'LINE' Controversy Adds To Yingluck Govt's Dubious Rights Records

By

-

14 August 2013, 13:57

Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra at 65th World News Paper Congress, held in Bangkok, where she insisted that freedom of expression is her government's priority.

(14 August) The
technology crime police′s proposal to snoop chat logs of the popular ?LINE? application has drawn
widespread opposition, including from some close associates of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit Pao-in, commander of Technology Crime Suppression division, claimed
yesterday (13 August) that he has dispatched officials to Japan, where LINE is based, to request chat log
data of individuals suspected of committing crimes.

He said his agency would use a software
to detect suggestive words in the communication networks such as arms trading, drugs selling,
fake goods, or prostitution.

Thailand has over 15 million Line users. Surely I cannot
monitor them all, so we will only focus on those who violate the laws on social network,
Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit said.

He added that the division would also seek out those who criticise
the monarchy or pose other threats to the national security. Discussion of the Royal Family is
criminalised under lese majeste law in Thailand.

As for other social network outlets,
Pol.Maj.Gen Pisit said he had requested cooperation from administrators of WhatsApp, Youtube, and
Facebook but those requests had been largely ignored. Japan, on the other hand, tends to be more
cooperative, he mused.

The news –
understandably – ignites a fury on the Thai social network. Many view the proposal as an intrusive
measure against individuals? rights to free expression and privacy, while others say they are
reminded of the ongoing controversy about Prism surveillance program conducted by the United States
spy agency.

The chairwoman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Ms. Amara
Pongsapitch, said the program suggested by Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit is highly at risk of violating
individuals? privacy. If the authorities should go ahead with the plan, she said, the aim and
process of the program should be strictly defined.

The Democrat Party also spared no time
before lashing out at the proposal – for a somewhat different reason. Ms. Mallika Boonmeetrakoon,
deputy spokeswoman of the Democrats, said instead of intruding citizens? Line communication the
government should in fact focus on shutting down websites and blocking Facebook pages that contain
offensive content about the Royal Family.

It should be noted that the proposal to monitor Line application is
the latest addition to dubious records of free speech under the administration of Ms. Yingluck,
which disappointed many of its supporters who hoped the government would show more tolerance toward
freedom of speech than its predecessors.

Just last week, the police summoned 4 individuals,
one of them a high profile editor at a TV channel, to talk with the officials because they spread
rumours about an imminent military coup, just as anti-government protests were about to take place in
Bangkok.

As for the use of lese majeste law, while
it is true the royalist Democrat Party is more keen on punishing the discussions on monarchy (in
November 2011, for instance, Ms. Mallika demanded that the Yingluck administration completely block
Youtube and Facebook because of offensive contents posted there), the ruling Pheu Thai Party does
not show any sign to reform or repeal it neither.

Mr. Anudit Nakornthub,
Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), went as far as saying that anyone who
even ?liked? or ′shared? offensive materials on the social media could be punished by computer crime
laws – a remark that drew sharp criticism from internet rights advocacy
groups.

Contacted by
Khaosod, Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit said the concern of civil rights groups has been overblown. He said
that human rights and privacy of ordinary citizens will not be affected by the plan, because only
those suspected of breaking the laws would be targeted.

Ms. Yingluck herself told the reporters at a press conference later in the day that she
has not studied the surveillance program in details, but said there is a need to monitor
communications for threat to national security.

She repeated Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit′s insistence
that rights and liberty of ordinary citizens would not be in danger

Nonetheless, perhaps
sensing the intense unpopularity of the program, some allies of Ms. Yingluck went on the record to
criticise the plan to monitor LINE chat logs.

Mr. Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of former
leader Thaksin Shinawatra and a niece of Ms. Yingluck, wrote on his Facebook that chat application
is a tool which could be used for both legal and illegal purposes, so an attempt to enforce the laws
should take care not to affect other citizens who are not part of the wrongful
actions.

Police in this era should be friendly to the people. Please don?t copy the playbook
of the Democrat Party, Mr. Panthongtae said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Siriwat Jupamatta, a
representative of the Redshirts? official organisation in Payao Province, said he disagreed with
Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit′s plan because it will violate rights to communication and only serve to alienate
the government from its supporters.

Mr. Siriwat warned that if the technology crime
suppression police continue to create an atmosphere of fear for internet users, many would be more
radicalised and vent their political frustration in platforms more dangerous or uncontrollable than
the social network.

