. Yongyut said.

As of the moment, there is no
official subtitles to the series, although Youtube versions of the series are accompanied by an
unofficial subtitles which do not strictly follow the dialogues.

We are in the preparation
process. said the international affairs managerm Hormone story line touches on many sensitive
issues, and we would like to make sure that the subtitles do not distort the story.

Mr.
Yongyut also added that We want it to come out as perfect as we can, as it is the story about Thai
youngsters.

?Hormones? centres on a group of students and features many teenage issues,
including scenes like smoking in classrooms or having sex.

Such frank portrayal is a sharp
contrast to mostly conservative tradition in the mainstream media, and it has attracted the
attention of the national media censor board, which mulled an action against the show but never
materialised.

The series also became a news of its own when it was alleged that one of its
young stars was taking methamphetamine. Her father later apologised, and no police action was taken
against her.

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Trial Centres On Authenticity Of 'Al-Ruwaili Ring'

(3 September) The legal
case surrounding the fate of Mohammad Al-Ruwaili, the Saudi businessman reportedly abducted in
Bangkok 23 years ago, lurches toward a new chapter after his cousin testified to the Thai court
yesterday.

Mr. Matrouk Al-Ruwaili, 59, attended the trial at the Criminal Court on
Ratchapisek Road, Bangkok, alongside Mr. Ateeq Al-Ruwaili, the brother of the missing businessman.

Also present in the courtroom were around 20 officials from the Saudi authorities, and the 5
defendants who arrived with their lawyer.

Pol.Lt.Gen Somkid Boontanorm, Pol.Col. Sorrarak Juusanit, Pol.Col. Prapas Piyamongkol,
Pol.Lt.Col. Suradech Udomdee, and Pol.Sgt.Maj. Prasong Torrang were accused of kidnapping and
murdering Mr. Mohammad Al-Ruwaili in 1989. The 5 defendants denied the allegation.

Speaking
to the judges as a witness, Mr. Matrouk said he has learned about Mr. Mohammad′s disappearance from
his sister, who told him she was on the phone with
Mohammad as he was driving in Bangkok. The line was suddenly cut off, he said, and no one
could reach him afterwards.

Mr. Matrouk, who is also a brother-in-law of Mr. Mohammad, was
later cross-examined about the characters, lifestyle, and businesses of Mr. Mohammad in order to
establish possible motives of his disappearance.

Much of the trial then turned to the
question about whether Mr. Mohammad ever wore a gold ring. Previously, reports have suggested that a
gold ring worn by Mr. Mohammad has been uncovered. If its authenticity was proven, the ring would
serve as an important evidence in the case.

However, the defendants have disputed that it is
impossible that the missing businessman would have owned such ring because Islamic practice forbid
Muslim men from wearing gold jewellery.

Showing the ring to Mr. Matrouk, the prosecution
lawyer asked him whether he has seen such item. He replied that he has seen it because the Saudi
Embassy has shown it to him before, but he was not certain whether it indeed belonged to Mr.
Mohammad.

Mr. Matrouk added that the prohibition described by the Islamic faith
(haram) does not include wearing of gold rings for men, nor does it forbid having a gold ring
in possession.

Speaking to our correspondent after the trial concluded, Mr. Matrouk said the
focus on the gold ring is unnecessary because he already said he did not know whether it belonged
to Mr. Mohammad.

Why is everyone so keen on it? Mr. Matrouk said.

Meanwhile, Ateeq
– the brother of Mr. Mohammad – expressed his bemusement at the debate over the ring, as it is
incredible for anyone to expect that he would know everything his brother.

We lived a long
distance from each other. We didn?t live together, and I didn?t see him 24 hours a day. I didn?t
know what he had or what he wore Mr. Ateeq said emphatically.

Related:
After Decades Of Silence, Optimism In Al-Ruwaili Case

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After Decades Of Silence, Optimism In Al-Ruwaili Case

Matrouk and Ateeq Al-Ruwaili

(3 September) Relatives
of the Saudi business allegedly abducted and murdered in Bangkok more than 20 years ago have voiced
their hope that the case is finally moving forward with some progress.

Mohammad Al-Ruwaili
went missing in 1989 in the wake of ?Blue Diamond? affairs, in which a Thai national stole a number
of gemstones from a Saudi royal palace, reportedly including the priceless ?Blue
Diamond?.

The theft and the alleged abduction of Mr. Al-Ruwaili, along with the murders of 3
Saudi diplomats in Bangkok, remain unsolved. The scandals led to a collapse in relationship between
the 2 kingdoms that lasts to this day.

It is unclear why Mr. Al-Ruwaili was targeted, but
media reports in the past have suggested that he was sent by the Saudi royal family to investigate
the Blue Diamond theft, although Mr. Al-Ruwaili′s relatives have denied such connection in previous
interviews.

