Bangkok Post - ‘Big Joke’ suspended from police force. The acting national police chief has suspended deputy chief Surachate Hakparn and four subordinates accused of involvement with an online gambling network, according to a source familiar with the case. The source said Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet signed the order, which took immediate effect on Thursday.

'Big Joke' suspended from police force

Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn reported to police on April 2 to answer charges of money laundering. He was subsequently released on bail. 

The acting national police chief has suspended deputy chief Surachate Hakparn and four subordinates accused of involvement with an online gambling network, according to a source familiar with the case.

The source said Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet signed the order, which took immediate effect on Thursday.

Apart from Pol Gen Surachate, aka Big Joke, the order applied to Pol Col Kittichai Sangkhathaworn, deputy police commander of Songkhla province; Pol Lt Col Krit Pariyaket, deputy chief of the Phra Samut Chedi police station in Samut Prakan; and two traffic patrol policemen: Pol Sgt Natthawut Wadwaew and Pol Sgt Natthanan Chuchak.

All five are suspected of being involved in money-laundering in relation to the BNK Master gambling network.

The source said that Pol Gen Kitrat based the decision on a disciplinary investigation, noting that the courts had approved warrants for the arrest of the five suspects.

Pol Gen Kitrat discussed the decision with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at Government House after a cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, the source said.

The five have the right to petition against the order.

On March 20, the prime minister transferred Pol Gen Surachate and national police chief Torsak Sukvimol to inactive posts and named Pol Gen Kitrat as the acting chief.

The two sidelined senior officers had been engaged in a long-running feud, with public accusations flying back and forth about involvement with illegal gambling networks.

Pol Gen Surachate on April 2 turned himself in to police to answer charges of money laundering, just hours after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was subsequently released on bail.

A committee set up by the prime minister to investigate the affair said recently that it had found there were grounds to the allegation that Pol Gen Surachate was involved in money laundering.

On Thursday Pol Gen Kitrat also formed a new investigative committee to look into the roles of the five suspects he suspended.

The committee consists of 14 police officers who range in rank from lieutenant colonel up to general.

It is headed by Pol Gen Sarawut Karnpanich, a deputy national chief, and also includes Pol Lt Gen Nopawat Arayangkun, a deputy police inspector-general; and Pol Maj Gen Montree Theskhan, head of the Crime Suppression Division.

The new panel will follow up on the work of an earlier investigation by a committee that included detectives from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau.

The previous investigation found that the administrator of the BNK Master gambling website transferred money to a bank account held by Pol Lt Col Krit, though not in his name.

Money was then transferred from that account to the accounts of the two suspected sergeants. They in turn were reportedly ordered to deliver envelopes of cash to Pol Gen Surachate's residence. The transactions took place between Feb 8 and Nov 3, 2022, the investigators found.

Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet has been serving as acting national police chief since last month when Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin transferred Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, who held the chief's office, and Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn to inactive posts in the PM's Office pending an investigation into allegations against both men.



Bangkok Post - Songkran road accidents killed 243 people. Ruangsak Suwaree, director-general of the Probation Department, said that from April 11-16 there were 5,786 traffic violation cases, 96.6% of which involved drink-driving. Bangkok had the most drink-driving cases (493), followed by Samut Prakan (313) and Chiang Mai (302).

Songkran road accidents killed 243 people

Vehicles pack the Bangkok-bound lanes of the Mitraparp highway in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Tuesday. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert) 

Road accidents killed 243 people and injured 1,837 others during the six days of the Songkran festival holiday.

Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob said on Wednesday there were 1,811 traffic accidents from April 11- 16, when many workers returned to their home provinces for Songkran celebrations. Motorcycles were involved in 84.9% of all traffic accidents.

The northernmost province of Chiang Rai had the highest number of accidents (71) and the highest death toll (15).

Another northern province, Phrae, reported the most people injured (68). Nine of the 77 provinces were free of traffic fatalities during the Songkran Thai New Year festival, Pol Gen Permpoon said.

On the final day of the road safety campaign, April 16, there were 242 traffic accidents, leaving 32 people dead and 237 injured. Speeding was the most common cause, accounting for 37.6% of the accidents, followed by drink-driving (23.9%) and cutting in front of other vehicles (21%). 

Pol Gen Permpoon said most Songkran travellers had already returned to work.

Ruangsak Suwaree, director-general of the Probation Department, said that from April 11-16 there were 5,786 traffic violation cases, 96.6% of which involved drink-driving. Bangkok had the most drink-driving cases (493), followed by Samut Prakan (313) and Chiang Mai (302).