Mr. Anudit, the ICT Minister, similarly voiced his opposition to the LINE
monitor program. He said his agency would not assist the Technology Crime Suppression police about
the matter.

LINE representative in Thailand
said in a statement that the company has not received any formal request from the police, and
insisted that the company will not give its data to the Thai authorities as it prizes the privacy
of our users.

Banana Trees Planted As Protests Over Poor Roads

By

Khaosod English

-

13 August 2013, 21:28

(13 August) Many
residents in in Nakorn Ratchasima Province said they had complained repeatedly to the provincial
authority about the condition of local roads which are dotted with holes and puddles. The roads
would be more useful as farmland, the residents complained.

So far, the provincial officials
showed no hurry to fix the matter. A group of protesters, mostly villagers in the area, made their
point today by sarcastically planting banana trees along the stretch of roads near Baan Nong Phuang
village.

Many kids fell on their bicycles around here said a villager hey could not go to
school, because their uniforms were covered in mud.

The protesters also complained
that the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Pho Klang Municipality have not been
providing electricity to Baan Nong Phuang village.

One villager told our correspondent that it has
been 10 years since the PEA promised them that they would be able to use electricity. It never
happened. The only thing we can do is to illegal connect the electricity from other village, he
said.

The villagers said they hope that these banana trees planted on the road would finally
attract some attention from related authorities to come and provide better infrastructure in the
village.

Redshirts Leader Acquitted Of Defaming Former PM Abhisit

By

Khaosod English

-

13 August 2013, 20:42

Contrary to Mr. Jatupon Prompan's claim, other Prime Ministers were also seated next to the King, including Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra

(13 August) The Appeals Court ruled today that a prominent leader of the Redshirts was not guilty of defaming former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva when he accused Mr. Abhisit of displaying insolence in front of His Majesty the King.

In 2009, Mr. Jatupon Prompan, acting as a spokesman of the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), said in a press conference that Mr. Abhisit, who was the Prime Minister at the time, insulted King Bhumibol by sitting on a chair when he appeared before His Majesty the King a few weeks earlier.

Members of the Royal Family are treated with strict reverence in Thai public life. Those who seek audience with the Royal Family generally prostrate or kneel on the ground (foreign leaders are exempted from this practice). Therefore, Mr. Jatupon said, Mr. Abhisit was ′behaving as though he was equal to the king′ (ตีตนเสมอเจ้า).

The accusation turned out to be inaccurate, as there had been instances when top officials, Prime Ministers included, are allowed to be seated with His Majesty the King.

Mr. Abhisit later filed charge against Mr. Jatupon, who also served as MP for Pheu Thai Party, claiming that the Redshirts leader spread false information against him. The lawsuit accused Mr. Jatupon of ′causing misunderstanding and disgracing [Mr. Abhisit′s] reputation′.

The Criminal Court ruled on 20 July 2012 that Mr. Jatupon was guilty as charged, sentencing him to 6 months in prison. Mr. Jutupon was also fined for 50,000 baht and forced to advertise court decision on 2 daily newspapers for 7 days.

However, since Mr. Jatuporn had no history of criminal conviction, the court gave Mr. Jatupon a suspended sentence.

Mr. Jatuporn then appealed against the court decision, which led to the verdict of the Appeals Court today.

The Appeals Court stated that Mr. Jatupon′s claim against Mr. Abhisit was ‘the rhetoric from his own perspective’, which may sound ‘invalid’ and ‘subjective’ to the public. The Court also noted that Mr. Jatupon has never appeared before the Royal Family, so it is forgiveable that he was mistaken about the tradition.

Hence, the Court of Appeal ruled that Mr. Jatupon was not guilty, and announced the previous court decision to be nullified.

The Royal Family is virtually a taboo topic in Thailand, but it does not stop various political factions to play politics by invoking the monarchy in its rhetoric. The surest way to defame opponents in Thailand is to accuse them of being disrespectful to the monarchy.

Although it is mostly the royalist Yellowshirts and Democrat Party that charge the Redshirts of insulting the monarchy, Mr. Jatupon′s case is a proof that some among the Redshirts movements are also capable of adopting the same rhetoric.

