Representatives of the Thai Customs Department, British Embassy, and Suvarnabhumi Airport attend the ceremony to hand over 2.1 tons of cannabis buds to the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine for medical research at the Customs Department on April 28, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thai Customs Department collaborates with UK representatives and Suvarnabhumi Airport have donated 2.1 tons of cannabis buds to the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine for medical research, while proposing stricter penalties for cannabis smuggling
In response to recent operations by Thai authorities to intercept the smuggling of cannabis buds out of Thailand—particularly involving British nationals who have reportedly been arrested since February—officials have seized large quantities of cannabis. The Customs Department alone has confiscated 2.1 tons.
Rather than destroying the seized material, the Customs Department, in cooperation with UK law enforcement agencies, has decided to hand over these cannabis buds to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine for medical research purposes.
The handover ceremony took place on April 28, presided over by Teerachai Attanawanich, Director-General of the Customs Department, alongside David Thomas, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Bangkok, and Apisak Yenprakon, Director of the Security Center Division at Suvarnabhumi Airport, representing Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited.
A K-9 unit is present at the ceremony to hand over 2.1 tons of cannabis buds to the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine for medical research at the Customs Department on April 28, 2025.
The cannabis was presented to Somsak Kreechai, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, at the Customs Department building.
Teerachai noted that while cannabis has been removed from Thailand’s narcotics list, cannabis buds remain a controlled herb in Thailand. Anyone wishing to conduct research, export, sell, or process controlled herbs for commercial purposes must obtain a license from relevant authorities. Meanwhile, cannabis continues to be classified as a narcotic and prohibited substance in many countries, particularly in the United Kingdom and European Union.
Recognizing the importance of this issue, the Customs Department has coordinated with the Home Office International Operation (HOIO) at the British Embassy since February 16 to intercept cannabis smuggling attempts.
Seized cannabis buds are displayed at the ceremony to hand over 2.1 tons of cannabis buds to the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine for medical research at the Customs Department on April 28, 2025.
The United Kingdom has sent officials to participate in Cannabis Awareness Raising initiatives, including informing international travelers about potential penalties for smuggling cannabis from Thailand to the UK.
Additionally, the Customs Department has deployed officers and K-9 units to enhance the effectiveness of preventing cannabis from being taken out of the country. Throughout this operation, more than 2.1 tons of cannabis buds abandoned by passengers have been discovered.
In the 2025 fiscal year (October 2024 – April 27, 2025), the Customs Department has detected 994 cases related to cannabis smuggling, with a total volume exceeding 10,036 kilograms.
Dried cannabis flowers packed inside one of the seven suitcases belonging to British tourist, transported by Thai officials from Koh Samui Airport for inspection at Bo Phut Police Station on March 13, 2025.
Phakphum Lertwalthanaraksa, Director of the Investigation and Suppression Division of the Customs Department, stated that the department has proposed to the Ministry of Public Health to issue secondary legislation to provide clearer details on regulating the import and export of cannabis and cannabis buds, as the primary cannabis legislation has not kept pace with developments in criminal control.
“Currently, there are no clear details on whether it is illegal for the general public to transport cannabis out of the country or whether a license is required. At the same time, we aim to strengthen penalties for offenses such as smuggling in both directions,” Phakphum said.
“While these proposals have not yet been finalized, the Customs Department will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health and airports to enhance legal requirements for more comprehensive regulation.”
A 42-year-old Chinese tourist Fu, accused of murdering a transgender woman in Pattaya, sits in a prisoner transport vehicle as he is taken to be detained at Pattaya Court on April 28, 2025.
PATTAYA — Forensic experts at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok are conducting comprehensive post-mortem examinations on the body of 25-year-old transgender woman Woranun “Note,” who was brutally murdered by a Chinese tourist in Pattaya, to determine the full extent of injuries and resolve questions about allegedly missing organs, authorities confirmed today.
The case has sent shockwaves through Thailand after 25-year-old Woranun “Note,” a transgender woman from Nong Khai province, was found brutally murdered on April 26 in her apartment in central Pattaya. The suspect, 42-year-old Fu Tongyuan, a Chinese welder, allegedly used scissors to cut open the victim’s chest, removing her heart and silicon implants, which were found placed beside the body.
During questioning, Fu reportedly claimed he was inspired to dissect the body after watching numerous television series, telling investigators he “wanted to try performing an autopsy.”
