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Chiangmai Mail joins the people of Thailand to humbly wish
Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawalee a very Happy Birthday Thursday July 13
(Photo courtesy of the Bureau of
the Royal Household)
Chiang Mai celebrates Buddhist Lent
Chiang Mai celebrated Buddhist Lent between July 2 to 11
with parades and presentation of many giant candles. These candles were
carved and decorated by surrounding communities and given to temples around
the city and other activities. Buddhist Lent is a solemn period in the
Buddhist calendar and people make merit and practice abstinence. It also
marks the beginning of the period coinciding with the onset of the rains,
when the monks cease traveling and remain in the monasteries.
Deregistered Austrian doctor arrested for illegal practice, causing deaths of cancer patients
Saksit Meesubkwang
Australian Federal Police in cooperation with Provincial Police Bureau
Region 5 arrested a deregistered Austrian doctor who claimed to be able to
cure cancer, but many of his “patients” had died.
Hellfried
Sartori, the disgraced
Austrian doctor.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, Commissioner of Provincial
Police Bureau Region 5 said that, on November 16, 2005, Australian Federal
Police had come to Chiang Mai and asked the local police to assist in
investigating the cause of death of numerous Australian people in the
Northern Territory and Western Territory of Australia. They had all been
treated by an Austrian man named Hellfried Sartori, 67, who purported to be
a doctor and had fled to Chiang Mai and offered treatment via his website.
Then, on February 20th, 2006, the Australian Federation Police were informed
that Katherine Preston, an Australian woman who had been treated by him,
died at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital and it was suspected that the
cause of death was from his treatment.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong also said that after coordinating with the Australian
Federal Police, he issued orders to the special investigation department to
trace his whereabouts. The officers were aware that he claimed to be a
doctor concerned with treating cancer and were informed of a patient,
identified as Melissa Judith Taylor, 33, a New Zealander who was unconscious
and undergoing emergency treatment in Chiang Mai Ram Hospital.
When she recovered, she informed the police that she was acquainted with the
‘doctor’ via the Internet; where he claimed that he could cure cancer.
So she flew to Thailand to receive treatment in Chiang Mai. She stated that
she had agreed to make an initial payment of 900,000 baht. He treated her in
a room in a Chiang Mai hotel that he had converted into an operating
theatre. He injected a substance he called “Ozone” into her body and
soon after she went into shock and was sent to Central Chiang Mai Hospital.
 A
video recording shows Sartori injecting Ozone into a patient’s body at his
illegal clinic.
Learning of this, police applied for an arrest warrant
from Chiang Mai Court and apprehended the man. He was charged with fraud and
working as a medical practitioner without a license.
The ‘doctor’ had several prior offences to his name and was also charged
that on June 5, 2006, he fraudulently offered treatment to an American, for
which he was paid 612,000 baht. Previously, he had been arrested in New York
City, in the US on May 18th, 1995 on a charge of posing as a doctor. Also,
on July 17, 1998, he was arrested in Washington, US on a similar charge. He
claimed to have a cure for cancer and injected his patients with “Ozone
gas”.
Investigations by Chiangmai Mail reporters revealed that the former
physician, Hellfried Sartori, received his primary degree in medicine from
the University of Graz Medical School in Austria, and went to America where
he became involved in ‘alternative’ treatments for many conditions.
One of these was Cesium therapy and he began this program in 1981 at Life
Sciences Universal Medical Clinic. He was also involved with the so-called
‘chelation therapy’ which uses a series of intravenous infusions
containing EDTA and various other substances, which is falsely claimed to be
effective against cardiovascular disease, autism, and many other diseases
and conditions. The use of chelation for such purposes is considered
substandard medical practice. Hellfried Sartori was subsequently struck off
the medical register in the US in 1985 and convicted of practicing medicine
without a license after injecting ozone into patients intravenously and
performing chelation therapy via injection of EDTA to treat various
diseases.
It would appear that he continued with this line of treatment, recruiting
his “patients” via the Internet.
Chiang Mai Immigration coming down heavily on hotel operators
Saksit Meesubkwang
Chiang Mai is a tourist city, and the government promotes the city as being
the center of tourism in the Asia Pacific region. Each year, the city is
visited by thousands of tourists from Asia, Europe, and America who stay in
the many hotels, guesthouses and shelters.
Pol.
Col. Sa-ngob Sanudorn, superintendent of Chiang Mai Immigration police.
