ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE Corruption rife in all departments Survey highlights perceptions of widespread corruption INSIDE TODAY July 20 - 26, 2013 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 25 Baht Mum pimps daughter for rent money FINALLY! POLICE charged a woman for DESPERATELY NEEDED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROLLS OUT selling the sexual services of her 14- year-old daughter. The woman was caught during a sting operation in which she sold the services of the girl to an undercover police officer for 3,000 baht. Full story on Page 3 Go Eco Phuket takes plunge to remove fishnet LOCAL marine conservation group Go Eco Phuket staged an emergency net removal operation after footage surfaced of a large fishing net en- tangled in the delicate corals of popu- lar Phuket dive site Shark Point. The operation, consisting of 25 dive volunteers and two dive boats donated for the cause, was hailed as a success by organizers after the remains of the net were safely removed from the reef. Full story on Page 8 DSI readies for Somphon Chaisawat (left) will be behind the wheel as the first bus in the six bus fleet of the Phuket Airport Express shifts into gear Friday. crackdown on area on the west coast. All the other bus “I have no fear… It’s my dream come airport taxis By Chutharat Plerin services run from Phuket Town. true,” says Airport Express bus operator DEPARTMENT of Special Investi- For 10 years no business owner has dared Prakob Panyawai. “My hard work has finally gations (DSI) officers will arrive on THE new bus service from Phuket Airport to to confront the sometimes violent Phuket paid off.” the island next week to begin a two- Patong Beach launched today with the man tuk-tuk and taxi cartels, notoriously known “I’m not afraid to run the buses to Patong,” day campaign targeting airport taxi behind the operation saying he has “no fear” for ending the most recent attempt to launch he said. “I have talked to Patong officials and drivers and Russian business of retaliation from local tuk-tuk and taxi mafia. a bus service on the west coast by pulling a Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, son of… owners using Thai nominees. The service is Phuket’s first tourist-oriented driver from the bus and severely beating him bus line to directly serve a major tourism beach in full view of the tourist passengers on board. Continued on Page 2; Special Report: Pages 40-41 Full story on Page 9 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS July 20 - 26, 2013 DSI denies taking tea Property Laguna Golf Club open money for protection for business during By Chutharat Plerin upgrade. Page 13 THE Department of Special Investigation (DSI) denied provid- Business ing “protection services” for illegal Is China’s expansion businesses in a notification released into Southeast Asia a on July 12 which claimed that con artists in Phuket were using the boon or...? PagePage 1717 department’s name to squeeze people for protection money. Events “We received reports that there are people using the DSI’s name Dry Buddhist holidays to collect money from business and a fun Belgian owners who illegally employ National Day. Page 34 migrant workers, as well as those trading pirated goods,” DSI Direc- tor Udom Phetcharakut said. Food The reports of the incidents Authentic Italian food were filed from across the department’s Region 8, which not as complicated as encompasses Surat Thani, you thought. Page 36 Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, DSI Director Udom Phetcharakut says con artists pretending to be DSI Ranong, Chumphon and Nakorn agents are shaking down illegal businesses. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong Sri Thammarat, Mr Udom said. All provinces in Region 8 were “Anybody with information Explore “There is no such thing as ‘pro- ordered to take immediate action about people illegally using the Baz ponders paralells tection money’ that can be paid to against con artists using the DSI DSI name should contact us at between Provence DSI officers,” he said. name and posing as agents. 