Family of Woranun, the transgender woman murdered by a Chinese man, invited monks to perform a ritual to call her spirit at the apartment where the incident occurred in central Pattaya on April 28, 2025.
Medical examiners raised concerns about the victim’s lungs, which were not initially located during preliminary examination. Police officials explained this may have been due to incomplete access during the crime scene investigation and are awaiting comprehensive autopsy results to confirm whether the lungs were actually removed. Investigators are also examining suspicious abdominal incisions to determine if they were inflicted before or after death.
On the morning of April 28, investigators from Pattaya City Police Station brought Fu for additional questioning with the assistance of an interpreter. The visibly stressed and exhausted suspect was subsequently taken to the Pattaya Court, where police successfully opposed bail.
During the transfer, officers implemented strict security measures, including providing Fu with a helmet and protective vest due to concerns about potential vigilante action from the victim’s relatives and angry community members.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mayuree Chamjarus, Director of the Chonburi Justice Office, met with Note’s father to discuss victim compensation of approximately 200,000 baht (about $5,700) available through crime victim assistance programs. The Swing Foundation has also provided legal representation to assist the family.
The victim’s father, Auan, 61, expressed deep distress over social media comments attacking his child. “Losing my son is already incredibly painful, but now we must face these cruel attacks and hurtful remarks, including comments suggesting the death was deserved,” he said.
A group of transgender women in Pattaya gathered on the road along Pattaya Beach on Sunday night, April 27, 2025, to demonstrate solidarity and call for social awareness about respecting a transgender woman who died in a horrifying murder case involving a Chinese man.
The case has sparked outrage within Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community, particularly after a viral Facebook post in Lao language stating, “The end of ladyboys who pretend to be women is to have their hearts and lungs cut out,” began circulating online.
In response to this inflammatory post, late Sunday night, a group of transgender women gathered along Pattaya Beach to demonstrate solidarity and call for greater social awareness and respect for transgender individuals.
A leader of the protest group stated that while the person behind the offensive post has not yet been identified, they would be monitoring the situation closely. The group also delivered a direct message to those making derogatory comments: “If you’re still in Pattaya and we meet, we’d like to have a clear conversation with you.”
LGBTQ advocacy groups have continued to call on the public to respect the victim’s dignity and refrain from harmful speculation as the legal process moves forward.
A section of the Dhara Dhevi buildings in Chiang Mai that was burned in the fire on April 23 has been cordoned off, as of April 28, 2025.
CHIANG MAI — The shareholders of “Dhara Dhevi” hotel doubt the cause of the fire. They claim that a joint venture company illegally tapped into the power supply, causing a dangerous tangle of cables that violated safety standards, despite prior warnings and a municipal order to suspend the building’s use.
The major fire at the famous Dhara Dhevi Hotel in Mueang district, Chiang Mai, on the night of April 23, 2025, caused massive damage and significantly tarnished the hotel’s image.
Ms. Yaowalak Ritsomjit, a representative of the shareholders of Inter Far East Energy Corporation Public Company Limited (IFEC), the operator of Dhara Dhevi, presented evidence to the media and raised suspicions that the fire may have been caused by the joint venture company’s risky and non-compliant reopening of part of the hotel.
Two Co-Owners of Dhara Dhevi
Ms. Yaowalak also explained the ownership of Dhara Dhevi: On December 27, 2023, IFEC, through its subsidiary Inter Far East Thermal Power Co., Ltd (I THERMAL), successfully bid for the Dhara Dhevi Hotel in a public auction. The auction included assets of the two co-owners of the hotel, Dhara Dhevi Hotel Co., Ltd. and APK Development Co., Ltd.
Yaowalak Ritsomjit, a representative of the shareholders of Inter Far East Energy Corporation Public Company Limited (IFEC), the operator of Dhara Dhevi
I THERMAL secured the hotel at a price of 3.65 billion baht ($108 million). However, when payment was due to the Enforcement Department, it could only pay 2.3714 billion baht ($70 million) for the assets of Dhara Dhevi Hotel Co., Ltd. but not the 1.22322 billion baht ($36 million) for the assets of APK Development Co., Ltd.
As a result, the Ministry re-auctioned APK’s assets, which were acquired by another party.
Problematic Utility Systems
After the acquisition, Tawich Techanavakul, chairman of IFEC and I THERMAL, formed a joint venture with Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co, Ltd. under the leadership of Suphan Setthaphanich, former managing director of Solaris Asset Management. The part acquired by I THERMAL had serious problems: no running water, no sewage system, and only about 20% of the hotel had electricity.