A Thai delegation on Tuesday visited the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France to seek support for the kingdom’s application for OECD membership. The Nation



Bangkok Post - Traffic accidents during the first five days of the Songkran road safety campaign week killed 206 people and injured 1,593 others, according to data released on Tuesday. Thailand’s roads are the deadliest in Southeast Asia, with the ninth-highest rate of road fatalities in the world at 32.7 per 100,000 people each year, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2018. About 20,000 people, or 56 per day, die in traffic accidents each year.

Songkran road death toll reaches 206

A road is covered with water, talcum and garbage in Muang district of Phitsanulok on Tuesday morning after Songkran celebrations on Monday night. (Photo: Chinnawat Singha) 

Traffic accidents during the first five days of the Songkran road safety campaign week killed 206 people and injured 1,593 others, according to data released on Tuesday.

The 1,564 traffic accidents reported from April 11-15 represented a decrease of 10.4% from the 1,745 reported in the same five-day period a year ago. The number of deaths was up from 200 last year but injuries were down by 8.3% from 1,737.

Out of 77 provinces, 17 were free of fatal traffic accidents so far, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Tuesday.

The northernmost province of Chiang Rai had the most traffic accidents with 61. Nan, also in the North, had the most injured people at 60. Bangkok and Chiang Rai had the most fatalities, at 13 each.

On Monday alone there were 301 traffic accidents, 39 fatalities and 314 injured people, the health minister said. The most common cause was speeding which caused 43.2% of accidents, followed by drink-driving (23.9%) and cutting-in (15.3%). Motorcycles were involved in 83.8% of all accidents.

Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said traffic was heavy on roads heading for Bangkok on Tuesday, and drivers should guarantee they are fit to drive.

Ruangsak Suwaree, director-general of the Probation Department, said that from April 11 to 15 there were 4,132 traffic violations, 96% of which involved drink-driving.

Bangkok had the highest number of drink-driving cases at 446, followed by Nonthaburi with 238 and Samut Prakan with 214, he said.

Thailand's roads are the deadliest in Southeast Asia, with the ninth-highest rate of road fatalities in the world at 32.7 per 100,000 people each year, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2018. About 20,000 people, or 56 per day, die in traffic accidents each year.

162 people killed, 1,279 injured in road accidents in past four days. Another 38 people were killed and 311 others were injured in 317 road accidents on Sunday, bringing total death toll for four days since April 11th to 162. Altogether 1,279 people were injured. | Thai PBS World

162 people killed, 1,279 injured in road accidents in past four days

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Another 38 people were killed and 311 others were injured in 317 road accidents on Sunday, bringing total death toll for four days since April 11th to 162. Altogether 1,279 people were injured.

Bangkok and Roi-et recorded the most fatalities, at 10 each, while Nakhon Si Thammarat has the most road accidents and injuries, at 50 and 54 respectively.

Speeding accounted for 37.22% of road accidents yesterday, drunk driving, 25.87% and poor visibility, 15.46%. Motorcycles were involved in 87.51% of the road accidents.

Meanwhile, 2,136 traffic violators were put on probation by the courts yesterday, most of them found guilty of drunk driving.

In the past four days, 3,890 people have been put on probation, about 96% of them were found guilty of drunk driving.  Bangkok has the most cases of drunk driving, at 399, followed by 227 cases in Nonthaburi and 214 cases in Samut Prakan.

Legal Corner: Is Splashing Someone With Water During Songkran Who Doesn't Want to Get Wet Illegal? It’s important to respect the wishes of those who do not want to participate. According to the Lawyers Council of Thailand, splashing water on people who do not wish to join the water festival could result in legal action.- The Pattaya News

Legal Corner: Is Splashing Someone With Water During Songkran Who Doesn't Want to Get Wet Illegal?

Adam JuddSunday, 14 April 2024, 3:44

During Songkran, which is Thailand's traditional New Year festival, splashing water is a common practice.

However, it's important to respect the wishes of those who do not want to participate. According to the Lawyers Council of Thailand, splashing water on people who do not wish to join the water festival could result in legal action.

If someone is found to be causing a nuisance or damaging property by spraying water on non-participants, they could face legal penalties. These could include a prison sentence of up to one month or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or possibly both. It's advised to ensure that people are willing to get wet before splashing them, especially since some may have work or other commitments.

Although one could file a police report in regards to unwanted water splashing, it's not guaranteed (and quite frankly, unlikely unless someone was seriously injured) that the matter would be enforced. If one truly wanted to press charges against another person for unwanted water splashing, it is recommended they hire a lawyer, such as Issan Lawyers, to assist in drawing up formal charges and with the legal process. The filer would also need to know who splashed them and be able to prove they made it known that splashing water on them was unacceptable.