Immigration regulations require
accommodation business owners to inform the immigration police within 24
hours of the details and numbers and nationalities of foreign tourists
staying in their premises. “If they fail to comply with this regulation,
it violates Act 77, and renders them liable to be fined between 2,000 and
10,000 baht per person per night,” said Pol. Col. Sa-ngob Sanudorn,
superintendent of Chiang Mai Immigrations police.
Pol. Col. Sa-ngob also said that during the eight months since he had been
promoted to this position, he had talked to accommodation business owners in
Chiang Mai and warned them to comply with the regulations. The Immigration
Police have particularly warned business owners of the several five-star
hotels in Chiang Mai who had claimed to a Chiang Mai local news reporter
that they are not afraid of the law. Immigration officers warned the hotel
owners and managers that they would face legal proceedings if they were
found to have violated the regulations, with no exception.
Conflict still over Mae Maw Powerhouse progress
Saksit Meesubkwang
The case concerning the residents who are affected by Mae Maw Powerhouse in
Lampang Province just goes on and on. The Electricity Generating Authority
of Thailand (EGAT) would like residents to move out from the area where they
wish to build a powerhouse, to an alternative place provided nearby, but
some groups of residents have been totally dissatisfied with EGAT’s
arrangements and jointly sued EGAT in 2002; and recently more than 120
residents sued again in June as reported in Chiangmai Mail.
Recently, an administration court investigated the officers concerned while
Lampang vice Governor, Wanchai Sutthiworachai said that construction on the
new homes for those displaced residents was now nearing completion, with 52
percent of the access roads in place and 51 percent of public water services
finished. The province was hoping to relocate some residents in mid-July or
August but this date kept getting put back due to the fact that some
residents had refused to move out from the Mae Maw Powerhouse area; while
some villagers were squatting in the alternative area provided for residents
who were displaced by the new Mae Maw Powerhouse, so that construction could
not go ahead.
The Lampang Governor also added that the province already removed two
households that were trespassing, but in the meantime some villagers had
petitioned the administration court of Chiang Mai not to let the
construction process go ahead on that land. The province explained that
providing alternative homes for the displaced residents was according to the
government’s policy; and those people who had initially lived there had
possessed the land illegally. This policy was not to consider just the needs
of individuals, but addresses the requirements of all groups of citizens.
The province would set up a committee to estimate requirements of different
groups of residents who would move from the powerhouse area to live there.
These residents would be allowed to be a part of the process and consult
with government organizations so that after they had moved in, the
authorities would train different people in various new occupations. The
governor stressed that the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment had
advised this plan of action, when he visited Lampang.
Opium found hidden in packages to be sent to America
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Becoming suspicious of five packages destined for California USA, on July 7,
post office workers informed Chiang Rai police who inspected and opened the
packages. Inside, they found numerous costumes, lingerie and shoes, but
concealed amongst those items they also discovered 100 packs of opium
weighing 3.5 kgs packed in black packs hidden inside the heels of the shoes.
Police interviewed the observant post office staff who were able to identify
the person who posted the parcels as Nu Saewang, 26, a Hmong tribesman
living in Chiang Rai. Police arrested him, and he confessed that he was the
sender of the packages. He immediately grassed on another five colleagues in
the parcel scam and who are now being traced by police.
Police investigation revealed that the opium was imported from Burma via
Wiang Kaen district. The ready-to-use opium is more expensive than raw opium
because it does not have to be heated and can be used instantly. In
Thailand, its street value would be at least 200,000 baht. However, if sold
in the USA, its retail value would exceed 20 million baht. Previously, there
had been a case of someone smuggling opium in ceramic and sculptured
products.
Long Neck Karen persuaded to live in New Zealand
Saksit Meesubkwang
Long Neck Karen in Mae Hong Son will be relocated, while some others have
been offered the chance to live in New Zealand. Mae Hong Son was mentioned
in overseas newspaper reports that it took care of Long Neck Karen as if it
was treating animals, but the governor reacted strongly to this allegation
proclaiming that it was not true, and that he had asked for permission to
set up a cultural village for the Long Neck Karen.
The disgruntled Mae Hong Son Governor, Direk Konkleep, disclosed that the
province had ordered security and administration organizations of the
province to move Long Neck Karen currently living at Baan Nai Soy Village
and Baan Huay Sue Tao Village to move to Baan Nam Piang Din or Baan Huay Poo
Kang Village in Muang Mae Hong Son, which has always been a Long Neck Karen
Village.
