Governor to Crack Down on Jet-Ski Scams
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Volume 16 Issue 34 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555 August 22 - 28, 2009 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht The Gazette is published in association with Tragic end to resort Mad about Maseratis INSIDE love tryst TAFF at a luxury resort Police are still unsure on Racha Yai Island are whether he jumped, or fell while in shock after one of the trying to hide from searchers. Shotel’s employees mur- “He either killed himself , or dered a fellow worker before he fell down accidentally,” said climbing a 72-meter mobile phone Col Chinarat. tower and later plummeting to his Col Chinarat said the own death. couple’s relationship hit rock Police said Harin bottom after Mr Harin was Tinnarong, an electrician at the repeatedly unfaithful to Miss luxury Racha resort, stabbed his Varaporn, a reservations agent at girlfriend and colleague, Varaporn the resort, and she told him she Let’s go surfing now Pimhom, on Saturday night after wanted to end the relationship. Local and international surfers she told him she wanted to end Mr Harin became enraged hit the waves in Kamala for the their relationship. and threatened to kill Miss Nattipat Kulwanich and Atchara Itsarachai tried out the front seats King of the Jungle Quiksilver Superintendent Chinnarat Varaporn and a friend who had of one of three Maseratis at Central Festival last week event Rittakananond of Chalong Police advised her to end the relationship, See page 23 said Mr Harin, 31, stabbed Miss Col Chinnarat said. ORE than 40 million probably only ever be an Voraporn, 36, in the chest six or The electrician reportedly told baht’s worth of expensive fantasy. NEWS: Pregant mom’s seven times with a kitchen knife. a friend two days before the tragedy Maserati motor cars The Maseratis are very crime spree; Spinal patient M A fellow worker told he was going to ‘deal with the lot of went on show at Central quick and boast top speeds of returns home; Yellow shirts investigators she heard screams them’, Col Chinnarat said. Festival last week, and although almost 300km/h, but fast see red. Another employee at the Pages 2 - 4 coming from a staff bathroom. there were only three cars, doesn’t come cheap when its When she went to resort told police she heard Mr crowds of car fans, both rich and wearing a Maserati badge. LIFESTYLE: Chill with investigate, she saw Mr Harin Harin telling Miss Varaporn ‘If poor, gathered to dream about The cars range in price Tai Chi Timeout and get running away from the area. you stop being my girlfriend, you owning one. from 12.5 million baht up to an the beef on barbecues. Chalong police rushed to will die’. Atchara Itsarachai and incredible 17.3 million baht. the island and joined security staff Miss Varaporn was taken to Pages 8 & 9 Nattipat ‘Ing’ Kulwanich But for that sort of from the resort in an all-night Phuket by speedboat, but died couldn’t wait to jump into the money, they do have motors, NEW! Family fun with a search for Mr Harin. before rescue workers could get driver’s seat of the open-topped ranging in size up to 4,691cc, new range of puzzles for At 6am, they found his her to Vachira Hospital. Spyder model. which can pump out between young and old alike. broken body at the foot of the Police found the bloodied But with price tags well 400 and 440 horsepower, and tower, about 300 meters from knife which was used to kill Miss beyond their means, these girls can take the car from 0 to 100 Pages 17 & 18 the resort. Varaporn near Mr Harin’s body. understand that owning one will km/h in less than five seconds. His neck was broken. -Kitima Pornmongkhonwat AROUND THE NATION 5; AROUND THE ISLAND 6; LIFESTYLE 9; TEEN TALK 10; EXPAT GALLERY 11; Governor to crack down on jet-ski scams HAPPENINGS 12; WHAT'S ON 15; MONEY TALKS 16; HUKET Governor Wichai those involving jet-skis and “Tourists are falling foul of collude with the jet-ski operators. TAKE A BREAK 17 & 18; Phraisa-ngop has vowed to motorcycle taxis, after Australia’s these scams and complaining to Gov Wichai said fees HOROSCOPES, BOOKS 19; Pclamp down on corrupt Ambassador to Thailand, Paul the government and their demanded to fix ‘damaged’ jet- EDITORIAL AND LETTERS officials and scams such as jet- Grigson, raised the issue with embassies, and although the skis were often inflated to pay 20; FIRST PERSON, ISSUES ski rip-offs following official Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. number of scams is small, the off these corrupt officials. AND ANSWERS 21; SPORT complaints by Australian Mr Grigson told the PM that damage done to the island is The activities of the 22 & 23; PROPERTY diplomatic officials. large numbers of Australian great,” said Gov Wichai. government officials concerned WATCH 24; PROPERTY LE- Deputy Prime Minister tourists had complained about He has vowed to look at the would come under close scrutiny GAL 25; THE GRAY AREA Suthep Thaugsuban has ordered being ripped off by dodgy jet-ski jet-ski scams more thoroughly and and every related agency would 26; GOING GREEN 27; a thorough investigation into operators who demanded has also promised to investigate be contacted over the next CLASSIFIED ADS 28 - 40. scams on the island, particularly exorbitant amounts for repairs. corrupt government officials who week, he said. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS August 22 - 28, 2009 Melissa’s out of hospital Tourism will take off and on her way home on direct flight plans ICHARD Branson’s class, including all taxes Direct flights between Australian airline, V and surcharges. Premium Phuket and Chiang Mai are also RAustralia, is about to economy class will cost planned, and a new fleet of start flying regular direct flights $AUD899 (24,270 baht) and a aircraft had already been ordered from Brisbane and Melbourne business class seat will cost to service the new routes, he said. to Phuket. $AUD1,499 (40,470 baht). Most of his airlines’ The airline, which is a Virgin Blue chief executive bookings, up to 85 percent, were subsidiary of Virgin Blue, will fly Brett Godfrey said the new route now being made online, he said. twice weekly between Brisbane would open up ‘some very “That gives us a big and Phuket and once a week exciting opportunities’. advantage because it means we between Melbourne and Phuket. Meanwhile, Air Asia is don’t have high overheads, and The Brisbane flights will planning to transform Phuket into can therefore offer better value begin on November 22, and the an international hub by the end ticket prices,” he said. Melbourne flights are set to start of the year. Mr Tassapon said a resort on December 3. Thai Air Asia CEO, destination such as Phuket N American tourist who was taken to a ferry wharf in a And in a move which is sure Tassapon Bijleveld, said the needed airline support to bring in wheelbarrow after breaking her back in a cliff diving to boost tourism for Phuket, the number of Air Asia passengers the tourists, and once Phuket was Aaccident, is out of hospital and is on her way home to Korea. airline is offering super cheap had increased by 20 percent in opened up to major population Melissa Kelman, 28, a belly dancing teacher from St Louis, discount flights to launch its the first half of this year, and the centers in the region, the number Missouri, shattered three vertebrae in her back when she jumped new routes. airline was now keen to introduce of tourists would increase rapidly. into the sea from a 20-meter clifftop on Phi Phi. For a limited time, direct flights from Phuket to Ho Earlier this year, Air Asia Because there are no cars on the island, the only way to get Australians will be able to fly to Chi Minh City in Vietnam, opened an office in Patong, and her to a ferry which would take her to hospital was by wheelbarrow. Phuket for only $AUD399 Guangzhao in China, and Bali and there are now plans to open a When she arrived in Phuket, X-rays revealed she had (10,770 baht) one way economy Medan in Indonesia. second office in Phuket City. shattered three vertebrae. Surgeons at Phuket International Hospital operated and fused the vertebrae. She was allowed to leave hospital last week, but will have to wear Police charge pregnant mum a back brace for at least the next five months, probably even longer. Before flying home to South Korea, where she now lives, HALONG police have Melissa said her doctors had told her she would probably never arrested an eight-months dance again. Cpregnant woman who they She is now hoping to resume her English teaching career. say systematically robbed more Melissa said she had instructed her lawyer to seek damages than 40 beauty salons. from the tour company which organized her Phi Phi trip. Tassanee Suklan, 28, from - Fraser Morton Koh Kaew, has been charged with stealing and receiving stolen goods. Police raided her home and recovered a range of items including a laptop computer, three mobile phones, and a motorbike, all suspected of being stolen. Police Major Jarun Bang- prasert said Mrs Tassanee had been stealing from beauty salons for the past year. He said the mother of two befriended her victims, and as soon A victim identifies Tassanee Suklan at Chalong police station. as they turned their backs or left the room, she would steal whatever admitted stealing wallets, mobile She said her husband, who she could get her hands on.