ANDAMAN Edition Volume 19 Issue 2 January 14 - 20, 2012 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht Axe attack sparks police crackdown Phil Tufnell in Phuket this week. THE vicious attack of Sri panwa island are breaking the law by resort general manager Vorasit staying open late,” he said. “Pla-wan” Issara at the Rachada He also stressed that police pub in Phuket Town last week has would conduct an impartial inves- Tuffers prompted a crackdown on enter- tigation into the attack, not tainment venues across the island. allowing the victim’s high social Phuket Governor Tri Aug- standing to affect their work. He bowls karadacha on Wednesday promised to wrap up the investi- announced that police and provin- gation within 30 days, as required cial authorities will crack down on by law, and personally review the ’em over nightlife venues staying open later case file before forwarding it to PHIL Tufnell, one of England’s than government-mandated clos- the court. greatest spin bowlers and star ing times, as well as a number of The attack at Ratchada pub, of the BBC show “A Question of other infractions. These include carried out by at least eight young Sport”, spent an evening at the Village Coconut Island bowling allowing entry to patrons under the staff members, took place at the crowd over with tales of his age of 20, employing staff under 4:30am. Like all venues in Phuket career. 18 years of age, as well as drugs Town, which does not have a des- Also dubbed ‘Cat’ and even and handgun law violations. ignated “entertainment zone” like ‘Two sugars’ for his love of tea, Gov Tri said there are about those in Patong and Karon, the the Englishman recounted his 700 nightclubs on the island, of Police arrested six suspects within 24 hours of the Rachada pub attack. club is required to close by 1am. tales of his travels around the world and his days as one of the which only 500 are registered. force will also be set up to carry sit, who was transferred to Phuket Club owner Sawat Prueksakij, world’s greatest cricketers – Getting the remaining 200 prop- out the crackdown island-wide, from Songkhla on Christmas Day. who visited Mr Vorasit in the ICU, including taking 11 wickets erly licensed will be another making surprise inspections at Maj Gen Chonasit also stressed offered his apologies and prom- against Australia in a single objective of Phuket Provincial nightclubs in all eight of Phuket that the timing of the crackdown ised to question his staffers. match – all in the name of charity. Office, he said. police precincts. was not directly related to the at- Rachada pub was ordered closed See page 15 for Neil Quail’s New Phuket Provincial Police “I understand that the closing tack at Rachada pub. for 90 days after the attack and exclusive interview with the man millions have come to Commander Chonasit Wattana- times are unpopular on a tourism “It would have happened even Mr Sawat was fined 5,000 baht know as “Tuffers”. vrangku had earlier announced destination like Phuket, but the law if the attack had not occurred be- for late trading. that a special provincial police task is the law,” said Maj Gen Chona- cause too many venues across the Continued on page 3 Truck driver charged over Patong horror crash By Atchaa Khamlo Dahlan, was riding pillion and side-saddle wide into the oncoming lane before turning on a motorbike operated by her British hus- into the narrow street, probably in order THE driver of the truck involved in the hor- band when the two vehicles collided. not to lose too much momentum as he rific road accident that claimed the life of She fell off and was run over by the started his ascent up the steep hill, she said. an Indonesian woman and her unborn son truck’s rear wheels. The two vehicles met at the entrance to in Patong last Sunday has been charged, Both Ms Erna and her unborn child were the street at the base of the hill, with tragic Patong Police have confirmed to the Ga- killed instantly. results for the Dahlan family. zette. Mullika Satupak, a 72-year-old who runs “The couple hit the side of the truck and Lt Col Chaowalit Neamwadee of Patong a tailor shop in the area, witnessed the ac- the bike went down. Ms Dahlan was thrown Police confirmed that truck driver Aroon cident. She told the Gazette that Mr Dahlan under the vehicle,” she said. Bunnaburi was held at Patong Police Sta- was riding in the northbound lane of the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation rescue tion overnight and released on bail on narrow Nanai Road and turned right onto workers were notified of the accident at Monday. the steep access road that leads to the Royal about 4pm. They took Ms Dahlan’s body “He has been charged with with reck- Crown Hotel. to Patong Hospital. Both vehicles turned into the access road to less driving causing death,” he said. Meanwhile, a cement truck whose driver Mrs Dahlan’s husband suffered only Phuket’s Royal Crown Hotel at the same time, The Indonesian woman, 30-year-old Erna had the same destination in mind swung minor injuries but was deeply traumatized. with tragic results for all. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS January 14 - 20, 2012 Police ordered to News Italian tourists’ kind guesture to parents of investigate assault Methee. Page 5 A YEAR after a woman was attack following a court order. Business beaten unconscious in front of Cherng Talay Police Snr Sgt Ma- tourists on one of Phuket’s most jor Boonlert Champa visited the The next generation: popular beaches, police have fi- scene of the attack, where Ms Fabricating ‘super’ nally launched an investigation Maiwadee recounted her ordeal. after being ordered to do so by “The police officers who had solar panels. Page 11 Phuket Provincial Court. previously been responsible for Maiwadee Thonglor, 25, who the case were transferred,” Snr Review sells fresh fruit to tourists on Surin Sgt Maj Boonlert explained. Beach, was beaten unconscious in “The case is now belongs to Lt Siam Niramit. The broad daylight by a rival beach Col Sarit Bootnongsaeng. He could multi-million baht Thai vendor on January 7 last year, at not come to the scene today be- the peak of Phuket’s high season Ms Maiwadee recounts the attack cause he has other duties to take culture show. Page 17 for tourism. care of. I have just been assigned Lack of police action prompted At the meeting last January, V/ to question the victim,” he said. Looking back her father, Sawang Tonglaw, who Gov Weerawat ordered Thalang Ms Maiwadee told the Gazette Tin mining to gold heads a group of 16 vendors on District Chief Naruenart that four different police officers Surin Beach, to file a complaint at Supattaraprateep and Cherng have been assigned to the case so mining. Phuket’s Phuket Provincial Hall three days Talay Police Superintendent Col far. evolution. Page 19 later. They cited a history of in- Witun Kongsudjai to investigate. “The only reason police offic- timidation and death threats against “The men responsible for at- ers have came to investigate today them. tacking Ms Maiwadee will be was because of the court order,” Property The complaint resulted in a prosecuted,” V/Gov Weerawat she said. Real estate prices in meeting the next day, during vowed at the time. The court order was issued which the people involved in the But since then no police action amid a civil legal suit instigated by Patong shrug off the attack discussed the issue with has been taken, even though Col Ms Maiwadee, she explained. floods. Page 27 high-level officials, including Witun has since been promoted to No criminal charges have ever Weerawat Janpen, a Phuket Vice the position of Superintendent of been filed over the incident, which Sport Governor at that time who now Thalang District Police. left Ms Maiwadee hospitalized for has recently retired from govern- However, on this week, police two weeks. The Bay Regatta. ment service. reopened the investigation into the – Phuket Gazette Putting fun back into Phang Nga. Page 48 Phuket mother takes the search Doctor killed in crash for her daughter to Bangkok A FEW hours after the Seven on a broken window of a house IT HAS been over a month since nowned for helping families trace Days of Dangers road-safety close to the edge of the road, Capt Samudchaya “Nong Pin” missing children. campaign officially ended, a Swed- Somneuk said. Yanpunya, a 12-year-old Phuket Since Mrs Samruay is already ish doctor was killed riding his “We believe he was traveling at school girl, logged off of in Bangkok, she has also decided motorbike on Phuket’s west coast speed when he failed to make the Facebook at a internet cafe in to bring her plight to the attention on the morning of January 5. curve. He hit a house that is right Phuket Town and went missing. of the entire nation. Pol Capt Somneuk Dumkewa beside the road. We found blood Having received no information “I’m also planning to make my of Kamala Police received a call on the side of the house and on of value, Nong Pin’s mother Mrs way to the Thai PBS TV Station reporting the accident at about glass from a broken window on Samruay Saenthaweesuk, 43, told to ask them to help me find Nong 2:30am. the front of the house,” he said.