The governor said that a private organization from New Zealand which had
traveled to interview Long Neck Karen and select some of them to live in New
Zealand had made rather insulting allegations, saying that Mae Hong Son
Province took care of these people as though they were animals; and the
private organization of New Zealand would construct a permanent village for
these people. The governor said that Long Neck Karen had lived in Mae Hong
Son for more than 10 years and they attracted many tourists, and the
province never treated them in the manner which the New Zealanders were
claiming.
The province sent a petition to Ministry of the Interior, asking them to
cancel the permission allowing the Long Neck Karen to go to New Zealand; and
asked for authorization to set up a “Long Neck Karen Culture Conservation
Village” at Baan Nam Piang Din Village, and to gather all Long Neck Karen
currently living at different locations around Mae Hong Son to relocate
there. Direk reported that the Long Neck Karen lifestyle would be shown in
that village and tourists who came to experience the long-neck culture and
traditions would be charged in the usual way and the revenue would go
directly to the villagers as part of their income.
The choices for the Long Neck Karen are to move into Baan Nam Piang Din or
Baan Huay Poo Kang Village that the province provides or to travel to a
third country. This choice only applies to those who have lived in Mae Hong
Son as war refugees for more than ten years; otherwise the province will
press for them to return to Myanmar.
Mae Hong Son floods cause one death and much damage
Khajohn Boonphat
Continuous rain in Mae Hong Son caused mountain streams to go into spate,
flooding households and agricultural areas in Muang District. A local
resident was swept away by the floods which also caused route number 1095
(Mae Hong Son-Pai) at Baan Tha Krai in Pang Mapha to be cut. The bus which
plies that route daily had to suspend service temporarily and six villages
were also cut off. In the meantime, Pai District Office warned residents to
be aware of higher water levels in the Pai River and foreign tourists were
moved out from high-risk areas.
On the evening of July 5, villagers of Baan Pha Bong, Mae Hong Son learnt
from the authorities and soldiers from the Pha Bong base that mountain
streams were flooding into the Nam Mae Ja River. Manit Pinta, 48, a villager
of Baan Pha Bong Village, who was crossing the river was swept away in the
raging torrent. The border patrol police of base 336 in cooperation with the
Public Disaster Relief Foundation of Mae Hong Son jointly searched for the
body but had to abandon the search when the water level increased to even
more dangerous levels.
Meanwhile, Muang District Chief Officer, Manit Satthaphon reported from
Tambon Huay Pong that rain fell the whole day and night at Baan Palan, Baan
Kaen Fa and Baan Mai Hung villages. The torrential downpour caused the Nam
Mae Ja River and tributary creeks to rise rapidly and the mountain torrent
flooded households in Baan Kaen Fa Village at Tambon Huay Pong, Baan Pha
Bong at Tambon Pha Bong, as well as inundating 2500 rai of agricultural
land.
Pang Mapha District Chief Office, Suchat Teekahsuk revealed that the rain
that fell continuously throughout the night caused a landslide which carried
away part of route 1095 near the Agricultural Research Center at Baan Tha
Krai and Baan Rai. Swift action by engineers restored this important road
the next day. Five cows belonging to a local farmer were swept away and a
bridge linking Baan Tham Lod and Baan Na Luang was damaged, isolating 3,000
villagers of six nearby tourism villages. A group of foreign tourists
staying in the village of Baan Tham Lod were temporarily stranded by the
floods, but officers immediately sent a rescue team to get them out of
danger.
Pai District Chief Office warned that the water level in the Pai River had
risen to dangerous levels so the office warned residents living near
high-risk areas to move out to safer ground. Police officers were called to
a guesthouse located near the Pai River to help eight foreigners who were
stuck there.
The flooding situation in Mae Hong Son has got worse, with almost 5,000 rai
of agricultural land now under water and 20 households severely damaged,
affecting 6,500 villagers, including numerous livestock. The situation is
worsening hourly owing to continuous torrential rain falling in all areas
and the water level in creeks rising rapidly. The authorities have warned
all residents to move out from risky areas and recently vehicles have been
unable to travel along route number 108 because it is flooded 1.50 meters
deep. THAI airlines have been forced to cancel a flight and might need to
stop all flights because of poor visibility and the horrendous weather
conditions.