'Butt-Shaking Murderer' Claims Dowry Dispute As Motive

By

Khaosod English

-

13 August 2013, 18:00

(13 August) After nearly
a week of intense dead-or-alive manhunt, Thai police finally arrested a man who shot dead his
fiancée and her mother, then shook his bottom merrily as he left the crime scene.

The
suspect, identified by police as Mr. Thanet Haegan, killed the 2 victims in front of his 2 friends
at BS Modify, an automobile workshop located in Mueang District of Chonburi Province on 8
August.

The whole incident was captured on CCTV camera. The footage showed the moments when Mr.
Thanet, sitting on a stool in front of his fiancée and his soon-to-be mother-in-law, suddenly stood
up after a heated argument with them and shot both victims dead.

To many, the most disturbing moment was when Mr. Thanet briefly danced, shaking his bottom, as he calmly left the
workshop – a gesture that made him instantly known as the ?Butt-Shaking Murderer?.

The
police immediately issued a wanted notice on Mr. Thanet, describing him as armed and extremely
dangerous. The notice also authorised the officers to use deadly force against him.

The
victims were identified as Ms. Kewalin Hongthong, 28, and her mother Ms. Wimon Hongthong. Video
footage showed that Ms. Wimon tried to flee the scene but was stopped and shot dead by Mr.
Thanet.

Yesterday (12 August), the police finally got its hand on Mr. Thanet, after Cambodian authorities extradited him to the Thai authorities. Reports indicated that Mr. Thanet
had been hiding in Banteay Maenchey province of Cambodia before he was recognised by the Cambodian
police.

Mr. Thanet confessed that he had committed the crime. As for his motive, he said he
had been pressured by the victims? family who requested a hefty sum of dowry from
him.

According to Mr. Thanet, Ms. Kewalin′s family demanded 2 million baht in cash and a car,
which Ms. Wimon reportedly said she wanted Mr. Thanet to drive Ms. Kewalin to the
university.

Mr. Thanet also denied that he did not mean to insult anyone when the camera
recorded him shaking his butt after he shot both victims.

Media reports have previously said that Mr. Thanet shot his girlfriend and her mother after he accused Ms. Kewalin of talking
to other men on Facebook, and that he committed the murder out of rage and jealousy.

Mr.
Narong Hongthong, Ms. Kewalin′s adoptive father, later objected to Mr. Thanet’s claim, stating that his
family only asked for a 480,000-baht-worth dowry.

He told our correspondent that Mr. Thanet
initially offered 600,000 baht as dowry, but Mr. Narong disagreed because he believed number 6 was
an unlucky number, and later proposed the amount of 480,000 baht. He also insisted that his wife
never asked Mr. Thanet to buy any car.

Meanwhile, Mr. Arom Nantachalakornkit, Ms. Kewalin′s
biological father, said that his daughter had consulted him about Mr. Thanet’s behaviour prior to
the incident, saying he acted violently whenever he was angry.

Mr. Arom said he saw Mr. Thanet
as nice and modest. He said he often went out for clubbing with Mr. Thanet, so he was quite close to
Mr. Thanet. Mr. Thanet had also vowed to take good care of his daughter, according to Mr. Arom.

It is
not clear what Mr. Thanet does for a living. Mr. Arom refused to tell our correspondent what Mr.
Thanet′s occupation is, but police officers said they suspected that Mr. Thanet may be involved in
the drug smuggling circle in Chonburi Province.

Mr. Thanet, according to the police, owns several assets, cars, and large amount of money in his bank accounts even though he is unemployed.
Additionally, Mr. Thanet has bought property under other people’s names, including the house for
his future family worth 5 million baht, police said.

Although the case shocked much of
the Thai public, domestic violence is in fact widely common in Thai society. According to statistic
from Office of Women′s Affairs and Family Development, 461 cases of domestic violence between
married husband and wife alone were reported throughout 2010.

However, experts have
warned that the data might be under-reported as many Thai women believe it is shameful to talk about
such issues to anyone outside the family, so many cases of domestic violence are not recorded by the
authorities.

Even so, one does not need accurate statistics to highlight the prevalent problem
of domestic violence in Thailand. News reports frequently documented cases in which suspects harmed
or even killed their lovers or ex-lovers in emotional disputes.

Just today, a taxi driver
reportedly stabbed his wife to dead in Sam Pran District of Nakhon Pathom Province after he
discovered that she had been chatting with other men on her smartphone.

