ANDAMAN Edition Volume 19 Issue 3 January 21 - 27, 2012 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht ‘Ae Inside’ murder not a silence killing: Police POLICE have dismissed the killed by the gunman, while Mr theory that Wisut “Ae Inside” Wisut’s wife sat by his side. Tangwitthayaporn was shot dead Mr Noppadol, who identified in mid-rush hour traffic on Janu- the gunman as 41-year-old Sanya ary 12 as a “silence killing”. Klinchu, told police he then sped Mr Wisut had published sto- off with the assassin along Phuket ries alleging impropriety in the Thepkrasattri Road, riding against issuance of land title deeds at the flow of traffic. They crossed Life & Style Freedom Beach in Patong (see over at Tantalum Junction and page 3) and irregularities over land continued south to a location near in the Nakalay hillsides above the Monkey Viewpoint in Rassada launches Kamala. to hide out and stage separate ENCLOSED in your Phuket Gazette They have also dismissed his getaways, he said. this week you’ll find our all-new reporting on the controversial The re-enactment ended near magazine, Phuket Life & Style. transfer of government officers a restaurant at Nimit Circle, This 32-page launch issue is packed full of features dedicated as another possible motive, say- where Mr Noppdol confessed to to Asia’s Favorite Island. ing only that the likely motive was receiving payment of 50,000 baht We have cobbled together “a personal dispute”. for his role in the killing from a interviews with Allan Zeman, Armed with fully-loaded as- man he identified only as “Mr Gulu Lalvani, Bill Heinecke and sault rifles, Phuket Provincial Boy”. more. Golf, fashion, yachting, Police Special Operations offic- It has since been reported that spas, property, tourism, and aviation will also vie for your ers joined other police units on Mr Sanya and Mr Boy were in- attention in this launch issue. Tuesday in conducting a re-en- volved in a similar case in 2008. Phuket Life & Style is new; it’s actment of the crime with Police said on Wednesday they free for you this week in both the 43-year-old Noppadol “Pae” were preparing applications for ar- Gazette and The Nation; and it’s Praisri, the alleged driver for the rest warrants for both men. They on board all 11 of the major assassin who shot dead Mr hope that capturing and question- international airlines arriving into Bangkok and Phuket. Wisut. ing the pair will lead to the arrest Aimed at a niche and mobile Mr Noppadol, flown to Phuket Noppadol ‘Pae’ Praisri, the alleged driver for the gunman who shot dead of whoever ordered the hit. readership worldwide, this by helicopter on Monday after Wisut ‘Ae Inside’ Tangwitthayaporn, under heavy guard during the re- A report in Siangtai Daily magazine is made entirely in surrendering to police in his home enactment of the murder in Phuket Town on Tuesday. newspaper on Wednesday re- Phuket. The full publication is on province of Petchaburi, told the driver between Cha-am and took part in a detailed re-enact- ported a source as giving the the Gazette Online – rated tops media that day he had “nothing Bangkok. I am not guilty. I want ment with stops in five different identity of the suspected master- by Google for Phuket – and will soon be accessible in our iPhone to do” with the murder of Mr the chance to prove my inno- locations, including the junction mind as someone named “Mr and iPad Apps as well. Wisut. cence in court,” he told the press. on Thepkrasattri Road where Mr Somkhuan” (“Mr Appropriate”). “Right now I am a minibus The following day, however, he Wisut was shot four times and Continued on page 2 Chinese New Year to usher in B900mn By Chutharat Plerin Most of the visitors are expected to ar- in the traditional “house cleaning” performed rive from mainland China. before the Chinese New Year arrives. THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Bookings have been flooding in, with “We dedicated trucks and cleanup crews Phuket office expects Phuket to rake in up occupancy rates for many hotels across to drive along the streets and pick up any to 900 million baht during the upcoming Phuket already reaching above 90 per cent, unwanted items between the hours of 1pm Chinese New Year festivities. said Ms Bangonrat. and 8pm. So we asked all Phuket Town This year, to welcome in the Year of the “In total, the TAT expects visitors to residents to place their unwanted items in Dragon, celebrations will be held in Phuket spend about 11 billion baht during the Chi- front of their houses by 1pm,” Phuket Town from January 23-25. nese New Year all over Thailand,” she Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana said. “The TAT expects 60,000 tourists, to added. The free collection service continued arrive in Phuket to celebrate Chinese New To help Phuket Town residents prepare until January 21. Year,” Phuket TAT office Director for the festival, Phuket City Municipality See page 20 for our Special Feature on The TAT estimates that Phuket will rake in Bangornrat Shinaprayoon told the Gazette. offered free collection of items discarded Chinese New Year traditions. 