Dams release water for flood mitigation
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Thada Sukhapunaphan, director of the Hydrology and Water Management Center
for the Upper Northern Region explained the flood prevention plan for the
Northern Region. He reported that the number of officers had been increased,
with orders to monitor the amount of rainfall and to check water levels in
catchment areas all over the Northern Region since July 1, to prevent floods
in the region. Main dams and reservoirs in the Northern Region are closely
coordinated to prevent floods and the water level in the dams has been
lowered to make room for the forthcoming rainfall.
Mae Ngad Somboonchon Dam in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai, has lowered the
water level down to 70 million cubic meters (75 percent) from the maximum
capacity of 265 million cubic meters. Mae Guang Udom Thara Dam has also
released 75 percent of its water level. Other main dams in the Northern
Region will also release the water depending on the levels in each dam, so
as not to affect water requirements during a drought crisis. Mae Ngad
Somboonchon is the main dam which affects flooding in Chiang Mai because the
outfall of this dam releases water directly into the Ping River.
Media as peacemakers amidst Mekong basin countries?
Saksit Meesubkwang
An international academic seminar was held on July 7 and among the subjects
on the agenda were the roles of the media in promoting peace in countries in
the Mekong River basin.
The seminar was held at Chiang Mai University, presided over by CMU vice
president and joined by several prominent academics. The principal lecturer
at the seminar was Ms. Emma Giliam; Head of project (Tree of Life Project)
from the BBC World Service Trust, assisted by James David Fafn; Executive
Director of Earth Journalism Network and Jeff Hudson; Trainer of IMMF and
several other experts in their individual fields.
Jeff Hudson expressed that the media in this region had a clear role, but
their perceived image differed according to each country’s politics and
economic situation. For example, the government controlled the media in Laos
and Vietnam; therefore, it mostly presented a favorable point of view
towards works of government. He believed that Media in Thailand however, a
democratic country and free of government censorship, was generally able to
put forward a more balanced point of view, but sometimes the news became
slanted favorably towards the organization holding the purse-strings.
Generally speaking, the reporting was more balanced in Thailand, with
newspaper reporters and TV journalists free to support the government or
criticize as they saw fit with no fear of reprisal. Meanwhile, media in
Burma was seriously under the government’s thumb; and even resorted to
smuggling important news stories out of the country and getting them
published in countries that enjoyed press freedom. The Chinese government
went one step further by actually owning every aspect of the media and only
published news that it saw fit and offered no criticism to its actions.
To create peace by use of the media, he said that reporters depended on
several aspects and needed to realize about various different cultures, so
as not to offer biased reports according to a group’s belief and to report
the truth objectively. James Fafn stressed that, to create peace, the media
must be stable, unafraid and have complete freedom to present the news as
they saw it.
Apinya, another lecturer, expressed the point of view that peace would
happen only when media had enough freedom to report news based on
righteousness, including the right of communication and information exchange
that must be equal. The heart of freedom came from presenting one’s
opinion freely without fear of reprisal, even when that opinion was
controversial.
The Media must be a bridge for information to create a balanced society by
offering a chance for people to express their opinions. For instance,
citizens listen to the government all the time; therefore government should
listen to the citizens. It should also be concerned about culture, religion
and sensitive to differing lifestyles, accepting the difference of other
people’s culture and beliefs without prejudice or criticism.
Unlit intersections a traffic hazard
This
recent accident occurred at night near the non-illuminated Khuang Singha
Intersection.
Nopniwat Krailerg
The tunnel construction on the Chiang Mai-Lampang Highway at the Khuang
Singha Intersection and San Dek Intersection have been disrupting traffic
flow for some time. Recently, the construction of a new tunnel has been
started at Nhong Pratheep Intersection (intersection to San Kamphaeng),
adding further delays and disruption to the already stressed motoring
public. Residents have no idea when it will be finished or if the road has
to be closed or whether they should make a U-turn.
In addition, numerous accidents occur at night due to the failure of the
construction company to illuminate the direction signs. At night the lights
are turned off at every tunnel-construction intersection, leaving the
dangerous site in darkness and extremely hazardous to drivers and riders,
especially tourists who are not familiar with the roads.
A local DJ who works at night and rides a motorcycle to work said that she
cannot see which way to go at the Khuang Singha Intersection and the to Mae
Rim district. Also, the U-turn in front of the Office of the Department of
Legal Execution near Lanna Hospital is not illuminated and several times she
has missed the turn and has almost been executed. Although she is familiar
with the road, it is quite difficult to watch the road and at the same time
watch out for other traffic. Also when it rains, the roads become very
dangerous.