In reality, it is unlikely that such a case would proceed forward, but were one to have enough time and money to pursue legal action, they could, in theory, according to the Lawyer's Council of Thailand.

Please remember to celebrate Songkran with respect for others' rights and safety. If you're in Thailand during this time, enjoy the festivities responsibly!

Consider reaching out to Issan Lawyers, contact information below, for assistance with any problems you may have had or questions regarding legal matters, including criminal case related problems.

Isaan Lawyers specializes in providing legal services for expats and overseas nationals in Thailand.

For more information, visit Issan Lawyers here.

—
*Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult with a qualified attorney for personalized guidance.*





Forty-eight people were killed and 411 others were injured in road accidents on Saturday, bringing the total dead and injured for three days of Songkran to 116 and 968 respectively in 936 road accidents. 40.05% of the accidents were caused by speeding, 27.81% involved drunk driving and 16.84% were caused by cutting in. 85.50% of the accidents involved motorcycles and 81.63% occurred on straight routes. | Thai PBS World

48 killed and 411 injured in road accidents on Songkran Day

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Forty-eight people were killed and 411 others were injured in road accidents on Saturday, bringing the total dead and injured for three days of Songkran to 116 and 968 respectively in 936 road accidents.

40.05% of the accidents were caused by speeding, 27.81% involved drunk driving and 16.84% were caused by cutting in. 85.50% of the accidents involved motorcycles and 81.63% occurred on straight routes.

Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla provinces recorded the highest number of road accidents in three days, at 19 each. Bangkok had the highest death toll in the three days, with eight, while Songkhla had 45 injured.

Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said today that officials had adjusted preventive measures, to correspond with the realities on the ground, by focusing on secondary roads and communities, where motorcyclists tend to engage in speeding, without wearing crash helmets and after drinking alcohol.



Thailand Reports Total of 63 Deaths in Two Days of the 'Songkran Seven Days Road Safety Campaign'. Most were caused by excessive speeding (41 percent). About 84 percent of the accidents involved motorcycles. Most road accidents occurred on highways (40 percent) between 4:01 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.- TPN National News

Thailand Reports Total of 63 Deaths in Two Days of the 'Songkran Seven Days Road Safety Campaign'

Goongnang SuksawatSaturday, 13 April 2024, 23:27

Thailand –

A total of 541 road accidents, with 550 injuries and 63 deaths, were reported on Saturday (April 13th) by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in two days (April 11th -April 12th) of the 'Seven Days Road Safety Campaign' during Songkran (April 11th – April 17th) 2024.

The province with the highest fatalities was Roi-Et with 5 deaths.

The highest number of accidents was Prachuap Khiri Khan with 21 and the highest number of injuries was in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla, in the south of Thailand, with 22 injuries each.

There were 38 deaths, 307 road accidents and 299 injuries in total reported on the second day (April 12th) of the campaign.

Most were caused by excessive speeding (41 percent). About 84 percent of the accidents involved motorcycles. Most road accidents occurred on highways (40 percent) between 4:01 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

A total of 234 road accidents, with 248 injuries and 25 deaths, were reported on Friday (April 12th) by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) on the first day (April 11th) of the 'Seven Days Road Safety Campaign' during Songkran (April 11th – April 17th) 2024.



Re: Jajamensan ! Då var det dags !!

Tack detsamma 💥🥵

Skickat från min iPhone

13 apr. 2024 kl. 12:02 skrev Ola Jansved <olajnsvd@gmail.com>:



Gott Nytt Thailändskt Nyår på Er alla !!!!

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Jajamensan ! Då var det dags !!

Gott Nytt Thailändskt Nyår på Er alla !!!!

Thursday, the first of Songkran’s notorious “seven dangerous days”, saw 234 road accidents, killing 25 and injuring 248 others. #ThailandNews #Songkran #RoadAccident #Bangkok



TM30. Following many requests to Pattaya Mail, we provide below a question and answer session based on our recent checks with the authorities. Pattaya Mail

Barry KenyonApril 11, 2024

Obtaining a TM30 receipt has become compulsory for all local immigration services.

Following many requests to Pattaya Mail, we provide below a question and answer session based on our recent checks with the authorities. You should notice that local immigration offices have some discretion about the detail and we have given examples. If in doubt, that's where you need to ask.