077-600606,” he said. and Phuket. Page Page 4144 Sport Woman rescued from bridge jump An exclusive interview A 43-YEAR-OLD woman was wrote to her family, asking them rescued from the fast-flowing to forgive her and take care of her with Australia’s swim water in the channel separating children,” Col Prakob said. coach. Page Page 4750 Phuket from the mainland two Kusoldharm Foundation rescue hours after she was last seen workers searched for two hours standing at the railing of Thao but could not find Ms Nisapat. Thepkrasattri Bridge on July 11. “At about midnight, villagers Island rolls forward with buses Rescue workers and Tah Chat fishing at the northern end of the From page 1 Chai Police who rushed to the bridge saw a woman floating in scene soon after 10pm found her the water,” Col Prakob explained. …Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and car and searched it, said Lt Col “She was rushed to the hospi- head of the largest taxi driver Prakob Boonkwan. tal and fortunately only suffered association in Patong. Inside was a purse, a book and minor scratches from the rocks,” Mr Prakob’s initial plan to an identification card confirming he said. have the new bus route also the woman as Nisapat Petchkhao, “She declined to answer any of Rescue workers searched for two serve Kata-Karon was set to start 43, from Phang Nga. my questions,” Col Prakob said. hours in the dark but failed to find in March this year, but met “In the book was a message she – Thawit Bilabdullar the woman. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar threatening opposition from Kata-Karon taxi drivers and did not get official approval, pend- Japanese surfer pulled unconscious from sea at Kata Noi ing more talks with the local Somphon Chaisawat will drive the A JAPANESE surfer rescued on coast beach. drivers. bus on its first run from the airport. the afternoon of July 16 from “The next time the lifeguards Staunch support from route shortened, to Patong, but the strong surf at Kata Noi saw him, at about 4pm, he was Terayout Prasertphol, chief of finally approved. Beach, on Phuket’s west coast, unconscious in the water,” said the Phuket Provincial Land “We will launch our bus at 9am is conscious and recovering at Uten Singsom, head of the Kata- Transportation Office, and the from the airport to Patong,” said a local hospital, the Gazette Karon Lifeguard Club. 29 government officers, airport Mr Prakob. “And I haven’t given was told. “We believe he struck his head officials and tourism and hotel up on getting all the way to Kata- Lifeguards saw the man, on his own board,” he said. Surf at Kata Noi. Photo: Steve Martin industry representatives present Karon. We just need more time. who is believed to be in his early Lifeuards pulled him to shore at a meeting on June 11 saw the One day we’ll make it.” 50s, out surfing the large waves at the popular west and transferred him to hospital. – Orawin Narabal July 20 - 26, 2013 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 First cop to be charged with trafficking suspended from force SGT Maj Weerayuth Feuangfu, the Phang The “ongoing investigation” is being a Rohingya woman who asserts she was Sgt Weerayuth has been charged with dep- Nga policeman believed to be the first Royal carried out by a task force of selected of- repeatedly raped after she left a shelter for rivation of liberty by carrying out abduction Thai Police officer charged with human ficers from the Phang Nga Provincial refugees in Phang Nga on May 27. through deceit, Gen Chalit explained. trafficking, was indefinitely suspended Police who will determine whether or not Sgt Weerayuth is alleged to be the man Col Weerasil Kwanseng, Superintendent from active duty last week. Sgt Weerayuth should be dismissed, and, who picked up the victim and four other of Kuraburi District Police, whose offic- “He was suspended from the Royal if so, with or without pension, Maj Gen Rohingya at the shelter. ers placed Sgt Weerayuth under arrest, Thai Police last week pending the outcome Chalit explained. The man charged with rape, Korlimula previously confirmed that, by law: of the ongoing investigation,” Phang Nga The investigation into Sgt Weerayuth’s Ramahatu, is a former employee of Sgt “Because he is a police officer, his pun- Provincial Police Commander Chalit status as a Royal Thai Police officer stems Weerayuth. ishment will be double [that of a civilian] Kaewyarat said on Monday. from his alleged involvement in the case of In addition to human trafficking charges, if he is found guilty.” – Chutharat Plerin Mum pimps out teen daughter By Kritsada Mueanhawong under the age of 15 is five to 20 years and 10,000 to 40,000 baht. PHUKET police arrested a mother Cases of minors being sold into last week for selling her daughter prostitution by their parents in for sex. Phuket is a rarity, Weeraphat The arrest took place during a Enamuna, an officer at the Phuket sting operation in a karaoke bar in Provincial Office of Social Devel- Wichit. opment and Human Security, said. “An undercover policeman ar- “However, we often find ranged to purchase sex from the women or teenage girls who say 14-year-old girl in the karaoke on they were lured by others into Kwang Road for 3,000 baht,” said prostitution,” Mr Weeraphat said. Wichit Police officer Passakorn “We are aware of and con- Sonthikul. cerned about When the girl this human traf- arrived at a ‘We often find women ficking problem.