A student at Payap University also complained about the poor visibility when
driving at night. Even when using headlights, the visibility is still bad.
At every intersection, there are many large concrete barriers blocking the
road which are easy to see during daylight but become very dangerous at
night because they are not illuminated. He said that the construction
company should be ordered to erect lights posts at every intersection for
safety; with fluorescent lights over the direction signs and these lights
should be turned on at night, when lights are usually needed most.
He added that government organizations that are responsible for safety
matters do not enforce the regulations governing the construction sites. If
safety matters are not addressed, there will be more severe accidents and
lives lost; especially in November, when the roads will be busy during the
International Horticultural Exposition Ratchaphruek 2006.
Muslims living in America
Saksit Meesubkwang
Imam Rahmat P. Phayakul of the Al-Fatihah Mosque, the only Thai mosque in
California, said that according to the Muslim demography in the US, there
are 1,209 mosques and approximately 2 million Muslims in the population.
Each mosque in US has on average, 1,625 Muslims involved.
Imam
Rahmat P. Phayakul, giving a special lecture “Muslims Living in
America”.
He explained that Islam teaches people to be good and live at peace
alongside people of other religions. As perhaps never before, the world is
facing crisis, such as politics, disasters, and wars. The only thing that
Muslims in the US emphasize is to call for peace throughout the world.
Imam Rahmat P. Phayakul, gave this special lecture entitled “Muslims
Living in America” at the Porn Ping Tower Hotel, in Muang Chiang Mai, and
was welcomed by Beatrice Camp, US Consul General to Chiang Mai; Borphit
Widhayawiroj, director of Chiang Mai Cultural Center and Plangkul
Wongluekiat, Chairman of the Muslim Board in Chiang Mai. It was also pointed
out that there are more than 60,000 Muslims in Muang, Doi Saket, San
Kamphaeng, Mae Ai, and Fang district, with four mosques and Islamic schools;
two in Muang district and two in Fang district.
Imam Rahmat P. Phayakul was previously a coordinator for the Tsunami Relief
Project. He took the position of president of the Thai Relief Organization
which collected donations for the charity in the south of California to
raise funds to help the unfortunate victims of the Tsunami in the Southern
Region of Thailand and support schools in remote areas. He also helped to
establish a non-profit organization for peace from 2002 to 2004. In addition
to his many other duties he is also on the board of the Islamic Shura
Council of Southern California, which is the organization that takes care of
all the 75 mosques, Islamic schools and non-profit organizations in the US.
Seminar
attendants.
Man spends 12 hours in air-con duct
Leaves frozen with 41 cell phones
Nopniwat Krailerg
A young man had hidden in the air-conditioning duct of a department store in
the city center of Chiang Mai to steal cell phones valued at 500,000 baht,
as well as about 120,000 baht in cash.
On July 5, police from Phuping Police Station in Muang, Chiang Mai were
summonsed by a security guard and arrested Prawit Saengtim, 22, a
construction worker from Phetchabun province, together with 41 cell phones
and the money that he had stolen from the VT Telecom shop on the third floor
of Kad Suan Kaew Department Store.
He confessed that he had hidden there for several hours in an
air-conditioning duct on the roof of a games shop near the cell phone shop.
When the store closed he stole the cell phones and money from the cell phone
shop. He then hid in the duct all that night until next morning when the
store opened and he attempted to leave with two bags containing the cell
phones. However, the security guard suspected something was wrong and asked
for his bags to be searched. It was difficult to explain why he needed 41
cell phones, and so the police were contacted. If nothing else, he would
have been able to ring for a lawyer.
Your ya ba is now coming by train
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Police officers arrested Sanya Chinsith, 38, a Tai tribesman and a resident
of Bangkok, as he was boarding the Bangkok express train at Chiang Mai
Railway Station.
He was found to be carrying 13 packs of ya ba pills in his luggage and when
interrogated, he confessed that he was hired by a woman named “Aoy”, in
Mae Rim district Chiang Mai and given 30,000 baht to deliver the ya ba pills
to “Chai” (last name unknown), who would be waiting at Bangkok Railway
Station.