“This was the main reason for the problems in managing the utilities at Dhara Dhevi, which eventually led to the devastating fire that destroyed the entire Dheva Spa building,” she said.
Crucially, there was no fire-fighting or emergency water system, as these utilities were located on the side of the property that was acquired by another party (APK). As a result, Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co, Ltd. had difficulty reopening the hotel properly.
Due to these shortcomings, the Tha Sala Municipality ordered the closure of five buildings because they had been altered without permission and lacked the legally required utility systems.
After the takeover by I THERMAL and the establishment of the joint venture, the hotel was neglected and fell into disrepair, increasing the risk of fire, despite repeated warnings from shareholders to Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co, Ltd.
Images confirm that Dheva Spa had electricity turned on, and photos reveal dangerous electrical wiring that bypassed the control room.
Allegations of Unsafe Conditions
The shareholders’ representative argued that the fire was probably due to improper use of the electrical systems: makeshift, substandard wiring without proper voltage control, posing a serious risk of short circuits and fires.
As the hotel did not have its own water system, Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co, Ltd. also had hoses laid across the road to fetch water from the Wat Buak Krok Luang temple, an unhygienic and inadequate solution.
The hotel’s underground water system was unusable, so they were forced to install unsightly above-ground pipes, further damaging the hotel’s image.
Although the Dheva Spa area was surrounded by high-pressure water systems, these failed during the fire because the necessary pumps were located in the area owned by APK Development Co, Ltd.
The lack of a functioning fire suppression system was a key reason the Dheva Spa was completely destroyed. Firefighters had to wait for water refills, allowing the fire to spread uncontrollably.
Conflicting Claims About the Fire
The Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co, Ltd. also held the “Kad Dara,” a community market on the grounds of the hotel on the last weekend of every month, which required renovations to the hotel structures including the now destroyed spa.
However, this was done without adequate fire protection and sewage systems, putting visitors and the surrounding Buak Krok Luang community at risk. The shareholders are calling on the authorities to investigate further.
After the fire, it was claimed that the Dheva Spa had been cut off from the power supply for years. However, visitors had recorded videos showing that the power was still on, disproving these claims.
In the meantime, the joint venture company has reiterated that electricity was definitely not used in the building where the fire broke out. They also wondered why some parties are trying to tarnish the reputation of Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi.
“The fact is that this building has been unused for 6–7 years, and I stand by the statement that the building was unused and had no electricity. I also doubt that simple strings of lights could really cause such a large fire. However, I will not comment on the actual cause and leave it to the forensic authorities to determine. Personally, however, I believe that the incident was abnormal and unnatural,” said a representative of the joint venture.
Shareholders Plan Press Conference
In response to the other side’s claims that the fire was caused by faulty temporary wiring, such as small, non-compliant power cables without proper voltage control, the joint venture representative reiterated, “This is not yet a standard operation for a hotel. The building had not yet reopened. We have only installed a few temporary lights for lighting, just a few small strings of lights on the front and sides of the building.”
The IFEC shareholder group is planning a major press conference in Chiang Mai in early May 2025 to clarify the outstanding issues. They plan to invite representatives of the joint venture company for questioning.
“In addition, the shareholder group plans to jointly request a meeting with the governor of Chiang Mai to inquire about official action to prevent the Dhara Dhevi Hotel from causing further problems that could affect the community and the environment,” Ms. Yaowalak said.
Bangkok, 28 April 2025 — UOB Thailand is offering exclusive travel benefits throughout 2025 to enhance overseas travel experience of its cardholders. The perks range from complimentary meals at Thailand airports and special prizes on overseas shopping.
International travel continues to be a key component of experiential spending for Thai consumers, with more than half (58 per cent) having taken an overseas trip within the ASEAN region over the past year, according to UOB’s latest ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study (ACSS) 2024. This trend is further supported by data from UOB cardholders, which indicates a five percent year-on-year increase in cross-border card spending between 2023 and 2024.
Ms Suporntip Pongsachamnankit, Head of Card Business, Card Payment and Unsecured Products, UOB Thailand, said “At UOB Thailand, we understand that travel is more than just arriving at a destination—it’s about the experience along the way. That’s why our airport privileges are designed to add comfort and convenience from the very first step, while our exclusive rewards give cardholders even more reasons to shop and enjoy every moment abroad.”