Why bother?
It's the address form in Thailand for "the housemaster, owner or possessor" of a residence where a foreigner is staying after arrival from a foreign country. It should be filled in and returned to the local immigration bureau "within 24 hours" from the time of arrival at the residence. However, weekends and official holiday periods are excluded from this deadline. The reporting was first introduced in the 1979 immigration act, but is now being enforced on the claim it enhances state security. But, at the end of the day, you personally are responsible for the TM30 – and you need one to obtain any service at local immigration. The fine is 1,600 baht.

Who should fill it in?
Most hotels and some condominiums use the online, dedicated facility to report your arrival to local immigration without bothering you. In return, the hotel or condo will receive by return a dated and written confirmation receipt which you will need when – and if – visiting local immigration to request a service. Alternatively, you can take to local immigration a hotel letter or detailed receipt showing you are sleeping there. If you are residing in a friend's house or apartment, or if you own your own unit, that's likely different.

What documents are required?
If you own your own unit, you will need to photocopy the proof – the chanoot or title deed as a rule. Many immigration offices will alternatively accept your yellow book or pink card (a form of longstay foreigner ID which is not compulsory and must be applied for at the local authority office). A rental contract is another possibility, if professionally written. If you are staying with a friend, he or she must provide you with personal ID (Thai ID card or ID page of foreign passport), the blue residence book of that residence and/or the title deed.

How does TM30 affect foreign tourists?
30 days visa-exempt international tourists and holders of 60 days tourist visas (the latter issued by a Thai embassy abroad) will need a TM30 receipt to do any business at local immigration – typically extending their stay without needing to leave the country. No TM receipt: immigration service will be refused until the 1,600 baht is paid and a properly documented TM 30 application is made.

How does TM30 affect long stay foreigners?
Holders of non-immigrant visas, annual extensions of stay, the Elite visa etc are now drawn into the TM30 net. In the old days, they were advised they needed only to report once, no matter how many times they left Thailand, provided they did not change their main residence. That is no longer true and they will need a TM30 receipt – issued since their most recent arrival in Thailand – to renew their longterm visa or annual extension of stay, to apply for or renew a driving licence, open or change bank accounts, possibly request a re-entry permit and any other local immigration service. However, the fine is on a more discretionary basis than for tourists.

What's the connection with the 90 days report?
You will likely be required to show your TM30 receipt before your 90 days residence report will be accepted. The fine for forgetting to do 90 days is 2,000 baht, though you can submit that form 14 days before or 7 days after the actual completion of a three months stay in Thailand.

Can I be fined at the airport or border?
Thai immigration officers at exit points will examine your passport in case of overstay or damage to the document. They will also check that you are not on a "wanted" list or are trying to leave the country on bail without court permission. They will not check your status with the TM30 or 90 days report. In other words, address bureaucracies come into play when you need a service from local immigration.

Nato should recruit Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Thailand and others, former supreme allied commander says. The Nato military alliance should consider broadening its membership to include Asia-Pacific nations, said a former Nato supreme allied commander. “Nato should think about recruiting a few new members from outside its traditional boundaries,” retired US Navy Admiral James Stavridis wrote in a Bloomberg opinion piece on Monday. | South China Morning Post

Nato should recruit Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Thailand and others, former supreme allied commander says

Published: 3:01pm, 9 Apr 2024

Seaside Concrete Platform Collapses at Bangsaen Beach, Injuring 3 Workers - The Pattaya News

Seaside Concrete Platform Collapses at Bangsaen Beach, Injuring 3 Workers

Aim TanakornThursday, 11 April 2024, 1:22

PHOTO: Khaosod

Bangsaen, Chonburi —

A scenic concrete platform that was being built over the sea in Bangsaen, Chonburi, collapsed and injured three workers on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024.

The incident occurred at around 6:00 PM at a restaurant on Soi 18 in the Saen Suk Municipality, Saen Suk sub-district, Mueang district, Chonburi. The workers were building a viewing platform that extended into the Bangsaen Sea when the beams of the platform gave way.

Three workers (two women and one man) were injured in the collapse. They were all taken to the Burapha University Hospital for treatment.

One of the women, Ms. Kamonchanok Somboon, 21, was trapped under the rubble for a short time before being rescued by other workers, locals, and rescue workers from the Tri Khun Tham Foundation. She suffered a leg injury and a laceration.

An initial police investigation found that the beams on the platform may have been overloaded or that the supports may have been inadequate.

The construction site has been temporarily closed while the investigation is ongoing. TPN notes that some people on social media were also questioning if the building of this platform on a beach could be encroaching on public land and were hoping relevant officials would investigate, as in Thailand all beaches belong to the public.

