ANDAMAN Edition Volume 18 Issue 37 September 10 - 16, 2011 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht ‘Kidnap rapist’ freed from jail SPECIAL REPORT THE man who confessed to kid- napping, imprisoning, repeatedly raping and robbing at least six Nepali women in Phuket has been released from prison and had most of the charges against him dropped, the Phuket Gazette has learned. After his arrest on April 1, Phakpoom Maneerat, 30, confessed to police that he impersonated a police officer to abduct the women – all employed in the tourist oriented Tuptim still in the fight retail sales industry in Patong – and took them to locations in Krabi and BABY Tuptim’s family has given about 300,000 baht of remaining funds Nakhon Sri Thammarat where they from the “Save Tuptim” fundraiser to The Rama Hospital Foundation, which will administer a trust fund to pay for Tuptim’s medical bills. were confined and repeatedly raped Phakpoom kept his head down at the press conference in April. Pictured above with Tuptim and the cheque are (from left) Will Elliot, over a period of days. manager of Tiger Muay Thai; Grainne Farrell of Phuket-based medical He restated his confession before produce identification papers, the ficer of the law to abduct, rape and tourism company, Lotus Medical; Tuptim’s father, Rattanachai “Kru the media at a press conference at young woman said. rob his victims. Nai” Jadngooluem; and her mother, Nit Jadngooleum. Patong Police Station on April 3. When she was unable to do so, Nonetheless, the only charge When she was three months old, Tuptim was diagnosed with a Also at the station was one of he ordered her into the vehicle and remaining against him is that of terminal liver condition known as biliary obstruction. To keep her baby alive, her mother, Nit, donated part of her liver the confessed rapist’s victims, a 25- took her to an unspecified loca- impersonating a police officer, a during a marathon 18-hour surgery, performed by Bangkok-based year-old woman who told police she tion in Krabi, where she was held representative of the Attorney specialist Dr Sumate Teeraratkul. was walking with friends on March in captivity and raped repeatedly General told the Gazette. Though her lifesaving operation is behind her, Tuptim and her family 28 along a road behind Jungceylon until she was returned to Patong He was released from Phuket still face the financial burden of monthly visits to hospital in Bangkok shopping complex when a Toyota by the accused on April 1. Prison on June 24 based on a re- and the expensive immunosuppressant drugs she will have to take Vigo pickup cut them off. At the press conference, quest from the Phuket Provincial for years. Their fight is not over and thus the fundraiser will continue accepting Phakpoom emerged from the Phakpoom admitted that in every Prosecutor’s Office. contributions, which can be directed to The Ramathibodi Foundation. vehicle and asked the group to case he identified himself as an of- See pages 4-5 for full story Brit fraud fugitive faces Phuket reprisal Lest We Forget A BRITISH expat wanted by an interna- cheated another expat out of 75,000 baht. As the Gazette was going to print, Po- tional division of the UK’s Serious Orga- Mr Ridden confirmed with the Phuket lice Col Boonlert Onklang said that 10 people nized Crime Agency (SOCA) for “numer- Gazette that he had been contacted by the had filed complaints. ous fraud offenses” was arrested in a British Embassy in Bangkok but declined One woman said that Mr Ridden bor- Phuket sting operation on Tuesday. to comment on why he was wanted by UK rowed her motorbike and then rented it out Paul Ridden, 58, was fooled into meeting authorities. to tourists. a friend in front of Chalong Police Station, Following his arrest, people began arriv- He also hired cars from local rental op- where the keys to his car were confiscated, ing at Chalong Police Station to file complaints erators, then rented them out to tourists, Tourist Police volunteer Jum Ali Khan said. against Mr Ridden, all relating to cheating or “like subletting,” one man said. Sussex Police in the UK made a public deceit of the plaintiffs. Police also noticed that Another man said he rented a car from appeal for help finding Mr Ridden after he his visa had expired on May 16 and he was Mr Ridden and was still waiting for his de- jumped bail in April. The sting operation was due in court to face overstay charges on posit to be returned. “That was two weeks For a look at how today’s youth learn about how the attacks on September 11, 2001 carried out by Chalong Police after they Thursday. He also faces additional charges ago,” he said. shaped the world, see our report on page 18. received complaints that Mr Ridden had of working without a work