UOB Thailand strives to make every moment of the journey more rewarding for its credit card and TMRW cardholders—starting from the airport all the way to shopping streets overseas. With “UOB Airport Privileges” campaign, UOB credit card and TMRW cardholders who make at least one overseas purchase within 30 days of receiving their privilege can enjoy free food and drinks by presenting UOB and TMRW credit cards at selected McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King outlets at Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.
In addition, UOB Credit cardholders can take part in the “Shop the World, Win Big” campaign, from 1 April to 30 June 2025, where spending overseas could land them an exciting prize: a Brand-new iPad Gen 11 Wi-Fi 256GB (worth THB 16,900). A total of 50 units prizes are up for grabs, amounting to a prize pool of THB 845,000. Additionally, cardholders who spend in foreign currency while abroad can earn up to 20,000-baht cashback, based on the promotion’s qualifying criteria.
The scene where attackers planted a bomb targeting a Border Patrol Police vehicle as officers were returning from a health checkup near Ban Sri Tha Nam School, Thanto Sub-district, Thanto District, Yala Province, on April 28, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thailand has postponed plans to lift martial law in its southern border provinces following two deadly attacks that killed two border patrol police officers and a local volunteer, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed on Monday.
“Recent violent events have forced us to review the proposal,” Phumtham said, adding that discussions scheduled for last weekend had been postponed to allow security forces to address the immediate situation. “While the private sector believes the situation has normalized and lifting martial law would improve business conditions, these incidents require a reassessment.”
A security volunteer’s vehicle that was shot and set on fire at in front of a grocery store in Moo 1, Ban Tabing Tinggi, Taling Chan Sub-district, Bannang Sata District, Yala Province, on April 28, 2025.
Phumtham said he has discussed this problem with the Commander of the 4th Army Region, the Commander of Provincial Police Region 9, and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) to jointly solve the issues.
Two Attacks in Yala Kill Three
The two attacks occurred on April 28 in Yala province, beginning with the shooting of a local security volunteer in Bannang Sata district after midnight, followed by an incident where suspected BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional) militants bombed a border patrol police unit, killing two officers and seriously injuring another.
At 9:45 a.m., the bomb attack targeted Border Patrol Police vehicle at Sri Tha Nam Base in Thanto District, killing Police Senior Sergeant Major Isaret Intarapetch and Police Sergeant Monpitak Petnui, while Police Sergeant Panuwat Wetchapasan was seriously injured. The three officers were returning from a mission at Border Patrol Police Task Force 44.
The scene where attackers planted a bomb targeting a Border Patrol Police vehicle as officers were returning from a health checkup near Ban Sri Tha Nam School, Thanto Sub-district, Thanto District, Yala Province, on April 28, 2025.
Earlier, in Bannang Sata District, security officials including police, military, and volunteer defense corps had cordoned off an area in front of a grocery store in Moo 1, Ban Tabing Tinggi, Taling Chan Sub-district, after armed militants shot and killed Therawut Phuttarat, a 34-year-old local security volunteer, as he got out of his car to shop at the grocery store located 300 meters from an operations base at 12:40 a.m. The attackers immediately set fire to the vehicle afterward.
Security officials cordon off an area in front of a grocery store in Moo 1, Ban Tabing Tinggi, Taling Chan Sub-district, Bannang Sata District, Yala Province, where armed militants shot and killed Therawut Phuttarat, a 34-year-old local security volunteer, on April 28, 2025.
Want to Talk With BRN Real Leaders
According to the Defense Minister, the government has instructed the Army Commander-in-Chief to implement more proactive security measures, with all units required to submit detailed plans within seven days. He confirmed that there are no gaps or problems between the military and police operations in the area.
“From now on, everything will proceed according to the facts of the situation. I admit that there is a lot of inconsistent information regarding the southern border problems, which will require further discussions, and I acknowledge that it is concerning,” he said.
Initially, he is going to consult with the facilitator appointed by the Malaysian Prime Minister, as previously discussed between the Thai and Malaysian Prime Ministers.
“The peace dialogue process with separatist groups would only continue if violence could be controlled,” said Phumtham. “Thailand only wants to talk with the real leaders of the BRN group who can effectively stop violent actions on the ground.”
Pattaya police lead the Chinese suspect to reenact his confession of murdering a transgender woman and mutilating her body, on April 27, 2025.
PATTAYA — During police escorting the Chinese suspect to reenact his confession of murdering a transgender woman and mutilating her body, the victim’s relatives shouted curses, and her father attempted to strike the man’s head with a plastic bottle.