PHOTO: Khaosod

PHOTO: Khaosod



Common visa policy for Thailand and her neighbors a distant dream. The Thai premier has won international praise for his marketing push to introduce a Schengen-type tourist visa arrangement for Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The suggestion has actually been kicking around for 10 years but hasn’t got anywhere because of the nature of ASEAN.- Pattaya Mail

Common visa policy for Thailand and her neighbors a distant dream

Barry KenyonApril 9, 2024

Visa-free travel throughout south east Asia faces many hurdles.

The Thai premier has won international praise for his marketing push to introduce a Schengen-type tourist visa arrangement for Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The suggestion has actually been kicking around for 10 years but hasn't got anywhere because of the nature of ASEAN. It is a regional organization, to be sure, but is founded on the principle of non-intervention: no interference in the national policies and laws of member states is a huge barrier to political innovation.

Bloomberg thinks it may be different this time. A recent article emphasizes that the Thai initiative has not fallen on deaf ears across the region. Maybe the success of Thailand in abolishing visas in advance and visas on arrival for 90 percent of arriving tourists is having an impact. The PM's spokesman claims that enthusiasm about the 70 million tourists who have already visited at least one country in the region this year is on the rise. Thailand and Malaysia alone this year have benefitted to the tune of US$48 billion.

Yet the prospect of a Pan-Southeast Asian Zone is not remotely on the horizon. Visa rules in the six countries are very diverse. Tourist entry to Thailand is mostly free although whether an individual receives 15 or 30 or 90 days depends on his passport country: Russia and South Korea are at the top end. Cambodia, by contrast, charges nearly everybody between US$30-US$40 for a flat 30 days either on arrival or via e-visa. Vietnam has a complex mixture of fee-based and no-payment entry which appears to change on a regular basis. Some ASEAN partners allow Chinese and Indian nationals easy entry, whilst others require pre-flight approval and a hefty fee.

Bill Bennett, managing director of C9 Hotelwork, believes that bilateral arrangements might be the best way forward: two countries have a better chance of creating a common zone than all six. This cautious alternative also avoids the well-known Schengen problem in Europe where some potential visitors work out which member offers the lightest terms to get in so that they can visit the rest hassle-free. During the premiership of Thaksin Shinawatra Thailand and Cambodia discussed a bilateral tourist visa, but nothing came of the modest idea.

Yet another variant, sometimes promoted by Thai spokespersons, is that a local Schengen arrangement for six countries would be dependent on Thailand becoming the sole entry country. In other words, tourists would only be able to visit partner countries visa and hassle free provided they visited Thailand first. This would throw on Thailand a very heavy responsibility for approval and security across the region, perhaps too heavy for potential rivals to swallow. A Pan-Southeast Asian Zone would certainly transform international tourism – and potentially business – throughout the region. But don't bet on it.





BANGKOK (NNT) - Northern Thailand is confronting a critical public health issue, with Chiang Mai and Lampang provinces experiencing alarmingly high mortality rates from lung cancer linked to the pervasive presence of PM2.5 particles in the air.

NNT - Air Pollution Spurs Lung Cancer Spike in Northern Thailand

BANGKOK (NNT) - Northern Thailand is confronting a critical public health issue, with Chiang Mai and Lampang provinces experiencing alarmingly high mortality rates from lung cancer linked to the pervasive presence of PM2.5 particles in the air. According to Assoc Prof Chalerm Liewsisakul of Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Medicine, the last decade has seen a notable deterioration in air quality in the region, correlating with an increase in lung disease cases.

Studies indicate a rapid rise in lung cancer deaths in the North, from 20.3 per 100,000 people in 2010 to 30.7 in 2019. This worrying trend highlights the critical need for immediate action to tackle air pollution and its detrimental health effects, particularly in Chiang Mai and Lampang. The data further reveals a higher incidence of lung cancer among the youth in these areas, suggesting a direct link to prolonged exposure to PM2.5 particles.

Research focusing on emphysema patients in Chiang Dao, a locality known for high PM2.5 levels, shows that exposure leads to cellular changes, hinting at the potential for genetic mutations and cancer development. The adverse health impacts of PM2.5 pollution are further evidenced by a spike in respiratory problems, with serious conditions like emphysema, coronary heart disease, and strokes becoming more common during high pollution periods.

An analysis by the Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University also found a direct correlation between PM2.5 levels and mortality rates, with a 1.6% increase in deaths for every ten micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³) rise in PM2.5. The faculty also confirmed the death of Prof Rawiwan Olarnratmanee, attributing her lung cancer to PM2.5 exposure. 

Meanwhile, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital reported that over 30,000 patients sought treatment for pollution-related illnesses early this year, doubling last year's figures.