ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE Battle against metered taxi rip-offs Vice Governor champions Aussie’s airport taxi claim INSIDE TODAY February 22 - 28, 2014 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 25 Baht Six seeking asylum to be released FOUR Syrians and two Leba- Boat hazards nese that have been stuck in limbo at Phuket International Airport after Chinese Immi- gration Officers seized their passports and sent them back to Phuket are expected to make forward progress in their journey this week. cleared away Full story on Pages 4 Divers save Moorings thought reef from to have sunk two boats illegal net A GROUP of dive instructors within a year removed and dive masters saved doz- ens of reef fish that were from Chalong Bay tangled in a drift net draped over the popular dive desti- By Saran Mitrarat nation and marine protected area Shark Point. EIGHT unmarked concrete moorings near the Chalong Officials praised the Pier fairway that are believed to have sunk two boats divers’ work and asked for since they were installed in 2012 were removed on help in their battle against il- February 14. legal fishing as it continues “I think it is best to have the blocks near the fair- to take a toll on the reefs. way removed to prevent further accidents,” said Full story on Page 7 Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut, maintaining that no blocks exist within the approach channel itself. Four more Chief Phuripat has consistently denied that there were problems with the mooring placements, redi- booze bans recting accusations toward reckless driving; illegal moorings established by locals; and the theft of mooring buoys. on horizon “The buoys are constantly being stolen – we TWO national elections, in cannot keep replacing them forever,” Chief Phuripat March and April, will usher explained this week. in weekend droughts as alco- The first boat to fall victim to the unmarked moor- hol retailers, restaurants and ing blocks was the Darunee, better known as the bars are forced to lock away “Booze Cruise”. The ship, returning from a… the wine, beer and liquor. Continued on Page 5 Eight of the 2.5 ton moorings were removed for the safety of vessels using Chalong Pier. Full story on Page 9 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS February 22 - 28, 2014 Crepe vendor sees Property Outdoor furniture that is stylish, classy and will go livelihood blazed the distance. Page 13 By Kritsada Mueanhawong Business A LONGTIME vendor of Thai mini-crepes saw his sidecar shop Mobile music devices burned to a crisp after a gas leak see strong demand in on February 13. SE Asia. Page 17 It took firefighters 20 minutes to put out the fire, near Muang Municipal School in Phuket Town. Food “I’ve been selling mini-crepes Asian cinema does well (kanum tokyo) to Muang Phuket School students every evening for at Berlin International a long time,” said the 44-year-old film fest. Page 37 owner of the stand, Prayoon Inpuang. “Today when I started to make History the desserts, I smelt gasoline and The story of Thalang’s heard the sound of it leaking.” heroic nine rulers – part As Mr Prayoon was searching for the source, the sidecar caught one. Page 42-43 fire. He shouted for help from nearby vendors, but the stand was Aviation quickly engulfed in flames. “I couldn’t believe my eyes; the Somchai examines the crepe stand was my only source viability of key regional of income,” said Mr Prayoon. flights. Page 44 When officers arrived at the scene, they found a crowd of people gathered around the blaz- Mr Prayoon had been selling mini-crepes to school children for years. Sport ing sidecar, said Capt Porntip Phuket United win their Choomsri of the Phuket City stall, the cost of which Mr will make money in the future,” Police. Prayoon will have to cover. said Mr Prayoon. first match of the futsal The flames had gotten high “I don’t have money to pay for Firefighters managed to subdue season. Page 51 enough to reach and burn the elec- the burnt electrical wires. I just the flames, but the damage to the trical wires hanging above the lost my job. I don’t know how I sidecar was already done. Frenchman’s pointed request Cops arrest Italian drug Swede falls for refund sends him to jail to his death POLICE arrested a Frenchman Mr Lahkim dealer in sting operation for threatening a Phuket conve- left the store, AN ITALIAN man was busted for from bar top nience store clerk with a pair of but returned a selling ya ice (crystal metham- scissors in an attempt to