900mn baht this month. Photo: Christian Mouchet 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS January 21 - 27, 2012 Simon Cabaret stars News Going to the ATM? spread their wings Who’s cloning your card? Page 5 By Chutharat Plerin THE founders of Phuket’s re- Health nowned Simon Cabaret this week announced the soft opening of Who needs an eye their spin-off venture the Simon test? A retina specialist Star Cabaret show, Phuket’s third expains. Page 14 ladyboy extravaganza, at a new venue near Phuket Town. At a press conference at The Music Metropole hotel in Phuket Town Phuket International on Tuesday, Simon Cabaret ex- Blues Festival kicks off ecutives announced the soft opening of the 130-million-baht Feb 23. Page 17 venture, located on the grounds of the Phuket Orchid Gardens & Culture Thai Village, behind Phuket Rajabhat University in Rassada. Count Snape: Playing Phuket Simon Cabaret chair- with the dark art of person Wirat Rouyrin, who opera. Page 19 founded Simon Cabaret in Patong Simon Star Cabaret showgirls show off their feather-endowed costumes. in 1991, promised the media that the show, launched on Thursday, will be 100% market will be regional tourists Property “would be 90% different” from [ready] by next from other parts of Asia, she said. Thanyamundra wins the nightly spectacles that are month,” she Managing Directer Pornthep another award from staged at its flagship venue in promised. Rouyrin said there would be three Patong and would feature state- To attract as 75-minute performances daily, Agoda. Page 27 of-the-art light and sound many people to each with 16 acts. technology. the show as Gracing the stage of the 650- possible, those seat theater will be 70 Sport Staff are still putting the fin- Wirat Rouyrin ishing touches on the venue and presenting “brand-new showgirls”, discov- FC Phuket lose last stage production, she admitted. Thai ID cards will be admitted for ered through ladyboy beauty game 3-0 but survive to “We will be about 90% ready just 200 baht each through Feb- pageants held in Udon Thani and fight again. Page 44 for the opening on Thursday, but ruary. However the primary target Chiang Mai, he said. French cinema fête on its way Pla-wan recovering at home ‘Honored’ by receiving second bouquet from Royal Family FRENCH film enthusiasts will be in for a treat next month, when SRI panwa resort General Man- Of the Royal gift, Mr Vorasit the French Thai Cultural Festival ager Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara is said tearfully “It is such an honor “La Fête” hits Phuket with free recovering at Sripanwa Villa, for me and my family to have re- showings of five acclaimed mov- Phuket, after being released from ceived this gift of mercy from ies at the Prince of Songkla Uni- hospital last week. HRH Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn versity Phuket Campus. His release last Wednesday was and HRH Princess Srirasmi.” The five films, all with subtitles followed by another gift of flow- “I am now getting better,” he in English, will be: In Mom’s Head ers, this time from HRH Crown said and added, “I am sorry for (Comedy / 2007 / Directed by Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. what occurred, I did not mean for Carine Tardieu); Me and My Sis- The Royal bouquet was pre- it to happen.” ter (Comedy / 2004 / Directed by sented to Pla-wan and the Issara Governor Tri Augkaradacha (right) Sriwara Issara, Mr Vorasit’s Alexandra Leclère); My Uncle over Thailand: Chiang Mai, Chiang family last Friday afternoon (Janu- presents Vorasit ‘Pla-wan’ Issara mother said, “My lawyer is deal- with the second Royal bouquet. (Comedy / 1958 / Directed by Rai, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Phuket, ary 13) by Phuket Governor Tri ing with all matters in this case. I Jacques Tati); Trouble at and for the first time Khon Kaen. Augkaradacha. self his lower right leg remains am still afraid that the attackers’ Timpeltill (Comedy / 2008 / Di- The showings run from Feb- Mr Vorasit, who had been hos- held at the correct angle by a friends will be back to attack my rected by Nicolas Bary); Mice and ruary 13 to 17, starting at 6:30pm pitalized following a vicious gang heavy bandage to allow the injury son. Mite Drama (Drama 2004 / Di- nightly. attack during the early hours of to the tendons to heal properly. “Governor Tri said he would rected by Jeanne Labrune).