Fu Tongyung, a 42-year-old Chinese man suspected of murdering and mutilating the body of Woranun, a 25-year-old transgender woman from Nong Khai province, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport and brought to Pattaya Police Station. He confessed during interrogation late Saturday night.
On Sunday afternoon, April 27, police led by Police Major General Thawatchakiat Jindakhuansanong, Provincial Police Commander of Chonburi, and Police Colonel Anek Srathongyu, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, took Fu to reenact his confession. A minor disturbance occurred when Woranun’s enraged relatives arrived.
Police deployed strict security for the reenactment amid a large crowd of onlookers. As officers were escorting the Chinese suspect back to detention, the victim’s relatives—including her father, eldest sister, second sister, and other family members—rushed toward Fu attempting to attack him, forcing police intervention.
During the commotion, Woranun’s father, Ouan, struck the suspect’s face forcefully with a plastic bottle but fell in the process. Police quickly moved the suspect to a holding cell amid shouts of curses and loud crying from the relatives.
Reenact in Four Locations
During the reenactment, the first location was Room 201 on the second floor of the apartment complex in Central Pattaya where the incident occurred. Fu stated that he brought the victim to the room, agreed on a price, and paid her 8,000 baht (nearly $240). As they were about to engage in intercourse, the victim resisted, leading to a heated argument. He demanded half of his money back, but she refused, resulting in a violent altercation.
During the struggle, Woranun scratched Fu’s face and kicked him in the face, breaking one of his front teeth. Enraged, Fu pulled the victim down beside the bed and used his left knee to press on her neck until she died.
He then dragged the body by the legs into the bathroom, used scissors to stab and cut from the abdomen to the chest, removed the silicon breast implants, and placed them outside. He also cut out the heart and placed it on the left shoulder of the corpse. In his statement, he claimed he did this out of curiosity about the body’s interior, influenced by watching TV series.
Pattaya police escort the Chinese suspect to reenact his confession of murdering a transgender woman and mutilating her body, on April 27, 2025.
After dismembering the victim’s body, he used a blanket to wipe the body and clean bloodstains in the bathroom. He then lay down in the room until morning, when he booked a flight ticket before leaving the room, taking a motorcycle taxi, and boarding a bus in North Pattaya heading to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where he was arrested.
Initially, he refused to provide any statement but eventually confessed when faced with evidence, including finding the victim’s mobile phone in his possession.
Police then took Fu to three additional locations for reenactment: a 20-baht store about 200-300 meters from the crime scene where he purchased various items including scissors and garbage bags; the bus terminal on North Pattaya Road; and South Pattaya Beach near Walking Street, where he first met the victim. Fu claimed he only learned the victim was transgender after his arrest.
Rescue personnel and forensic officers enter the room where the body of a transgender woman who had been murdered and mutilated was found, inside an apartment in Central Pattaya area on April 26, 2025.
No Evidence of Organ Trafficking
Police Major General Thawatchakiat stated that this case has garnered public attention as a shocking and brutal murder. He conveyed thanks and appreciation from the National Police Chief and Regional Police Commander to all officers at Pattaya City Police Station for their swift work in gathering evidence to obtain an arrest warrant and coordinating with immigration and tourist police to apprehend the suspect before he could flee the country.
He added that the suspect works as a metal welder, giving him strong wrists that enabled him to cut the body in straight lines.
Regarding online speculation about organ trafficking or human trafficking after preliminary forensic results noted a missing lung, there is no evidence of it. However, authorities are awaiting detailed forensic and autopsy results to determine if any organs are missing. For now, Fu faces charges of intentional murder and theft.
The father of the victim falls after striking the suspect’s face forcefully with a plastic bottle during the reenactment of his confession of murdering a transgender woman in Pattaya on April 27, 2025.
The Victim Was a Good Child
Ouan, the victim’s father, tearfully told reporters he still cannot accept the loss of his child, nicknamed “Note.” Four years ago, Note asked the family for permission to work in Taiwan and study Chinese simultaneously, becoming fluent in the language. After two years in Taiwan, she moved to Pattaya, where her parents and family visited regularly.
“Note had a kind heart, was shy, and was the pillar of our home, sending 10,000 baht to the family monthly, not including items or necessities that her parents or family wanted—Note would never refuse to buy them. Recently, she fulfilled her dream of building a house for her parents, and 2-3 months ago, Note had promised to take her parents on a trip to China, but this tragedy ended it,” he said.
Ouan stated that the family wants authorities to pursue the case to the fullest extent, hoping the perpetrator receives the death penalty.