get a re- few minutes phetamine) to undercover cops in A SWEDISH tourist fell to his fund last Saturday. later. Picking a sting operation in Patong Mon- death early Tuesday morning Riad Lahkim, 37, had bought a up a pair of day evening. while dancing on top of a bar mobile phone at the 7-eleven the scissors, he Fabio Milan Bocca, 35, was counter in Patong. previous Thursday. Dissatisfied, he demanded Ms Mr Lahkim arrested at a rental house on “Witnesses in the bar said that took it back to the store two days Sunisa give him Pisitkoranee Road in possession the man had been drinking before later – at 4:30am. the money. She handed over 2,000 of 8.52 grams of ya ice, 6.79g of he decided to climb onto the “He bought the phone for 1,200 baht and Mr Lahkim fled. marijuana and a single ya bah countertop and dance,” said a baht and asked for his money The event was captured on (methamphetamine) pill. Fabio Bocca after his arrest. Patong Kusoldharm rescue foun- back,” said Sunisa Mueanlamai, a CCTV, and by 1pm, police had lo- “Our superintendent asked us dation worker. clerk at the store. cated the thief at his hotel in Patong. to stomp out drugs in Patong, so entered and identified ourselves as “The bar was wet and slippery. “I told him I didn’t have the au- He confessed to the robbery and we chased up a lead about Mr officers. Inside we found his stash He lost his balance, fell and hit his thority to give him a refund, and he was charged, said Maj Suthichai Fabio,” Lt Col Khunnadet Na of drugs and drug paraphernalia." head hard on the ground,” said the would have to wait for the manager Tianpho of the Patong Police. Nongkhai of the Patong Police told Mr Bocca was charged with worker. to come to work,” said Ms Sunisa. – Kritsada Mueanhawong the Gazette. possession of a Category 1 Drug Rescuers were alerted at 1am “We went to the house to buy with intent to sell and with pos- of the accident and rushed to the drugs as part of a sting operation. session of a Category 5 Drug with scene, near the OTOP Market in As soon as he opened the door, we intent to sell. – Thawit Bilabdullar Patong. When they arrived, they found the body of Lars Hasselberg, 57, on the ground. “We did not see any blood or wounds on his body,” said the res- cue worker. The cause of Mr Hasselberg’s death was confirmed at Patong Hospital. “He died as a result of severe head trauma,” Patong Hospital Di- rector Dr Sirichai Silapa-acha told the Gazette. The Swedish embassy has been notified of Mr Hasselberg’s death. – Thawit Bilabdullar February 22 - 28, 2014 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 V/Gov tackles metered taxi on tourist’s behalf By Saran Mitrarat PHUKET Vice Governor Mrs Pranit was struck by a Chamroen Tipayapongtada motorcycle while crossing a road. stepped forward to champion a complaint about an airport taxi driver who refused to use his Alzheimer’s meter to take an Australian expat home to Kamala. The 51-year-old man arrived at mum killed Phuket International Airport last Sunday and was met by a metered in accident taxi tout, who explained that it costs 650 baht to go to Kamala. A WOMAN with Alzheimer’s dis- “I said, ‘No, no. Have to use ease who had wandered away the meter,’ pointing to the sign on from home was killed in a hit-and- the booth. He said, ‘No, only use run motorbike accident in Thalang meter to Patong – company says on Sunday night. Kamala is 650 baht,’” the man Pranit Parteep Na Talang, 75, explained in an email to the Ga- first went missing from her home zette. “After much discussion, I in Ban Don at about 2pm Sunday gave up and took the taxi.” afternoon. When informed of the case by Taxi drivers who refuse to use their meters can be banned from servicing the airport after two complaints. “My mother had Alzheimer’s, the Gazette, V/Gov Chamroen that situation by a bad taxi driver.” said, “It was an agreement be- responsible for taxi drivers at the but she could walk well for her said, “Please forward me the mes- If the driver is found to be in tween the passenger and driver. airport. An AoT officer who de- age and often went missing be- sage and copy of the [receipt]. I the wrong, V/Gov Chamroen said Almost all passengers choose to clined to be named asked the cause of her illness,” said her son, will start investigating the matter he would issue a warning. If a take a fixed price instead of the Australian man to file a formal 49-year-old Manas Parteep Na immediately.” complaint about the driver arises metered price.” complaint, including the time and Talang.