Cop Narrowly Survived Heart Attack After Chasing Cable Robber

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13 June 2013, 22:16

(13 June) A policeman
with heart disease almost died after he gave chase to the man who stole telephone cables in
Ayutthaya province.

Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Damrong
Tahuaykaew, 46, was manning the checkpoint on Uthai-Pachi Road with other police officers when Mr.
Sompon Saeku, 48, drove a motorcycle toward the checkpoint without wearing safety helmet.

Sgt.Maj. Damrong directed Mr. Sompon to stop his motorcycle and wait as he signed the fine
order. Then, he spotted large telephone pole cable stowed on the motorcycle, so he inquired Mr.
Sompon about it, but Mr. Sompon quickly ran away. Sgt. Maj. Damrong chased him down until he managed
to arrest the suspect.

However, just as he arrived at the police
station with the suspect, Sgt.Maj. Damrong fainted. Other police officers had to bring him to Uthai
hospital. His heart stopped as he arrived in hospital, but the doctors managed to bring him back
within 5 minutes.

Nonetheless the doctors say his condition is severe, and he was transferred
to the provincial hospital.

Meanwhile, the suspect confessed he stole the cables
from a nearby construction site, in hope that he could sell the material for
money.

Pol.Col. Puwadit Chanakotpatri, vice commander of Ayutthaya police,
said that Sgt.Maj. Damrong is known to have heart disease and he had electric heart pacer installed
recently. He said Sgt.Maj. Damrong is hardworking policeman and he must have forgot about his heart
condition when he decided to chase down the suspect.

Activists Protest Constitutional Court With Black Veil

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13 June 2013, 21:28

(13 June) Around 150
Redshirts protesters led by a group called People′s Radio For Democracy arrived in front of the
Constitutional Court office at 11.30 today to protest its 9 judges, whom the protesters say
interfere with politics and harbor political bias.

The protesters veiled part of the entrance
to the Court office with a large black banner which was spray-painted with the words Constitutional
Court Belongs To The People. The protesters then shouted slogans accusing the judges of meddling
with politics, and dispersed peacefully shortly afterwards.

Later, around 20 activists of the
group showed up at the Royal Thai Army headquarters to send an open letter to the Army chief Gen.
Prayuth Chan-ocha. The letter was received by a captain-rank official.

The letter said Thai
people are very anxious of rumor that there might be military coup to overthrow the government in
near future, so the group demands the Army to promise – in press conference – that they will protect
the democratic rule in Thailand.

Death Of Elephant By Electric Fence Prompts Warning

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Khaosod English

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13 June 2013, 19:15

(13 June) Officials warned that ranch owners should keep the power volume of electric fences in nonlethal level after an elephant was killed by such fence on a ranch in Petchaburi province.

The ranch, which situated in Pa Teng district near Kaeng Krachan National Park, belongs to Mr. Naruenart Ketrat, 55. Rangers from the nearby National Park received the report from a local official and arrived at the scene to find dead body of a male elephant, estimated to be 5-7 year old, lying next to the electric fence.

Officials discovered that the electric fence, powered by 220 volt generator, had entirely covered the entire 25 Rai ranch owned by Mr. Naruenart. The rangers confiscated the generator to investigate whether the equipment meets standards required by laws.

Mr. Naruenart later told the rangers that he installed the electric fence to guard his ranch from wandering cattle and elephants which had destroyed his crops before. He said he was certain his equipment did not generate enough power to kill elephants. Nonetheless, he admitted that the fence has previously killed 2 cows from nearby ranch.

He said he heard the electric fence going off at 04.00 and inspected the site at 06.00 to find the dead elephant, which prompted him to report the matter to local official. Mr. Naruenart expressed his regret at the incident, saying that he had no intention to kill the elephant, and said that he is ready to take responsibility according to the law.

Mr. Monthian Tongnit, governor of Petchaburi province, said Mr. Naruenart will be charged with offense of killing an endangered animal. He said he has given warnings to ranch owners in the province to make sure their electric fences are not set at lethal level.

"What if it was human that touched it?" Mr. Monthian said.

'Mad Man' Threw Stone At Tourists In Pattaya

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Khaosod English

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13 June 2013, 14:51

(13 June)
Drunken individual has been detained by police in Pattaya after he was seen throwing a brick at
tourists.

Police received report about the individual and arrived at the beachside road to
find the man, believed to be a Thai national and aged 30-35, topless and in the state of intoxicated
madness.

The police had to struggle greatly to wrestle the suspect on the ground, but
eventually overwhelmed him and brought him to the police station.

Mr. Pratchaya Uppara, 41, a
local volunteer, said when he was patrolling the area he spotted the man walking out of nowhere with
large brick in his hand. Mr. Pratchaya said the man looked very angry, then he threw the stone at
nearby tourists, but missed twice, so the volunteer called the police.

