June 14, 2014
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ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE Plan it Watch it Love it INSIDE TODAY June 14 - 20, 2014 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 25 Baht ARMY BACKS DISMANTLING OF TAXI MAFIA ‘Fake’ cops turn out to be real deal THREE men caught on CCTV falsely identifying themselves as Patong Police officers when checking the work per- mits of foreign staff at a Patong restaurant were later CRUSHED identified as Phuket Provincial Police. The plainthclothes officers, new to the island, refused to show their official IDs when conducting the search. The incident was written off as a misunderstanding. Full story on Page 6 Killer Dane released by Thai police DANISH national Dennis Mark Knudsen, apprehended at least three times by Thai police, has been arrested in Denmark for fatally slashing his pregnant girlfriend’s throat with a steak knife. Full story on Page 3 Police sting Historic move paves way for public transport nets illegal scores of drivers for working illegally or for allow the Airport Express Bus to extend its route By Gazette Reporters deceptive, violent or abusive behavior. from Patong, where the service currently termi- Dozens of illegal taxi stands were torn down nates, to the southern reaches of Kata Beach. abortionists THE historic overthrow of Phuket’s taxi mafia at key tourist beach spots along the west coast. “After we have cleared all illegal taxi booths TWO Myanmar nationals who by the Royal Thai Army and regional police this Taxi mafiosos offered little resistance; some from Karon and arrested all the people who be- operated a roaming, illegal past week has opened the door for public trans- even helped officers dismantle the illegal taxi have like mafia, it’s time to set up a new plan for abortion service in Phuket port to finally gain a foothold on the island. stands, while others begged for mercy (see public transportation,” he said. were arrested as they readied More than 1,000 officers, supported by sol- pages 4-5). “At this stage, the easy way is to expand the to perform an abortion in a diers from the Fourth Area Command in Nakhon Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut told the airport bus route to cover all areas… hotel room. Sri Thammarat, landed on the island on June 4 crushed taxi cartel leaders in Kata-Karon on and immediately began the purge by arresting Tuesday that he will take the opportunity to Continued on Page 4 Full story on Page 8 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS June 14 - 20, 2014 Cement truck flips on rainy Property Karon hill, kills Swiss expat Sansiri presents great By Kritsada Mueanhawong deals on prime Phuket A PHUKET expat from Switzer- properties. Page 11 land was crushed to death on June 4 when a cement truck slid out of control on Karon Hill and crushed Business his car. New Thanyapura CEO Philippe Wagner, 46, died in- stantly, said Lt Weerayuth outlines his vision for the Thansirisukhaworakul of the future. Page 35 Karon Police. “He was alone in the car when the accident happened,” he added. Travel Mr Wagner was on Patak Road, Malaysia’s capital is a travelling toward Kata-Karon, worthy weekend break when an oncoming cement truck swerved violently into his path, destination. Page 36 witnesses told police. “The truck driver, Chart Junjit, Food 58, said that he was forced to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a A mix of Thai and Japa- motorcycle that had pulled out in nese flavors at Kyoto front of him. The motorcyclist restaurant. Page 39 was dodging a parked car,” Lt Weerayuth explained. Witnesses reported that the In Focus truck slid out of control on the wet road. Discover the secrets of Philippe Wagner was killed instantly when the cement truck lost control The truck flipped onto Mr on Karon Hill after having to slam on brakes to avoid hitting a motorcycle. Phuket’s new tourist Wagner’s car, crushing it, and also attraction. Page 40 struck the hood of a pick-up truck. the victims from their vehicles,” “We will reveal further infor- Police declined to name the Lt Weerayuth said. mation when we have a clearer pick-up truck driver, but identified The driver and Ms Kanyanit, as understanding of what happened,” Sport his passenger as Kanyanit well as Mr Wagner’s body, were Lt Weerayuth said. Full Metal Dojo brings Chocksawat, 41. taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, “We are still calling witnesses the sport of MMA to the “The two suffered only minor he added. in for their statements, and we injuries. Rescue workers took Police are continuing their have yet to finish questioning the