Police officers coordinated with the Office of Narcotic Control Board (ONCB)
to arrest “Aoy” or Tharinee Nhong-ngu at her house in Mae Rim district;
and brought both she and mule Sanya to face legal proceedings.
The ONCB officers also carried on their enquiries in the hope of arresting
other members of the drugs network in Bangkok, who if Sanya’s information
is correct should be easily recognized standing at the platform waiting for
his shipment.
Brother-in-law’s killer dumps body in canal
Saksit Meesubkwang
Having failed to solve a family conflict, a man killed his brother-in–law,
(his wife’s sister’s husband) in conjunction with two other accomplices.
He was arrested four days after the murder; but his two accomplices are
still being pursued by the police.
Provincial
Police Bureau Region 5, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya
investigating the murder.
The police called a press conference to report on the progress of this case
at Muang Chiang Mai Police Station. The murderer, known as Prayut Janyarak,
59, a resident of Muang of Lop Buri was brought to the press conference and
was charged with the murder of Boonnetr Boonju, 40, living near Saraphi. The
killer accepted all the accusations and confessed to the murder.
After being interviewed by the police, Prayut admitted that he and two
friends killed Boonnetr on a quiet path alongside an irrigation canal at
Tambon Yuwha in San Pa Tong, near Chiang Mai. Before killing Boonnetr, he
was subdued by being given a tranquilizer mixed in his food. The killers
then tied their tranquilized victim’s hands behind his back, wrapped his
face and head with masking tape and covered him with a black plastic bag
before callously throwing him into the irrigation ditch.
Passers-by found the body and informed police, who investigated this case
for four days before eventually finding the killer and arresting him. The
murderer was a businessman running a furniture export business. The only
chairs he will now be looking at are electric ones.
Footy bookmakers and bag-snatching gangs busted by top cop
Saksit Meesubkwang
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, Commissioner of Provincial
Police Bureau Region 5, held a press-conference at Chiang Mai Police Station
to report on the arrest of a football gambling gang that he had personally
witnessed. The police arrested 36 members of the gang and seized three
million baht cash in the gang leader’s bank account. The gang consisted of
mainly teenagers and had been operating in the Muang district and San Sai
district.
The
accused teenagers.
The commissioner also revealed that there had been a steep rise in the
instances of theft during the World Cup Festival. Police had arrested
Pongsiri Thitithanaphum, Aswadej Sritrakul, Krisana, and Theerawat
Wattanasilp, all of them teenagers. They had committed motorcycle theft in
Chiang Mai at night and when they were apprehended police found them in
possession of five stolen Honda motorcycles, three cell phones, several
women’s handbags, and numerous valuable items of stolen property. The
accused confessed that after stealing the property, they usually sold it
immediately to get money to hang out and gamble on the World Cup.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong said that he had issued orders to officers in each
station to be stricter and increase the frequency of patrols in all areas
both by motorcycles and by foot, with the aim of reducing crime and
reassuring tourists.
Pol. Lt.
Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, Commissioner of Provincial Police Bureau
Region 5 checking seized evidence.
Nocturnal police blitz turns
up shady characters and unregistered motorcycles
Pol. Lt.
Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, Commissioner of Provincial Police Bureau
Region 5 checking the seized evidence at Chang Puek Police Station.
Saksit Meesubkwang
Two squads of 50 police officers launched a nocturnal blitz hoping to catch
miscreants on motorcycles and deviates in dormitories.
The checkpoint team was able to apprehend 39 suspicious riders on
unregistered motorbikes, which they took to be checked to see whether they
were stolen, or had been used in the commission of any crimes.
The suppression team also had a fruitful night and arrested 13 people
accused of various offences. One of them was an illegal alien, found in
possession of 691 speed pills, a .38 caliber revolver and five bullets
Pol. Lt. Col. Panya Nawatrakulpisut, the investigation inspector said that
prior to the arrests, there had been numerous complaints from nearby
residents that there were groups of teenagers constantly fighting and
creating noise. Police had been called on numerous occasions to suppress
these disturbances. There are many academies located in Chang Puek Police
Station’s area of responsibility and because of the final rounds of World
Cup Festival approaching, there was an increased likelihood of football
gamblers attempting to steal money by picking pockets, selling speed pills,
and committing violence. Police were determined to suppress these outbreaks
of violence and arrest anyone who may commit crimes and pose a threat to law
and order, hence their evening’s entertainment.
Whether this blitz will have a long term effect is another matter!
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