Police say the suspect
was still drunk when the police interrogated him, claiming that he has parents overseas and that he
had been in Pattaya for 3 days for travel when he lost his luggage. The man told police he filed the
report but no action was taken so he came very stressed.

The police detained the suspect at
the police station to wait for him to sober up.

Full Plot Confession Of Controversial Entrepreneur's Murder

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 23:34

(12 June) Suspects
involved in the abduction and subsequent murder of controversial businessman Akeyuth Anchanbutr have
revealed in details how the extraordinary saga unfolds.

When it first emerged on 9 June that Mr. Akeyuth Anchanbutr, a self-proclaimed Yellowshirt
supporter, disappeared from his residence, conspiracy theories that he was abducted and possibly
murdered by politically-motivated assailants immediately followed, due to his longtime opposition to
Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister is currently serving as Prime Minister.

Mr.
Santiparp ?Ball? Penduang, the driver of Mr. Akeyuth and the prime suspect in the case, has
previously suggested to police that his boss got off his car on the highway in Prachuab Kiri Khan
province and disappeared with the convoy carrying unidentified individuals. His statement fueled the
speculation even further.

However, Mr. Santiparp eventually changed his statements and
confessed that it was he who kidnapped Mr. Akeyuth, extorted 5 million baht from the man, and
subsequently killed him as he struggled to run away. Mr. Akeyuth′s body was found later
in

Mr. Santiparp confessed to investigators that he planned the abduction for
months. He said he wanted the money and was angered by the fact that his girlfriend had been fired
from Mr. Akeyuth′s company for embezzling the company money.

Mr. Santiparp then gathered his
friends from Phattalung, which is his home province, for the plot. 3 friends showed up in Bangkok
days before the incident for preparation. They are Mr. Chawalit Boonchoom, Mr. Tivakorn Kuethong,
and Mr. Suttipong Pimpisarn. Mr. Chawalit and Mr. Tivakorn are now under arrest, while Mr. Suttipong
is still at large.

However, the sources say, Mr. Santiparp also invited a friend whose
father is a police officer to join the plot. This friend declined the offer and later told his
father about Mr. Santiparp′s plan after he heard the news about Mr. Akeyuth′s disappearance, which
eventually led to Mr. Santiparp′s arrest.

According to Mr. Santiparp′s
statement, he acted when Mr Akeyuth was dining in a restaurant in northern Bangkok. He called Mr.
Santiparp to pick him up, so the driver met with Mr. Suttipong, hid him in the backseat, and drove
to meet with Mr. Akeyuth. Once the businessman got into the car, Mr. Suttipong reportedly threatened
him with a handgun.

After Mr. Akeyuth was driven home, where he was held in handcuffs, other
conspirators joined with Mr. Santiparp and Mr. Suttipong. During his captivity, Mr. Akeyuth′s son
phoned him to ask about the house key, so Mr. Akeyuth tried to send a signal in the conversation
while the kidnappers watched him closely.

Sensing something suspicious, Mr. Akeyuth′s son drove to the house, but did not enter
the property. He observed the house from outside for a while, then drove
away.

In the meantime, the kidnappers
destroyed servers of the residence′s CCTV to hide their trails. On then next morning, they forced
Mr. Akeyuth to write 3 cheques, totalling 5 million baht. Mr. Akeyuth was then forced to hand the
cheques to one of his unsuspecting employees who went straight away to the bank to get the
money. They appointed Suvannabhumi Airport as the
place to meet and pick up the money.

The bank staff called Mr. Akeyuth to confirm it is his
consent to let the employee withdraw the money on his behalf. Mr. Akeyuth, threatened with the gun,
gave the consent. As Mr. Akeyuth had withdrawn his money in this manner before, the bank staff did
not become suspicious.

The team drove Mr. Akeyuth to pick up the money at the Airport.
Details grow murky after this point. According to what Mr. Santiparp told the police, the group
intended to let Mr. Akeyuth go on the highway, but the businessman broke free from the car and
attempted to run away as the kidnappers were still talking.

Mr. Santiparp said they rushed
out to hold down Mr. Akeyuth and killed him in anger by holding his throat to death. Reportedly, Mr.
Suttipong was the one who strangled Mr. Akeyuth with shoelaces afterwards to make sure he was
dead.

Police sources say the investigators are not convinced. They hypothesized that Mr.
Santiparp might have planned the murder to cover up their kidnapping all along.

The body was
dumped near Jingjo (Kangaroo) Mountain in Phattalung province. Mr. Santiparp attempted to convince
his friend – the policeman′s son – to help him clean up the mess, but the man reportedly refused.
Mr. Santiparp was later arrested in Bangkok suburb.

