Airport Van Prices Incident Throws Phuket Tourism Image Into International Spotlight Sport Page 29
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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2019 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, July 26 – Thursday, August 1, 2019 Since 2011 / Volume IX / No. 30 20 Baht ROTI VENDOR HITS EGYPTIAN TOURIST WITH MEAT CLEAVER > PAGE 3 NEWS PAGE 3 Temples warned VANGUARD on tourist scams LIFE PAGE 11 Inside scoop on artisanal gelato Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai faces the press at Karon Police Station last Thursday (July 18). Photo: Tourist Police AIRPORT VAN PRICES INCIDENT THROWS PHUKET TOURISM IMAGE INTO INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT SPORT PAGE 29 Tanyaluk Sakoot hotel in Kata where they were staying. saying they were charged B3,000 price was settled through a private [email protected] Reports of the incident spread for the journey – a figure strongly negotiation between the driver and War Elephants across the internet like wildfire, and denied by the van driver, Phuriphat passengers. eading figures in Phuket’s saw Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chankaew, at Karon Police Station The high price was the result of turn to J-Stars tourism industry have spoken Chan-o-cha overnight calling for last Thursday (July 18). Police did a “misunderstanding”, police said. Lout over the handling of the all people, and especially officials, not reject to Phuriphat’s claim. Meanwhile, Airports of Thailand incident that saw two Australian tour- to take action to prevent any scams Police eventually settled on fining (AoT), the public company that op- ists file a formal complaint against or deceitful behaviours that take Phuriphat B2,000 for illegally having erates the airport, fined Phuriphat’s a passenger van driver for allegedly advantage of tourists. his passenger van at the airport to accomplice Narumon Jumpatong overcharging them to take them from The tourists, Kate Chipperfield and pick up passengers, saying that no B2,000 for illegally roaming the halls Phuket International Airport to the Lauren Meinties, filed their complaint more action could be taken as the of the terminal soliciting customers... CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2019 [email protected] Dangerous surf kills three in less than 24 News hours > p5 Brit expat posts B90k bail on animal cruelty B10mn farm fraud MERVYN HARDING, THE Brit expat living in Rawai who Woman arrested over investment scam was charged with attacking Eakkapop Thongtub money was a good way to a dog in Nai Harn last week, [email protected] help a struggling farmer, so has been released on B90,000 they gave nearly B10 million bail, police have confirmed. 46-year-old woman to Hunsaa,” he said. Harding was presented from Songkhla has “Some of them also gave with charges of animal cruelty A been arrested in their own assets to the sus- and trespass in Phuket Pro- Phuket for fraud and money pect to exchange for cash,” vincial Court last Thursday laundering after conning three he added. (July 18) after he was caught people into donating about Col Thongchai also ex- on CCTV attacking a dog Mervyn Harding, a British B10 million to help a needy plained that Hunsaa had paid with a metal rod in the early expat living in Rawai, has farmer, police have reported. some money back to the vic- minutes last Tuesday morning been released on B90,000 Cherng Talay Police moved tims so they would continue bail while waiting for animal (July 16). cruelty and trespass charges in and arrested Hunsaa Punjoo, to believe they would even- Harding was released just to be heard against him in 46, from Singhanakhon Dis- tually be fully repaid, and hours after his arrival at the court. Photo: Chalong Police trict, Songkhla, at a house in to encourage them to make court, The Phuket News con- (blurred at police request) Srisoonthorn, central Phuket, further donations. firmed on Monday (July 22), at about 9:30am last Sunday The three victims became despite police assurances that he has a criminal record in (July 21). suspicious after the “interest he had been denied bail at Thailand. This will take about Hunsaa was taken into payments” stopped. police request. three weeks or a mouth,” Capt custody under arrest warrant “After investigating, the “I insisted that he be de- Weerayut said. no. 940/2019 issued on July 2, Hunsaa Punjoo, arrested in Phuket, has been taken to victims learned that the story nied bail. Now he is being held Asked what would hap- police said. Bangkok for further questioning. Photo: Royal Thai Police was fake and decided to inform in the detention cells at the pen if Harding repeated his Five officers from Cherng Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police at the Crime Suppres- court,” Capt Weerayut Tanya- behaviour, Capt Weerayut said, Talay