A witness told our
correspondent that Ms. Wassana Srisalai, a 30 year old factory worker, was arguing heatedly with her
husband Mr. Wijint Thongsuwan, 31, about the matter. Mr. Wijint was trying to grab her phone before
he suddenly stabbed Ms. Wassana with a knife, the witness said.

Mr. Wijint also stabbed
himself in the neck afterwards. He is being treated in hospital.

Police investigation
suggested that Mr. Wijint was jealous of Ms. Wassana′s relationship with other men, and he later
learned about a romantic chat between his wife and a man, whose name believed to be ?Pao?.

Man Seeks Ex-Girlfriend's Forgiveness Via Billboard

By

Khaosod English

-

13 August 2013, 17:10

(13 August) Billboards
advertising various products grace the landscape of Bangkok metropolis, but many commuters would
surely have been struck by one peculiar signboard on the busy Ladprao Road.

The billboard,
which occupies an entire length of a 3-storey block of building on Soi Ladprao 101, bears a message
of a man pleading his ex-girlfriend, identified by the sign as ?Tarn?, to come back to
him.

According to the sign, a man who identified himself as ?Mr. A? is very sorry for having
said that to you. I just said it to test if you still love me.

I am sorry. I still
love you and still wait for you, Tarn, the message continues, Everybody at home is worrying about
you. We are waiting for your return. I wish you could forgive me. I love you so much

In the
last two lines, the man gave the telephone numbers of him and – strangely enough – Ms. Tarn. The
full name of Ms. Tarn was also written on top of the billboard.

Khaosod correspondent
later contacted the woman, who admitted that she had indeed dated the guy, but has not seen the sign
herself.

Ms. Tarn said she was aware of the billboard because she has been contacted a few
times by people who saw her telephone number on it: once from a commuter who called her to say she
wished Ms. Tarn could reconcile with Mr. A, and the other was a man who asked if he could buy the
building where the billboard was posted.

As for Mr. A, Ms. Tarn said that they had separated
several months ago. Now that he is doing this [placing a billboard asking her forgiveness], it got
me wondering: why did he not do better while we were still together? Ms. Tarn said.

She told
our correspondent she was the one who decided to end the relationship, and does not think that she
had been letting everybody worried about her, contrary to what the billboard suggested.

I
work in Bangkok but I have been in contact with my family in Petchabun Province all the time. They
have nothing to worry about, Ms. Tarn said, adding that the billboard′s text is misleading because
it gives perception that she has run away from him.

When our correspondent asked if she is
going to take any legal action against the man, she said I do not wish to cause any trouble, but I
will ask him to remove the sign.

Van Hits Stray Cows On Bangkok Expressway

By

Khaosod English

-

13 August 2013, 16:46

(13 August) A van hit and
killed 2 cows on Sriratch Expressway this morning, bringing the traffic briefly to a
halt.

The incident took place around 300 metres away from the expressway exit to
Chaengwattana Road. Apparently a group of 5 cows strayed onto the road, and a van driver,
approaching at high velocity, failed to notice the animals.

Rescue workers later removed the
vehicle and the cows out of the way, while police warned drivers to take extra care as they drive on
the expressway.

Many cattle are bred and raised in Rangsit area, the outskirt of Bangkok,
which situated very close to Srirath Expressway, and it is suspected that a group of such animals
strayed onto the motor way. No one has been identified as owner of the dead cows.

Air Force Clarifies Photo Of 'National Flag-Covered' Stairs

By

Khaosod English

-

12 August 2013, 14:29

(11 August) A Royal Air Force spokesman dismissed claims made by some anti-government
activists that the Thai National Flag was laid on the passengers stairs leading to one of the official
aircrafts.

The
controversy started when the photo of the stairs which was seemingly covered with the Tricolour Flag
of red, white, and blue surfaced on a number of Facebook pages dedicated to anti-government causes.
The enraged netizens view the photo as a proof of the government′s insulting attitude toward the
monarchy.

Although only one colour in the flag – blue – represents the Royal Family (the other
colours, red and white, represent the nation and religions, respectively), the accusation fits well
with the belief held by many anti-government critics that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra along
with her brother the former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and her allies harbour a plot to overthrow the
monarchy.

Associates of Ms. Yingluck and Mr. Thaksin have repeatedly denied the accusation, but the
belief persists in the predominantly-royalist Yellowshirts movements, the sworn enemies of what
they call ?Thaksin Regime?.