Mr. Santiparp and 2 other suspects are
facing numerous charges, including robbing and killing, forcing the victim to sign financial
document, and unlawful detention of the victim.

Bomb Damages Replica of Historic Pattani Cannon

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 20:34

(11 June) For years, some
residents and activists in Pattani province have been demanding the return of the Great Tani Cannon,
the cannon that defended the city-state of Pattani during its wars with Siamese invaders. It was
carted off to Siamese capital city around 200 years ago by the victorious Siamese troops after they
finally conquered the sultanate.

Before it was incorporated into modern-day Thailand, Pattani
was an independent Islamic state, and the the echoes of fierce independence is still found in the
insurgency movements that have plagued the region for decades.

On 2 June, the Thai
authorities responded to call for Great Tani′s return by sending a replica of the cannon to be
installed in front of Pattani′s historic Krue Se mosque, but the actual Cannon is still displayed in
front of Ministry of Defense in Bangkok. The bizarre move puzzled and even angered some locals, who
saw it as an arrogant gesture from the Thai authorities.

Today, in an attack that might
represent that sentiment, a bomb exploded and broke the replica cannon in half.

The bomb,
which was hidden under the replica, was detonated around 18.30, while daily evening Islamic prayer
was being held in nearby Krue Se mosque. The explosion also damaged the base of the replica
cannon.

Reports indicate that shortly after the
bombing, banners bearing pro-independence slogans were hung in many parts of Pattani town center.
One banner reads The Siamese imperialists are liars. They do not own this land.

Maxim Cover Girl Told Police She Was Drugged

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 19:30

(12 June) A well-known
sexy idol reported to police that she woke up half naked in a motel room with a man after a
night-out during which she might have been drugged.

Ms. Pilawan
Arirorb, 30, pressed charge of sexual harassment and unlawful detention against the man, who was
identified simply as Mr. Got.

The idol, who′s better known by her nickname Muay Maxim after
she graced the cover of the adult magazine in 2010, told the police that some time ago she had been
given a job offer from a fellow model called Joy.

The job, she said, was to attend a
birthday party of a young businessman and held the birthday cake for him. She said she was promised
a payment of 5,000 baht.

Ms. Pilawan told the police that on 7 June she showed up at the
appointed venue but could not see any birthday cake. Only 5-6 people were there, according to Ms.
Pilawan, so she stayed and talk with them. She said she drank one glass of alcoholic beverage,
became bored of the lackluster party, went out for smoke, and felt very dizzy when she came
back.

She was certain she was drugged, because the next thing she knew was waking up in a
hotel room with someone from the party, Mr. Got. She said she wore only her underwear when she woke
up, so she phoned her friends for help. Meanwhile, Mr. Got reportedly tried to flee, but she held
him back until her friends arrived.

According to the former Maxim cover girl, Mr. Got
insisted to her that she willingly came to the room with him. However, she said, the hotel staff
showed her CCTV footage of her, unconscious, being half carried to the room.

Ms. Pilawan told
police she was afraid to file the charge at first, but she became worried that Mr. Got might
sexually violate her and film her when she was naked, so she decided to seek help from
police.

The police said they would investigate the matter.

?Muay Maxim? was the center
of a scandal between her and the singer ?Howard Wang? who was alleged to have repeatedly physically
abused Ms. Pilawan.

Relatives Of 2010 Crackdown Victims Protest Amnesty Bill

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12 June 2013, 18:24

BANGKOK — The family members of 20 people killed in the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters in April-May 2010 gathered in front of the Government House in central Bangkok today to voice opposition to a bill that would grant amnesty to those responsible for the operation.

The violence in those two months claimed more than 90 lives, including protesters, security forces personnel, journalists, rescue workers, and civilian bystanders.

Today's group was led by Ms. Payao Akhard, the mother of a volunteer nurse who was shot dead while tending to the wounded in Pathum Wanararm Temple on 19 May 2010, and Mr. Pansak Srithep, father of a high school student who killed while he was observing the protests on 15 May 2010.

Ms. Payao said she was disappointed to see 163 MPs of the ruling Pheu Thai Party support the draft of a bill that would absolve all involved in the political violence, including the authorities at the time.

She also expressed concern about the lack of oppostion to the bill among Redshirts or members of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Redshirt-backed government.

"I have to stand up and ask for justice from Ms. Yingluck because she told the BBC in her early days in office that she wants to find out the truth about the crackdown and punish those who gave the orders," Ms. Payao said.

Ms. Payao's group also urged the government to release prisoners being held for their involvement in the 2010 protests.

The crowd dispersed peacefully after giving a letter of protest to Mr. Supon Attawong, vice secretary of Prime Minister′s Office and a former Redshirts leader.