Police and eight officers sion Division,” he said. sirisukvorakul of the Chalong “It is a criminal charge to hit from Phuket Provincial Police years ago, when Hunsaa solic- money would be used to pay Investigation by police had Police said last Thursday. a dog. The Phuket Provincial were involved in making the ited donations to help a farmer back a loan the farmer had now confirmed that Hunsaa’s On Monday, however, Capt Court might not allow him to arrest. in financial distress in her with the Bank for Agriculture claims about the money were Weerayut’s response was post bail again.” Another 12 officers from home district Singhanakhon in and Agricultural Cooperatives false, he said. simply, “I don’t know what to Capt Weerayut also said Crime Suppression Division Songkhla province, explained (BAAC). Hunsaa now faces charges say. It is the Phuket Provincial he did not believe Harding (CSD) Subdivision 1, nine Col Thongchai Yooket, Chief After the loan had been of fraud and money launder- Court’s decision.” was flight risk. officers from CSD Subdivi- of Crime Suppression Divi- fully repaid, the BAAC would ing, Col Thongchai confirmed. Capt Weerayut said that “I am not worried about sion 6 and a further nine CSD sion’s Subdivision 1. allow the farmer to take out a Hunsaa has accepted the it will take about a month for him fleeing because Phuket subdivision deputy command- The investigation began new loan of a larger amount, charges, police noted in their Harding’s case to be heard Provincial Court is holding his ers were also all named in the after three victims filed police from which the farmer would report. in court. passport and notified Phuket report, giving a total of 43 complaints against Hunsaa in be able to pay back the dona- “The suspect will be taken “Meanwhile, I am waiting Immigration already. He is not officers named as involved in November-December 2018, tions with interest, he said. to Crime Suppression Divi- for the Criminal Record Divi- able to travel out of Thailand,” the investigation and placing he said. All three victims were sion’s Subdivision 1 headquar- sion of Royal Thai Police in Capt Weerayut said. Hunsaa under arrest. The victims said that Hun- elderly, Col Thongchai noted. ters for further investigation,” Bangkok to confirm whether The Phuket News The case dates back two saa had told them that the “They thought giving the Col Thongchai said. Airport van price incident marks drivers’ free reign Continued from page 1 of Thai Hotels Association Southern ...to his van as a transport service. Chapter, was no less damning in his No explanations were given as to assessment. “I find that this kind of how the van was allowed into the airport problem always happens in nighttime… passenger pickup area or how Narumon It would be better if tourists get a receipt openly solicited customers inside the showing the fare paid and the distance main terminal undetected despite the travelled to prevent overcharging and alleged high security measures in place further ‘misunderstandings’,” he said. at Phuket’s key tourism portal. Phuket tourism stalwart Bhuritt “The Phuket Land of Transport Of- Governor Phakaphong felt it necessary Maswongssa, General Manager of the fice (PLTO) Chief should prevent such to call in public transport operators to Patong Resort Hotel and key member incidents from happening again. This explain ‘good service’. Photo: PR Dept Tourism Development Committee of problem does not happen in a country South Andaman Tourism Development where laws are strictly enforced,” said they are fair for tourists and for drivers,” Area under the Ministry of Tourism and Thanusak Phungdet, President of the Mr Thanusak stressed. Sports, openly admitted that the issue of Phuket Chamber of Commerce. “I will present this idea and push tourists being overcharged by transport “Officials should set up signs show- this issue hard in my next meeting with drivers at the airport was not new. ing the fares that are supposedly already Phuket Governor soon,” he said. “We have had this problem for a long installed in the visible public areas (at Mr Thanusak agreed with PM Prayut time,” Mr Bhuritt told The Phuket News. the airport). Then tourists can see the that much lies at stake in the damage “The standard of services for tour- prices and make decisions before using that can be done to Phuket’s tourism ists needs to be clearer, safer and more the service without any need to negoti- industry by such incidents. “This has satisfying. It depends on our action and ate,” he added. without doubt damaged Phuket’s tourism how we enforce the law,” he said plainly. “The fares should also be shown image. It has been shared many times “Don Muang airport and Suvarn- on the Phuket International Airport on social media and impacted us in a abhumi airport can solve this problem, website, and the fares charged need to negative way,” he said.