This
is not the first – many would say nonsensical – controversy concerning the perceived abuse of Thai
National Flag. Earlier
this year, an actress was widely criticised for appearing on a TV soap drama in a skirt painted in
colours that appeared to resemble the National Flag.

A Democrat MP named Chatpan Dechkitsunthorn even filed a complaint to
broadcasting agencies, saying the TV drama producers should take care not to repeat such action.
However, it later emerged that the actress was wearing a skirt of pink, blue, and white – a near
miss from the National Flag colours.

A few months later, some online communities in Thailand were outraged by a Korean online
game because it reportedly featured a rug made with Thai National Flag colours on the
floor.

After
much discussion on the internet about the latest alleged misuse of Thai National Flag, Air Marshal
Monthin Satchukorn, a spokesman of the Royal Air Force, told Matichon that the stairs were actually not covered with the
Flag.

The
spokesman explained that the officials were placing a red carpet-clad stairs to the aircraft in
preparation for a VIP arrival. Fearing that the red carpet might be stained during the wait and
pre-flight aircraft checking procedure, the officials place a grey and dark blue plastic matte to
cover the stairs? carpet, AM. Monthin said.

When the supervisors saw it, they immediately told the officials to remove the
matte because it looks like the National Flag from afar, the spokesman was quoting as saying, But
apparently someone managed to take photo of it and shared it on social network, causing much
understanding.

AM
Monthin continued, “I do not know the intention of the person who spread the picture, but our
officers are sorry for not thinking this through. They said they did not know someone would take
photo of it”.

According to the spokesman, Air Chief Marshal Prajin Janthong, the commander of the Royal
Air Force, had previously emphasised to all Air Force officers to be more careful with such
sensitive issues in order to avoid criticism and falling into tool of political smear
attacks.

Furthermore, he added, the aircraft belonged to the Thai Royal Family, and the red carpet
was laid out for the arrival of a Royal Family member.

Following the revelation, the accusation of the Yingluck government
insulting the monarchy via the staircase colour choice quickly dissipated in the online community.
However, many believe that it won?t be too long before a new allegation arises.

Human Rights Expert Slams NHRC's 2010 Crackdown Report

By

Khaosod English

-

11 August 2013, 21:32

Soldiers approaching the encampment of the Redshirts protesters, 19 May 2010 — Soldiers approach the main encampment of the Redshirts protesters, 19 May 2010.

BANGKOK – The representative of Human Rights Watch in Thailand criticised the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) for displaying bias against the Redshirts and downplaying the heavy-handed tactics of the authorities in its report on 2010 political unrest.

The report claims that the decision of the government under then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to use military force against the protests organised by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) was "appropriate" because the protesters have overstepped the extent of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution.

The protests started in mid-March 2010, and were ended in May 2010 when the Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), chaired by Mr. Abhisit, launched a military operation to dislodge the protesters who had been occupying financial districts of Bangkok.

Mr. Sunai Phasuk, the senior researcher for the Thailand′s chapter of the Human Right Watch, said that the NHRC should strive to be an independent organization, and should not present such a "biased" report against any party involved in the 2010 violence, particularly the UDD and its supporters.

Mr. Sunai believed that the NHRC report is flawed because its authors did not apply the same standard when they assessed the actions of the government and the Redshirts. Other critics and activists have voiced similar displeasure at the NHRC report, 92 pages long and based on interviews of around 180 individuals.

He pointed to the contents in the report, which stated that the many of the former government′s actions ‘will not be evaluated, due to the fact that they are yet to be determined by the court’, referring to the ongoing legal case against the authorities for their actions in the crackdown.

However, Mr. Sunai noted, the same report criticised many actions of the Redshirts even though they also involve details that remain under the deliberation of the court.

In Mr. Sunai′s opinion, the NHRC also failed to question the government′s use of force, particularly on the 10 April, when the military used live ammunition against the protesters during its failed attempt to crush the protesters, and on 13 May, when CRES again announced the extensive use of live ammunition as the military tightened its noose around the protesters' encampments.

The use of live ammunition, in Mr. Sunai perspective, was bound to cause harm to uninvolved civilians and increase the risk that the military personnel would employ excessive violence. He wondered why the NHRC said not question the authorities' decision in this matter.