5 senior police officers were charged with abducting and murdering Mr.
Al-Ruwaili. The defendants denied the allegation, and the trial is ongoing. Meanwhile, the Saudi
authorities and the family of Mr. Al-Ruwaili are incensed at the long delay of the
case.

Rumours allege that a highly influential figure in Thailand has the Blue Diamond, while
the Thai authorities have been criticised of their reluctance to prosecute the members of the
powerful police force.

However, Matrouk Al-Ruwaili, a cousin of the missing businessman, said
in an interview after he testified to the Thai court yesterday (2 September) that he is happy to
see that the case seems to be getting more attention from the Thai authorities.

It is
Matrouk′s second time in the Thai court in 3 months, and 3 more court appearances are scheduled in
the next coming months. A fresh break from the long inactivity in the past 20 years, he
noted.

We see progress. We see they are serious about it, Matrouk said, but he also
lamented that We wish they took the case more seriously from the beginning … government after
government sidesteps it.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Matrouk testified to the court as a witness
in the case. He was cross-examined about what he knew about Mohammad al-Ruwaili, the circumstances
surrounding his disappearance, and different possible motives of the disappearance.

The
session lasted longer than Mr. Matrouk has expected (it started in late morning and concluded at
17.00). But that is good because it means the court pays a lot of attention to the matter, he told
our correspondent.

It was a full-house court session. Also present in the packed courtroom
were the 5 defendants, a brother of Mohammad Al-Ruwaili, a group of officials from the Saudi
government, and some officials from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ateeq al-Ruwaili,
the brother of Mohammad al-Ruwaili, also expressed some optimism, saying that he has received some
form of encouragement that the Thai authorities are close to finalising the case. That′s what we
feel, Ateeq told our correspondent.

He added, We are very hopeful about this. Everybody
wants it to be over.

Meanwhile, an informed source told Khaosod that the Thai Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has prioritised the al-Ruwaili case to be the foremost step toward a normalisation
in the relationship between the 2 nations.

It appears the current Thai government under Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is anxious to solve the matter once and for all, said the source, who
has requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue.

The source continued that
the Saudi envoys who were observing the trial today are representatives of different Saudi
ministries and formed a part of decision-making of the Saudi authorities whether it is appropriate
to normalise the chilled relationship.

Nevertheless, both Ateeq and Matrouk insisted that the
Thai authorities still bear the burden to do more in order to shed the light on Mohammad′s fate.
The issue is not about punishment Matrouk said, We are more concerned about finding the truth.
Finding the fact, what happened to Mohammad.

We just want to see the end of the matter. It
is tiring Ateeq added, Consider that it has been going on for more than 20 years already. People
should remember it did not start just 1 or 2 years ago.

Related: Trial Centres On Authenticity Of ?Al-Ruwaili Ring?

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Reconciliation Can't Be Rushed: Renowned Justice Expert

(2 September) Ms.
Priscilla Hayner, an expert in truth-finding commissions and transitional justice, said she believes
creativity will help steer Thailand toward reconciliation, and criticised the Amnesty Bill for
being too vague.

Ms. Hayner was speaking in Bangkok at the government-sponsored event aimed
at finding solutions to the long-running political conflicts that have polarised Thailand. Also
speaking at the event was former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

She said both political
factions in Thailand should prioritise the negotiation process, and make sure that everyone on the
stake agrees on the same context and understanding of reconciliation.

In Ms. Hayner’s
opinion, reconciliation is discussed when a country wants to forget about the past and seeks to move
quickly away from the tragedies. However, she noted, such process is usually rejected by the
victims.

She mentioned the discussions of the current Amnesty Bill backed by the government
which promises to lift responsibility for political violence during the military crackdown in 2010
for everyone except the leaders of the protests and the authorities at the time.

Relatives of
those who were arrested argued that the bill should be processed quickly to dissolve the conviction
of their loved ones, but on the other hand, some questions were raised by families of the victims
killed in 2010 whether the bill would hold the military responsible for their atrocities.

Although Thailand can learn from the experiences of reconciliation elsewhere, Ms. Hayner
said, there is no absolute international norm for the process, and it is ultimately up to the Thais
to devise their own reconciliation with a local context.

Ms. Hayner also voiced her concern
that the current Amnesty Bill tabled by Pheu Thai Party is still oo vague, as it does not specify
which crimes or actions were covered by the bill.

She stressed that the reconciliation
process cannot be rushed. Meanwhile, the negotiation partners must treat and be treated with trust,
so that both parties can openly discuss about their common interests.

The reconciliation
process will never work if any or both parties negotiate with any hidden agenda, Ms. Hayner
warned.

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