Full-Time Policeman, Part-Time 'Likay' Dancer

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12 June 2013, 16:07

(Kon Kaen) Police agents living double lives are common theme in crime thrillers. The 29-year old Police Lance Corporal Wiwat Chantamom of Kon Kaen provincial police is one of those cops.

His other life is far from the grim pictures depicted in those thrillers, however. LCpl. Wiwat fights the villain to save the damsel in distress, he sits in the lofty palace hall and preached about moral of good triumphing over evil, he dances and sings the poetic rhythm.

In short, he is a part-time leading performer of the folk play troupe called Likay (ลิเก).

Before the lights and sounds of modern cinemas, Likay was one of the core entertainments available to Thais, especially in the countryside. A typical Likay show involves plays on colorful stage with stories set in ancient or literary kingdoms. The players speak and sing in poems, while much traditional dancing and slapstick humor are employed.

Likay is an increasingly rare sight in present-days Thailand, though there are still active Likay companies performing in rural and suburban temple grounds.

Stars of Likay, namely the Phra Ek (male protagonist) and Nang Ek (female protagonist), command fervent fans. Usually these fans are wealthy elderly women who would crowd in the front seats, cheering their favoritePhra Ek and putting necklace made of banknotes (20 baht or 100 baht bills, depending on how rich the fans are) on his neck at the end of the show.

LCpl. Wiwat is one such Phra Ek. When he is free from his police routine works, he performs with Kumpun Ruam Mit Likay company, which combined the arts of Likay with Northeastern folk music performance calledMor Lum (normally, Likay and Morlum are separate arts). LCpl. Wiwat is talented in both Likay dancing and Mor Lum singing. He also performs country songs from time to time.

He said that at the start of each performance season, the company leader will present him with show schedules and he will pick the days that he is free from police duty, usually on weekends.

Asked about his main reason for the double life, LCpl. Wiwat cited the need to make extra money for his family. He is currently married, and his first daughter is 4 month old. They are living in state-owned flats available for police officers′ families.

The half cop half Phra Ek said he earned 1,000 baht for each show, not counting tips from his stage-front fans. He told our correspondent he once earned 20,000 baht on a single night from the banknotes necklace given to him by such fans.

Apart taking care of his family, LCpl. Wiwat said he is also very passionate about folk music and Mor Lum.

His interest in Mor Lum started when he was in elementary school in Kon Kaen province. A Mor Lum band was playing next to his school, so he asked the band leader to teach him the arts. In his secondary school years, he joined a folk music instrumental band and took up singing Mor Lum as well.

After he won school singing contest, he recalled, his teacher took him to learn the professional singing from a Mor Lum band. His professional life as a Mor Lum singer and Li Kay star started there.

"I won the exam into police academy after I did my university degree, but I never left behind my Mor Lum profession," LCpl. Wiwat said.

Pol.Col. Kanit Duanghasadee, vice commander of Kon Kaen provincial police, said he felt very proud to know that his subordinate has helped preserve local Thai culture and in the meantime never failed in his police duty.

He said when his police force has to organize banquets on important days, LCpl. Wiwat is always invited on the stage and awe the audience with his music skill.

Pol.Col. Kanit also told our correspondent that he aimed to assign LCpl. Wiwat to head Kon Kaen police′s public relation unit because of his familiarity with the common folk.

Kaset U. Student Seriously Injured By 'Stone-Throwing Gang'

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 14:30

(11 June) A freshman student at Kasetsart University was injured after an assailant reportedly threw a brick into her car as it sped on the highway in Nakorn Pathom province.

Ms. Jenjira Thongchai, 18, was riding in the front seat of her boyfriend′s pickup truck around 20.00 when an unknown assailant on the roadside threw a large brick, estimated to weigh around 2 kg., at the car′s front windshield, according to her mother Ms. Prapai Thongchai.

Aided by the speed of the oncoming car, the rock smashed through the window and hit Ms. Jenjira in her face, causing massive injuries, Ms. Prapai said. Ms. Jenjira is currently staying at Sanamchan hospital. Her head′s wound was so grave that the doctors had to shave her head, and she is advised to stay in bed lest the wound is disturbed.

Ms. Prapai said she has already contacted the police, but the investigation is very diffilcult because the crime scene was dark at the time and no CCTV is installed nearby.

She said she′s worried about her daughter′s future because it is not clear how much she would recover from her injuries. She urged the police to solve this case seriously in order to prevent other people from falling victims to similar crimes.

′Stone-throwing gangs′ (Thai: gang pa hin แก๊งปาหิน ) are known to terrorize motorists on inter-provincial highways, especially around Bangkok suburb, with some cases involving deadly casualties. The suspects in these crimes are mostly youngsters who said they did it "just for fun".

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