“The report criticised how the UDD protesters violated the law, but failed to criticise the government when it exceeds the boundary of the law by using military force against the protesters, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 people,” said Mr. Sunai

Moreover, Mr. Sunai said that the NHRC was determined to believe that there are members of ‘the Black Shirt’ militants among the protesters and spent much of the report talking about the shadowy group. But at the same time, it avoided mentioning the existence of the snipers, who had been positioned on top of many buildings.

Mr. Sunai believed that both issues deserve equal attention, particularly when there are proves that soldiers perched on such higher ground were responsible for deaths of 2 volunteer medics and 4 other civilians in Wat Pathumwanaram Temple, as the court inquest ruled recently.

The NHRC should, like other independent organisation, objectively write about the incident, said Mr. Sunai. "By doing so, the NHRC would gain more public acceptance about its role in finding what happened, and how the society could contribute to the case," he told our correspondent.

The arrival of the NHRC report coincides with the ongoing Parliament′s deliberation on the Amnesty Bill, which is being reviewed under a committee formed by the Parliament.

The Bill was proposed by an MP of the ruling Pheu Thai Party who argued that protesters charged with crimes they allegedly committed during 2010 protests should receive legal amnesty. Under the Bill, many Redshirts currently imprisoned for their alleged crimes would be immediately released instead of fighting a lengthy legal battle.

However, the opposition insisted that the Bill equals to bending the laws in favour of the government′s supporters, and many Democrat Party MPs charged that it was the protesters who were responsible for much of human rights abuses in 2010 unrests – a point seemingly reinforced by NHCR′s report.

“The report from biased perspective would only cause an endless blame game” Mr. Sunai told our correspondent, “The report had been rightly criticised because it created more political division, and did not live up to its task as a peace-building process in the country”

Furthermore, he said, the report contributes very little toward the debate in Amnesty Bill as the NHRC did not define clearly who deserves legal punishment, or who deserves amnesty. "It is the NHRC′s responsibility to declare who had violated human rights, not writing a descriptive report about it," Mr. Sunai complains.

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

University Student Stabbed Dead After Drunken Fistfights

By

Khaosod English

-

11 August 2013, 15:31

(11 August) A student has been arrested in Nakorn
Pathom province after he reportedly stabbed a senior student to death following a drunken, heated
verbal exchange

Police were alerted in the morning to investigate the fight
in Silpakorn University Campus in Nakhon Prathom

Province. At the scene
they found Mr. Patrawith ?Dear? Wattanawetchasak, 29, severely injured near Sra Kaew
pond.

Mr. Patrawuth was sent to the hospital,
where he later died.

Mr. Patrawuth′s friends told
the police that Mr. Ronnachai Jutin, 22, an Engineer Student from the same university was the
murderer.

A friend of the victim said that his group
and Mr. Ronnachai′s group engaged in a fistfight before Mr. Patrawuth punched Mr. Ronnachai in the
face. Mr. Ronnachai then allegedly stabbed Mr. Patrawuth with a pocket knife before he fled the
scene.

Police then found Mr. Ronnachai sleeping in
the Teacher′s rest room in the University, and arrested him once they found a knife that appeared to
be used in the crime in Mr. Ronnachai’s pocket.

The suspect later confessed stabbing Mr. Patrawuth, but argued that he only did so in
order to defend himself. He also admitted that he was intoxicated at the time

When the family members of Mr. Patrawuth visited the Police
station for investigation, they encountered Mr. Ronnachai there, and they immediately tried to
assault him. The police had to intervene with the situation, and took Mr. Ronnachai away for further
interrogation.

German Arrested For Child Abuse In Pattaya

By

Khaosod English

-

11 August 2013, 15:24

(11 August) Police in Pattaya, Chon buri Province, arrested a German expat after they
received reports indicating that he had been luring underage girls for
sex.

The suspect has been identified as Mr. Pascal Conner, 32.

When they arrested Mr. Conner, the police
said, they also found a cellphone which stores many recorded sex-tapes between Mr. Conner and many
girls reportedly aged under 15.

Police told the reporters that many people reported that Mr. Conner claimed to be a police
coordinator, an interpreter, and a German teacher in the district as he lured the victims to his
residence.

Police also found that Mr. Conner had overstayed his visa, and expected to proceed with
legal prosecution against him soon.

Hot News

LATEST NEWS