permit. Continued on page 3 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS September 10 - 16, 2011 Lifeguards step up Business Find out exactly who surf safety campaign are the richest Thais in By Chutharat Plerin Asia. Page 11 THE unveiling of plans for a new Fashion lifeguard “education center” at Nai Harn Beach last Friday also saw Tailor-made: What the announcement of new surf working women wear warning signs for tourists and a on the job. Page 14 training program to educate more locals about the dangers of swim- ming in the sea. Health New signs will be posted on How being bomarded Phuket beaches this year in five by solar atoms is good languages – Thai, English, Japa- nese, German and Russian – said for you. Page 16 Phuket Lifeguard Center President Prathaiyuth Chuayuan. Tri Tim, try! He also explained that the train- Beating diabetes on the ing conducted at the center, to be given by trained lifeguards, will be Lifeguards simulate performing CPR on a volunteer ‘drowning victim’. road to the Phuket offered to everyone. triathlon. Page 23 “The center will teach lifesav- In Phuket on a two-day visit, fore construction could begin. ing skills to anyone – children, Simon Farbenbloom, Deputy Head “Construction will take two Property adults and tourists – through Thai of Mission at the Australian Em- months,” he added. and English programs. bassy to Thailand, was impressed “Six to seven surf lifesavers MEP: Putting home “Most reported rescues involve by the move to open the center. from Australia will arrive to train safety back on the Thai swimmers, and most of them “It is my great pleasure to visit at the Karon Sea Rescue Center were teenagers who sneaked away this area, which in the not-too-dis- between September 13 and 17, the drawing board. Page 27 from their parents to go to the tant future will be transformed into last day of which will be a skill beach. So we will be using the the Phuket Lifesaving Education test carnival,” Mr Prathaiyuth Sport Thai program most,” he said. Center – the first of its kind in added. UNITED THEY FALL: Nai Harn was chosen as the Phuket,” he said. The carnival, last year held on Bangkok United in location for the center as it already Mr Prathaiyuth explained to the Patong Beach, proved popular in has trained lifeguards who can visiting diplomat that the project raising awareness of surf lifesav- town for Thai League help, and the lifeguards stationed was now waiting only for autho- ing skills and in developing a showdown. Page 43 there have good support from the rization from Paiboon Upatising, healthy respect for the strong rip local community, Mr Prathaiyuth president of the Phuket Provincial tides that plague specific loca- said. Administration Organization, be- tions along Phuket beaches. Drugs campaign targets kids ABOUT 300 students joined a Fast action nabs murder suspects four-day “anti-drugs camp” as POLICE took just hours to track as a gik (casual sex partner) of part of a new campaign by Phuket down and arrest three teenagers the victim, who reportedly enjoyed City Police targeting youngsters. wanted for the strangling murder the company of young men and The children, from schools of a resort worker last week. boys, police said. throughout Phuket Town, gath- At least two more suspects re- Police said Poe was not at the ered at Srinagarindra, The main at large. scene when the four other mem- Princess Mother School Phuket in Police presented two of the bers of the gang strangled Mr Saphan Hin for the camp. suspects to the press at Phuket Yusop, stuffed his body under a “Drug addiction is still a big City Police Station last Friday. bed, and drove off with his pos- problem in Phuket, and the prob- Students assume the ‘arrest The suspects were identified as sessions, according to the other lems caused by drugs have been position’, with their hands held Charin “Mutt” Chokekue and suspects. behind their heads, on first day of continually increasing,” said the drug camp. Kittiphum “Phum” Jutangka, both The killing followed an alterca- Phuket City Police Superintendent 18 and both from Phuket. Murder suspects Kittiphum ‘Phum’ tion that began after the victim Chote Chidchai. ecstasy, crystal methamphet- The third suspect arrested, a Jutangka (left) and Charin ‘Mutt’ continually tried to fondle the pri- “The age group of the people amine, marijuana and inhalants, 17-year-old male, was not pre- Chokekue. vate parts of Mutt, police quoted who become involved with drugs among other types, he said. sented to the press. Two other suspects, identified the suspects as saying. is 15-25, and 70 per cent of them “We are aware of the issues and All three teenagers have con- as Panuwat “Boy” Klindee and Police are still searching for are new drug users,” he added.