PhuketGazette.net PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 PhuketGazette October 29 - November 4, 2016 Now inside THE NAT I ON every Saturday 56 Pages / 20 Baht ‘THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE KILLING COULD HAVE BEEN PERSONAL’ Police arrest first suspect in Phuket bombings THE first suspect implicated in the Phuket Mother’s Day Hunt for suspects bombings was flown to the island by helicopter on Oc- is on after Patong tuk- tober 20, where an eye wit- ness confirmed his identity. tuk club leader found Full story Page 6 shot to death in his cab BUSINESS By Kritsada Mueanhawong POLICE are hunting for at least two sus- pects for the murder of the president of the Patong tuk-tuk drivers’ club at 3am on October 25. Sakol Srisompoch, 57, was found shot dead inside his tuk-tuk, which was parked in the middle of the road in front Trade department to inves- of King Kong Party Club on Phra Phuket tigate over-charging of Kaew Road. Chinese tourists. “Mr Sakol was on his way home af- Page 11 ter work when he was apparently ambushed by gunmen. There were four wounds on his left arm, one in his back PROPERTY and another in his chest. There were also several bullet holes in the window and windshield of his tuk-tuk,” said Capt Wattanathorn Bamroongthin of Kathu Police. Kathu Police Deputy Superintendent Ampholwat Saengruang confirmed that police are collecting evidence to bring the perpetrators to justice. Tips and tricks to help Police initially said they had yet to property renters get the learn how many suspects were involved, best experience. but a subsequent review of CCTV foot- The victim, who was the president of the Patong tuk-tuk driver’s club, was found dead in his own Page 18 age showed that at least two other men vehicle, which police found riddled with bullet holes in the middle of the road. Photo: Kathu Police were at the scene at the time. LIFE&STYLE “The motive behind the killing could have fallen because many illegal taxis are ers’ demands, which included having the have been a personal conflict, but that stealing work from us,” Mr Sakol said at Patong Police Superintendent transferred. remains to be confirmed,” said Col the time. “They are stealing our passengers Concerns over the Patong tuk-tuk busi- Ampholwat. in Patong, Kata and Karon. Almost all of ness have been expressed by several consuls Mr Sakol was actively involved in lead- them work only at nighttime.” over the years, including Mark Kent, the ex- ing protests by tuk-tuk drivers in the past. The protesters also marched to Provin- British Ambassador to Thailand. In June 2013, he led a protest of about a cial Hall to hand a letter to then-Governor “Some of the behavior we’ve seen from hundred tuk-tuk drivers that won them a Maitri Inthusut, with a list of names of the tuk-tuk or taxi drivers has led to a fall crackdown on illegal taxis, which the tuk- allegedly illegal taxi drivers in Patong that in confidence and a drop in the number of tuk clan said were stealing their jobs. the tuk-tuk drivers wanted arrested. tourists because they’re a little bit scared Asia Superyacht Rendez- “We do not have enough money to pay In March 2014, he led a 200-strong tuk- about what is happening [with public vous set to welcome the the monthly installments on our tuk-tuks tuk driver blockade, which ended when transport],” Amb Kent told the Gazette in world’s top crafts. and to cover living costs. Our incomes Phuket’s top cop agreed to meet the driv- November last year. Page 15 2 PHUKET GAZETTE October 29 - November 4, 2016 charcoal burners, NFE staff be- gan offering the free service on October 19 from 9am to 3pm Young Russian found daily, for 30 days, outside the NFE building on Damrong Road near the Phuket Munici- pality Office in Talat Yai. dead in jeep wreckage “We are using our own Mai Khao money to purchase the black dye. We just wanted to do woman killed something to help people who may not be able to afford new clothes during this period of in collision national mourning for the A MAI KHAO pedestrian was King,” said NFE Phuket Direc- killed after being hit by a car tor Rarinthip Supapruek. on Thepkrasattri Road in News of the free service Thalang on the morning of spread quickly, resulting in October 21. long queues. “The body of 53-year-old “We welcome everyone but Malee Chailek lay on the road respectfully request that people in front of the Baan Mak Prok bring a few garments at a time to 7-Eleven,” said Lt Col be dyed, otherwise we can not Watcharin Jiratthikanwiwat of keep up with demand and it the Tah Chat Chai Police. means that others will have to “A slightly damaged Toyota wait in line longer,” said Ms sedan was also parked nearby,” Rarinthip. he added. – Kongleaphy Keam Witnesses at the scene re- ported to police that Ms Malee was not paying atten- French national tion when crossing the road. A young Russian diving instructor was found dead on October 23, after his NGV-powered jeep crashed and They also added that the car burst into flames in Wichit. The fire kept back locals who ran to help the driver, while it took rescue workers was speeding. about 20 minutes to douse the blaze, revealing a completely gutted jeep. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong jumps off 16th The driver, named Piset Srisuwanm, 53, was taken to Hall, to mark the 7th day of side a hotel in Karon about floor in Patong Tai Chat Chai Police Station Consuls mourn mourning since the passing away 4am. and charged with reckless driv- of His Majesty King Bhumibol Ms Bravova, 45, (full name A FRENCH man jumped to ing causing death. HM the King at Adulyadej on October 13. withheld), cracked the wind- his death from the 16th floor Ms Malee’s body was taken Phuket Governor Chokchai screen of a Honda Jazz and of a hotel in Patong around to Thalang Hospital for an au- provincial hall Dejamornthan led provincial damaged the back of a minivan 6:30am on October 21. topsy. officials and the public in mak- during her tirade, reportedly A horrified electrician work- – Winai Sarot FOURTEEN Consuls gathered ing alms offerings to the monks shouting about something she ing on the same floor of the at Phuket Provincial Hall on from 6:30am to 7:30am. had lost in front of the Hilton hotel spotted the man as he pre- October 17 to express their The previous evening, Gov Arcadia Resort & Spa in Karon. pared to jump. Seeing that the Mosque condolences for the passing of Chokchai led a Buddhist prayer However, Ms Bravova was not man was acting strangely, the HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej vigil in honor of the departed a guest at that resort. electrician tried unsuccessfully donation box two weeks ago. King, attended by thousands of Witnesses said it wasn’t en- to persuade him to come away The Consuls, including mourners, at Wat Wichit tirely clear what the woman from the edge. thief at large French, Austrian, Brazilian, Sangkharam in Phuket Town. was upset about, but she did Police said that Nicholas English, Chilean, Chinese, Buddhist temples throughout appear to be intoxicated. Gilbert Claude Cesar, 47, was Czech, Finnish, German, Irish, Phuket are holding daily prayer The vehicle owners filed a French national and that he POLICE are searching for a Dutch, Russian, Swiss and vigils from 3:52pm – the time charges of criminal damage appears to have deliberately thief who broke into a mosque’s Danish, were dressed in black announced of the King’s pass- with Karon Police. Lt Suwisit jumped from the Andaman donation box in Koh Kaew and to express their sorrow for the ing – until November 12. Srirak said Ms Bravova con- Beach Suites hotel. stole about 10,000 baht on the passing of His Majesty. A ceremony to mark the 50th fessed and was willing to cover The electrician, Kittisak night of October 18. The gathering was hosted by day of mourning will also be the costs of the damage to the Duangniras, 37, used his mo- Capt Udom Petcharat of Phuket Vice Governors Theera held on December 1 at Wat vehicles. bile phone to capture video of Phuket City Police arrived at Anantasereewittaya and Thepwanaram in Srisoonthon, She was charged with caus- the man as he blindfolded the scene after he received the Siwaporn Chuasawat. Thalang. ing damage to property. himself with a piece of cloth complaint at about 8:30am on Consul representatives ex- A ceremony is also planned – Kritsada Mueanhawong before jumping to his death, October 19. pressed their deep condolences to take place at Wat Tah Rua, landing in the hotel’s car park, “People were gathered to the Thai people and wished near the Heroines’ Monument police told the Gazette. around a broken donation box them strength and courage dur- to mark the 100th day of Investigations revealed that – a tyre iron lay nearby,” said ing their mourning period. mourning on January 20, 2017. NFE offers the deceased had been staying Capt Udom. “According to – Sukawin Tanthavanich – Chutharat Plerin at Saria Mansion, located near staff, the mosque was locked free clothes the hotel, since September 29. the night before and no one was A search of the man’s room inside.” dyeing service turned up cash, a suitcase and “When they arrived the next Merit-making Russian throws a note with the telephone morning, they saw that a latch number of a relative in on the back door lock had been ceremony held THE Phuket Office of Non- France.