A BMW driven by a British man crashes into a roadside shop on a Phuket province road on April 27, 2025.
PHUKET — A BMW crashed into a roadside shop on a Phuket province road, injuring a female passenger, shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle was driven by a British tourist.
Police Lieutenant Watcharakorn Suwan, Deputy Investigation Officer at Wichit Police Station in Phuket, received a report of the traffic accident at 2:45 a.m. on April 27. Upon investigating the scene on Kwang Road in Wichit Subdistrict, Muang District, officers found a roadside shop damaged from the vehicle collision.
Rescue workers retrieve a BMW, driven by a British man, from a damaged roadside shop on Kwang Road, Wichit Subdistrict, Phuket Province, after the crash on April 27, 2025.
Jack Richard, a British national, identified himself as the driver of the white BMW 7 Series with Phuket license plates. He stated that he was driving from Kathu, heading toward his residence in Chalong District, with his wife Miss Danielle Joyce, also British, as his passenger.
When they reached the accident site, the car lost control, skidded off the road and crashed into the shop, causing injuries to Miss Danielle Joyce. Jack Richard sustained minor injuries. Rescue workers transported them to Dibuk Hospital.
Investigation officers photographed the accident scene as evidence for legal proceedings and compensation claims.
Tourists crowded at Suvarnabhumi Airport on February 25, 2024. (Photo by Pravit Rojanaphruk)
Finally, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has given a green light for the visa-free entry scheme to be revised, said the Public Relations Department today, April 27, on its FB page. The department cited that the decision came after some foreign tourists have “violated the law, such as overstaying and working illegally.”
At present the scheme is applicable to nationals from 93 countries and territories for the purpose of tourism or urgent work, for up to 60 days, and can be extended for no more than 30 days.
The decision followed months of numerous reports of illegal activities committed by foreign tourists – ranging from working without a working visa, stealing, reckless driving, assaults, call centre phone scam activities, and worse. The most disturbing case, and one of the most recent, involved a Chinese tourist suspect who was arrested for murdering a Thai transgender at a rental apartment in Central Pattaya before dawn on Saturday, April 26. The victim’s body had the lung and heart removed, with the lung missing. Her body, identified as Woranand, 25, from Nong Khai province, had been cut open from neck to her genitals.
When the suspect, Mr Fu Tongyuan, 42, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport later on the same day while attempting to board a flight back to China, his face and body were covered with fresh wounds from scratches. Apparently, he was unable to go through the automated immigration gate. He later confessed to Pattaya police of the murder but insisted it was not premeditated despite a CCTV camera capturing him buying tools for the murder hours before the incident, suggesting that it was otherwise. As of press time Sunday, it’s unclear where the removed lung is.
In a bid to attract more and more tourists, Thailand has opened a floodgate with the free-visa scheme and now realised the gate was too wide. Trying to identify potential criminals and lawbreakers from decent tourists won’t be easy, however, as some may have no previous criminal records.
From May 1, the government will also introduce a digital arrival card, replacing the traditional embarkation card (TM6 form).
“The upgrade is part of Thailand’s push to enhance efficiency, reduce paperwork, and improve the arrival experience. The TDAC system will be fully integrated with immigration, health, visa, and customs services, helping streamline entry procedures,” stated the Public Relations Department. The department didn’t say the new system can and will help screen visitors with criminal records and speed up any possible urgent identification process in hope of apprehending those who end up committing a crime in Thailand, or barring them from entry, however.
While it is understandable that some adjustment to the free-visa scheme is needed to tackle crimes, it is also imperative that the new scheme will be sensible and reached after thorough consultations with both stakeholders in the tourism industry as well as law enforcement agencies. Perhaps a public hearing process might help too as the matter should not be done in haste andhas a broader implication. It should also be fair and non-discriminatory to any particular nation.
Also, Thailand should not revise its visa scheme every few months as it will cause unnecessary confusion among potential tourists and ultimately undermine the Thai tourism industry itself.
Cardinals stand during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
VATICAN CITY (AP) — One of Pope Francis’ enduring legacies was that he greatly expanded the diversity of cardinals who will elect his successor, naming “princes of the church” from faraway countries that had never had one before.
That legacy is now throwing a wrench in the traditional sport of speculating about the next pope, since these far-flung cardinals don’t know one another well and haven’t coalesced into clear voting blocs going into the conclave, the centuries-old ritual to elect a new pope.
As a result, all that is certain about the upcoming conclave is that there is no certainty.
