ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE Takeoff delayed Civil Aviation revamp takes toll on industry INSIDE TODAY June 13 - 19, 2015 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation Photo: Mathew Reyes 20 Baht ‘ACCORDING TO CCTV HE WAS ATTACKED BY THE MEN’ Officials warn of leaking cash through pipes LEAKY water pipes landed a Rassada resident with a more than 16,000-baht water bill to pay, prompting Phuket authorities to is- sue a home maintenance advisory Self defence to all island dwellers. The resident was stunned to re- ceive a 16,829-baht water bill for Patong Police the month of May after having be- come accustomed to paying a drop case against maximum of 200 baht. Full Story Page 5 Australian expat Eight netted for By Kongleaphy Keam running illegal POLICE have dropped the case against Austra- gambling site lian expat and Phuket community member Mark POLICE are searching for the head Pendlebury for the fatal stabbing of a nightclub of an online gambling operation af- employee across the street from the island’s famed ter eight Koreans were caught last party strip, Soi Bangla, in March. week running a gambling site out The decision was made by police after CCTV of an apartment in Phuket. footage surfaced backing claims that Mr The arrests follow a report in Pendlebury had acted in self defence when con- March from police in Bangkok fronted by 25-year-old Sanya Khlueawaengmon about the gambling racket. Phuket in the early hours of March 11. Police have been on the trail ever “The video footage, which we are unable to since, said Phuket Provincial Po- reveal to the public at the moment, shows Mr lice Commander Patchara Pendlebury being attacked by a group of men Boonyasit. before pulling out his knife in an attempt to defend himself,” Lt Col Jessada Saengsuree of Full Story Page 3 the Patong Police told the Gazette. “Though police will not press charges against South African Mr Pendlebury, his case will be sent to the Public Prosecutor and the prosecutor will have to decide whether or not he agrees with us and to tourist arrested dismiss the case.” If the prosecutor does not concur with the for false report Patong Police, the case will be sent back to police A SOUTH African tourist was ar- for further investigation, confirmed Col Jessada. rested after he was caught trying “There has already been a settlement between to scam his insurance company by the parties. However, I prefer not to reveal any filing a false police report stating details about it,” said Col Jessada… that he had been robbed twice. Long-standing community member and Phuket expat Mark Pendlebury takes the position of Continued on Page 4 President of Rotary Club Patong Beach in July 2010. Photo: Denis Carpenter Full Story Page 2 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS June 13 - 19, 2015 ‘Laughing gas’ huffing pictures go viral, prompt health warning Business By Kritsada Mueanhawong Thanyapura invests big PICTURES of tourists on Phi Phi to boost ‘Sports Hub of Island allegedly huffing balloons Asia’ status. Page 11 filled with ‘laughing gas’ have gone viral on social media sites, Property prompting a police investigation and a health warning from Krabi How to prep a property officials. properly before renting One of the photos shows three women lying on the ground, one it out. Page 24 with an empty balloon in her mouth and another who appears Explore to be sucking the gas out of an inflated balloon. How new divers use Lt Col Danai Niyomdecha of pop culture to grasp the the Krabi Police told the Gazette marine world. Page 26 that laughing gas, which is a more common name for nitrous oxide, is not categorized as a Aviation narcotic. DCA revamp takes its “As far as we know at this stage, the consumers and the ven- toll on Thai aviation dors are not in the wrong. We are industry. Page 27 not sure how to tackle this issue,” Col Danai explained. The picture of the tourists went viral on social media sites: Photo: Facebook In Focus “However, we will call together all relevant authorities to decide “Inhaling large amounts of it reputation. It’s that time of year how to proceed.” can deprive the brain of oxygen, “Laughing gas is now popular again: Baba weddings Panas Soponpong, chief of the which can result in cell death and and easy to find in pretty much Krabi Public Health Office, has brain damage. every night club. It appears that in Phuket. Page 30 expressed his concerns about “It was once used as a general most of the sellers are foreigners,” tourists huffing the gas. anesthetic during medical proce- said one Phi Phi Island Well-being “We have yet to track down