Thai public. Page 45 more than two hours to free all investigation into the accident. driver of the pick-up truck.” Police bust drug den Students return gold to thankful Filipino STUDENTS at Phuket Rajabhat PHUKET Police arrested three University brought a Filipino to drug dealers on June 6 at their Koh tears last week after turning in a Kaew house in possession of more gold bracelet that he had lost at than 2,000 pills of ya bah (meth- the school gym. The item is said amphetamine) and more than 3 to be worth about 135,000 baht. grams of ya ice (crystal metham- One of the students found the phetamine). treasured piece of jewellery and Police made the arrests after a immediately turned it in to one of tip-off led them to the house in the teachers there. Chaofa Garden Home housing es- “I went home to Patong and The three Phuket drug dealers. tate, said Lt Col Jarun Bangprasert noticed that I wasn’t wearing any of the Phuket Provincial Police. The three men, all Phuket na- gold at all, so I went back to the “We had been watching the tives, were named as Anupong school to look for it,” Philippine Mr Causing’s gold bracelet is valued at about 135,000 baht. Photo: Supplied house for a while, then we saw “Em” Chaitong, 34, Theerasarn national Rainelle John Causing told from the physical education teach- teachers turned it down. three people leave at the same “Pop” Sentira, 25, and Apisit “A” the Gazette. ers in the gym. I approached one “The teachers were proud of time,” Col Jarun said. Songsaeng, 20. Mr Causing, who had been of the female teachers, named Jay, their students’ honesty,” Mr Caus- “We stopped them and asked to The suspects were charged playing basketball in the gym ear- and she told me that a student had ing said. search the house. Inside we found with possession of a Category 1 lier, searched but found nothing. found it and given it to her. “I just cried and hugged Jay. I 2,833 ya bah pills and 3.4 grams drug with intent to sell. “I was so hopeless. I thought Mr Causing attempted to pay a was so thankful.” of ya ice.” – Thawit Bilabdullar my last option was to ask for help reward, but the students and – Isaac Stone Simonelli June 14 - 20, 2014 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Dane slashes girlfriend’s throat Knudsen arrested in Denmark after being released by Thai police By Phuket Gazette schizophrenic. When I get flash- backs, my thoughts are violent, DANISH national Dennis Mark and I do not know where I am. Knudsen, the intended target of a Sometimes I have to open the door street shooting in Patong last year, and look out to see where I am,” has been arrested in he said, according to Denmark for fatally a subsequent report. slashing his 33-year- Knudsen was first old pregnant girl- arrested by Pattaya friend’s throat with a Police on September steak knife. 20, 2012 for skipping Knudsen had pre- bail on an embezzle- viously been in ment charge. custody in Thailand Pattaya Police and released at least handed Knudsen over three times by Thai to the Patong Police. authorities. However, Knudsen Knudsen was ar- Dennis Mark Knudsen. was free on Phuket’s rested on June 7 after police were streets in time for the January 24, alerted to the murder, which 2013 street shooting by Australians Cohen and Shea named Knudsen as their target when they opened fire in Patong. Photo: Chaichana Keowkaew occurred while the victim’s five- John Cohen, 32, and Adam Shea, Knudsen’s life, Patong Police said The Patong Police officers who tary-General Col Pravesana Mul- year-old son and a seven-year-old 26, who both named the Dane as they were “not interested” in ques- failed to provide enough evidence pramook said on May 6. daughter were in another room of their intended target when they tioning him over the shooting. to charge the Australians over the The Gazette has yet to learn of the apartment, reported Danish opened fire on Patong’s busy Soi Knudsen was later arrested a shooting are to be investigated by any investigation into how national newspaper Ekstra Bladet. Sansabai. third time, in Phuket, for undis- the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Knudsen was granted freedom In court on June 8, Knudsen Two German tourists were closed reasons. Commission (PACC). again by the Phuket authorities and claimed that he had doubts about injured by wayward bullets. Both Australians Cohen and Shea “I must withhold the names of allowed to return to his home his mental health. injuries were non-fatal. were released after serving about the officers as they have yet to be country, where he now faces trial “I cannot figure out if I’m Despite the failed attempt on 40 days in prison.