As the Oscar-nominated film “Conclave” made clear, the election of a pope is a Hollywood-worthy drama steeped in mystery, secrecy and faith. But real-world politics and personal calculations come into play and will weigh on the 130-plus cardinals when they enter the Sistine Chapel to cast their ballots.
What will the cardinals be looking for?
No date has yet been set for the conclave, but it must start by May 10. After Francis’ funeral Saturday, the cardinals who have flocked to Rome will meet regularly this week, sizing one another up as they discuss the needs of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church following Francis’ revolutionary papacy.
A view of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Francis’ 12-year pontificate was characterized by a focus away from doctrinaire rules to making the church more inclusive and welcoming. For progressives, it was a refocusing of mission back to the Gospel’s mandate to care for poor people and feed the hungry. For conservatives, Francis sowed confusion by introducing wiggle room in hot-button cultural issues such as the church’s teaching on marriage and homosexuality.
As a result, the cardinals face a fundamental decision when looking for a successor: Does the church need someone to continue Francis’ legacy, focusing on the marginalized as Jesus did? Or does it need a course correction to rebuild unity, after Francis’ radical reforms alienated some?
One question is whether the conservative wing, which counts cardinals from Africa, Eastern Europe and part of the U.S., has enough votes to swing the pendulum back to the doctrinaire papacies of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
Beyond that, the cardinals will consider more practical matters: Pick someone in his 60s and you might have a pope for 20-plus years, for better or worse. Pick a pope from where the church is alive and growing – Asia or Africa – and you might bring more upheaval to the Vatican’s Italian-heavy bureaucracy that is still smarting from the Argentine pope’s go-it-alone style.
Pick a relatively unknown pope and he’s just that, unknown.
Who are the contenders?
Chatbots and bookmakers’ predictions aside, it’s really anyone’s guess, said Alberto Melloni, a church historian.
“They barely know each other,” Melloni said, recalling that in his last batch of cardinals alone, in December, Francis added 20 new voters to the conclave. These cardinals hailed from Algeria, Argentina and Australia and points in between, and may have first met the day they got their red hats.
The coffin of Pope Francis is carried in front of dignitaries, including President Donald Trump, center, and French President Emmanuel Macron, left, during his funeral in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
Of course there are some leading candidates. They stand out as front-runners simply because they are the most well-known.
– Cardinal Pietro Parolin is a leading Italian, by nature of his office: He was Francis’ secretary of state, the Vatican No. 2, so known to every cardinal in the Sistine Chapel.
– The top candidate to be history’s first Asian pope is also on everyone’s short list because he’s got a similarly high-profile Vatican job: Filippino Cardinal Luis Tagle, who heads the Vatican’s evangelization office responsible for the Catholic Church in much of the developing world.
– A leading candidate representing more of the conservative wing of the church is Hungarian Cardinal Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest.
“You don’t see in this moment real front-runners, because to be a front-runner, you need already to have behind you a packet of votes,” said longtime Vatican watcher Marco Politi, whose upcoming book “The Unfinished” explores Francis’ unfinished business.
Kingmakers expected to have a big role
Because the cardinals don’t know each other well, no one is seen to have secured the packet of votes, suggesting it might take several rounds of voting to get a two-thirds majority.
Melloni said cardinals shouldn’t be afraid to let the conclave drag on, even if it sends a message of division as black smoke day after day signals a lack of consensus.
“Certainly the church is divided. The problem is to find the one who unites, not pretend that it isn’t divided,” Melloni said.
A man takes images of the tomb of Pope Francis as faithful are allowed inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The lack of front-runners has made the “kingmakers” more important in this conclave.
These are the influential figures who themselves may not be considered “papabile” but can rally votes from other cardinals in a particular direction. They include New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx and Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the Franciscan archbishop of Kinshasa who heads the African bishops’ conference.
Just because they were named by Francis …
While 108 of the voting-age cardinals were created by Francis, they may not necessarily follow his mercy-over-morals line: Some may support Francis’ call for the church to be more inclusive, but oppose women priests, Politi said.
“Maybe they agree with the issue of giving Communion to divorced and remarried people, but they don’t want to bless a homosexual couple,” he said. “So this makes this conclave very difficult.”
Marx said the global outpouring of grief after Francis’ death shows support for a pope who will continue his ministry focusing on people who are marginalized and against war.
“People long for a voice that goes beyond national interests, beyond polarizations, beyond discussion about who overwhelms whom and who defeats whom,” Marx told reporters after the funeral.