dures, but that is no longer businessperson, who asked not to who posted the pictures. People common practice. The dangers be named. How eating some Kiwi should be aware that nitrous ox- outweigh the advantages.” “I would like to see the authori- mussels can boost ide has an ecstasy-like effect, but Many local business owners are ties inspecting bars for these types your health. Page 31 it can destroy the brain,” Dr Panas concerned about the trend harm- of activities. This could seriously said. ing the popular tourist island’s damage Phi Phi’s image.” South African man arrested Three nabbed for fatal Patong stabbing POLICE have arrested three sus- “We got into an argument be- for insurance fraud scam pects for the stabbing death of cause Somkit was being annoying Somkit Jandawong, 27, which and saying irritating things. At first A SOUTH African tourist was police went to the hotel to review took place in Patong on June 1. I let it go, but he wouldn’t stop,” arrested after he was caught CCTV footage and question wit- When police questioned Mr Pat told police. trying to scam his insurance nesses about the alleged crime. witnesses and checked CCTV in “Then he started insulting my company on June 6. “We became wary of Mr the area, they discovered that the parents, so my friends and I “On [June 6], Laurie Viljoen Botha’s story after our investiga- stabber, whom police have named punched him. Botha, 33, filed a police complaint tion yielded no evidence of the only as ‘Pat’, is 17 years old. “When he fell to the ground, I claiming that items in his hotel robberies,” said Maj Urumporn. “We contacted Mr Pat’s mother jumped on top of him and stabbed room at Sino Imperial Hotel in Police then turned the spotlight and urged her to convince him to him four times.” Phuket Town had been stolen,” back on Mr Botha, who eventu- surrender to police before we re- All three suspects have been said Phuket Tourist Police Chief ally confessed that he had lied. quested an arrest warrant,” said charged with gang murder and il- Urumporn Koondejsumrit. “Mr Botha confessed that he Patong Police Superintendent legally carrying a weapon in public. “Additionally, Mr Botha said that had made up the story in order to Chaiwat Auikam. Mr Suksan (left) and Mr Suphan Mr Pat’s case will be sent to the he had been robbed while walking file a compensation claim with his “Mr Pat surrendered to police were arrested for the stabbing on Juvenile and Family Court, which on the street near the hotel. insurance company,” Maj at about 8pm on Tuesday night June 3. has the authority to officially “In total, Mr Botha claimed that Urumporn explained. and confessed to the murder.” rested Suphan Legnork, 27 and charge him for the same crimes. he had been robbed of 13 items “He was charged with present- While questioning Mr Pat, po- Suksan Srikaew, 22, as they were Mr Suphan and Mr Suksan have worth about 150,000 baht.” ing false information.” lice learned the identities of the walking down Soi Sai Nam Yen in denied all charges. After receiving the report, – Kongleaphy Keam two other suspects. Officers ar- Patong on June 3. – Kritsada Mueanhawong June 13 - 19, 2015 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Decayed body found in hills Police arrest Korean above Patong gambling racketeers By Woranut Pechdee POLICE are searching for the head of an online gambling operation after eight Koreans were caught on June 3 running a gambling site out of an apartment in Phuket. The arrests follow a report in March from police in Bangkok about the gambling racket. Phuket Police have been on the trail ever since, said Phuket Provincial Po- lice Commander Patchara Boonyasit. “After months of collecting No identifying evidence was found evidence and monitoring the sus- near the human remains. pects’ activities, we tracked them THE decaying remains of a down to a rental room at Eva human body were found by a field Town in Wichit, which they were worker in the hills above Patong using as an office,” said Maj Gen on June 7. Patchara. “The bones were found by a Police named the suspects as man who was hired to clear grass Lee Seok Joong, 30; Joo Seung in a local orchard about one kilo- Oh, 28; Han Hong Hee, 29; Kim meter from Prabaramee Road,” Young Jae, 33, Oh Se Won, 35; The Korean gambling site operators could face up to three years in prison, a 60,000-baht fine or both. explained Patong Police Superin- Lee Jungmin, 31; Moon The suspects told police that back to them if they win or keeps “We believe they came to Thai- tendent Chaiwat Auikam to the Hyuncheol, 34; and Lee Kang they were only employees, and the money if they lose,” he said.