Some outstanding questions
One question is whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once one of the most powerful cardinals at the Vatican, will be allowed to cast a vote.
Francis in 2020 forced Becciu to resign and relinquish his rights and privileges as a cardinal over alleged financial misconduct. The Sardinian prelate was later convicted of finance-related crimes by the Vatican criminal tribunal.
He is appealing the convictions and has participated in Vatican events since his downfall. At 76, he is under the voting age limit of 80. However, official Vatican statistics list him as a “non elector.” He and his supporters maintain that he didn’t lose his primary duty of electing a pope.
Another question is where the cardinals will sleep.
The coffin of Pope Francis is carried into St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Vatican’s Domus Santa Marta hotel was built in 1996 specifically to house cardinals during a conclave, so they could all be in one place and sequestered.
At the time, St. John Paul II had decreed that there could only be 120 cardinal electors who could participate in a conclave, and the hotel was built to accommodate their numbers. But Francis and his predecessors regularly breached the 120-man threshold and the electors now number 135.
Also, Room No. 201, where Francis chose to live after his 2013 election, is under seal and must remain so until a new pope is elected.
Asked if the cardinals would be asked to double-up in hotel rooms, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni noted that such accommodations would be fitting.
“It’s a great opportunity to create community,” Bruni said.
A 42-year-old Chinese suspect in the murder of a 25-year-old Thai transgender woman, who was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi Airport before fleeing the country, has made a disturbing confession at the Pattaya Police Station on April 26, 2025.
PATTAYA — A 42-year-old Chinese suspect in the murder of a 25-year-old Thai transgender woman, who was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi Airport before fleeing the country, has made a disturbing confession.
He admitted to killing her after being refused sex. Regarding his mutilation of the body, he claimed he “wanted to play” with the corpse.
According to Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo’s disclosure in the early hours of April 27, the suspect, Fu Tongyuen, a welder from Hubei Province, China, has confessed to murdering Woranun, a post-operative transgender woman from Nong Khai Province, in his apartment room in Soi Arunothai, Central Pattaya.
CCTV footage shows the Chinese suspect returning to the apartment in Pattaya after purchasing various suspicious items on April 25, 2025.
Fu, whose face showed scratch marks, gave his testimony through an interpreter with a stern expression and kept his head down throughout. He stated that this was his third visit to Thailand. His first visit was with a tour group, but he traveled alone for his second and third visits because he considered Thailand a safe country.
During this latest trip, he met Woranun on the evening of April 25 near South Pattaya Beach. They exchanged contact information via WeChat. He initially did not realize she was transgender. Around 9 p.m. that same day, she contacted him and they arranged to meet at his rented apartment.
They agreed on a price of 8,000 baht for sexual services, which he paid. However, when the time came, the woman refused and resisted. He then asked for half of his money back, but Woranun refused, leading to a heated argument and physical altercation. He claimed she kicked him off the bed, after which he jumped back onto the bed, straddled her, and strangled her until she went limp.
Immigration officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport arrested a Chinese man suspected of murdering a Thai transgender woman in Pattaya and destroying the body. This was done in coordination with Pattaya police before he could flee the country on April 26, 2025.
After confirming Woranun was dead, he dragged the body into the bathroom. He then began mutilating the corpse, stating he wanted to “play with and tease the body.” Using scissors, he cut from her neck down to her genitals and removed her heart. Regarding the missing lung, he insisted he did not touch it.
After the act, he washed the body and cleaned all blood traces before leaving the body in the bathroom and going to sleep as usual. Upon waking, he quickly booked a flight ticket, took a motorcycle taxi, then a bus to Suvarnabhumi Airport to flee back to China.
Rescue personnel and forensic officers enter the room where the body of a transgender woman who had been murdered and mutilated was found, inside an apartment in Central Pattaya area on April 26, 2025.
When questioned about his motives and whether he suffered from any mental illness, Fu replied, “I don’t know, as I’ve never consulted a doctor.” He only affirmed that he was attacked by the victim, which led to extreme anger and loss of self-control. He expressed his desire to apologize to the victim’s family for his actions.
Regarding police suspicions about his purchase of various items from a 20-baht store before meeting the transgender woman at his room, he claimed he bought them to contain his belongings since he didn’t have a travel bag. As for the scissors he purchased, he alleged they were for self-defense when going out at night.
Police Colonel Anek revealed that the suspect has confessed and acknowledged the evidence. Regarding the victim’s missing organ, they await forensic confirmation, with the investigation still ongoing.
