An astonishing discovery of cash donations totaling 51 million baht has emerged in the case involving a former monk, Phra Ajarn Khom Abhivaro, and two others accused of embezzling 180 million baht from Wat Pha Dhammakiri temple in Nakhon Ratchasima. The 39-year-old former monk, who gained widespread recognition for his meditation expertise and attracted numerous high-profile followers, was arrested along with accomplices Wutthima, 38, and Juthathip, 35, based on a warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Authorities apprehended the suspects last week, with further revelations suggesting that the former monk also engaged in sexual activities, prompting him to voluntarily leave the monkhood on May 1. The investigation began following accusations from the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) that Khom Abhivaro had misused temple donations for his personal gain. Reports indicate that one such donation was facilitated through Wutthima, a former abbot who transferred the money…
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A pickup truck drives past high-voltage power lines in Pathum Thani. Electricity consumption has soared during the current hotter-than-usual summer season. (Photo: Pattanapong Hirunard) On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam defended a proposal to subsidize electricity bills this month, stating that it is not an attempt to boost the government’s popularity ahead of the May 14 election. On Tuesday, the cabinet agreed to allocate 10.4 billion baht from the central budget to subsidize the fuel tariff, easing the public’s financial burden resulting from increased electricity costs during an unusually hot season. As a consequence, around 23.4 million people may receive a 150 baht subsidy to help pay their electricity bills this month. Mr. Wissanu explained that the central budget cannot be utilized if parliament has been dissolved, which happened when the election was announced. Nevertheless, the government can still seek permission from the Electoral Commission (EC) to spend money…
Graduate Students from University of Paris-Saclay Visit Central Group and Learn from the Experts Central Group, one of Thailand’s top retail and service industry companies, recently hosted a group of graduate students from the prestigious University of Paris-Saclay. These bright young minds are enrolled in the Marketing & Sales program at the university, which holds the impressive distinction of being ranked 93rd in the world and 3rd in France by Times Higher Education. During their visit, the students had the opportunity to engage with Central Group’s management team and learn about their strategies, experiences, and best practices in various aspects of the company’s operations. Multicultural Management – Pascal Billaud, Chief People Officer at Central Group, shared his insights on the importance of balancing technical and soft skills for a sustainable cultural management. To achieve this, the key elements of mutual respect, collaborative learning, teamwork, and enjoyable work experiences must be…
Talented actress Preechaya “Ice” Pongthananikorn has publicly acknowledged that she purchased cyanide online, yet clarified that it was solely for the purpose of preventing monitor lizards from harming her beloved dogs. The 33-year-old star felt compelled to shed light on the situation after her name emerged on a list of 100 buyers who had acquired cyanide from the same source as accused serial killer Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn. Preechaya provided further information about the purchase during an appearance on the Lui Chon Khao television program on Channel 8. She emphasized that she had acquired only one bottle of the dangerous chemical, as opposed to the significant quantity reported by some outlets. Moreover, she mentioned that she had not yet opened the package, and expressed her readiness to cooperate with the police regarding the matter. In support of her daughter, Preechaya’s mother, Bang-orn Pongthananikorn, disclosed additional details to the media. According to…
Security officers are diligently guarding a Thailand Post warehouse, where ballots are being prepared for nationwide distribution in anticipation of the upcoming elections. The Election Commission (EC) recently addressed the need for nearly 5 million extra ballots, explaining that they are typically distributed in bound sets of 20, which increases the overall amount needed. Extra ballots are always kept as spares at every one of the 100,000 polling stations spread across the country, according to EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee’s Facebook post. For the election scheduled on May 14th, there are 52.23 million eligible voters, while approximately 57.2 million ballots have been printed in 2.86 million bound sets, consisting of 20 ballots each. As Mr. Sawaeng clarifies, “The number of printed ballots treated as spare ballots is therefore 4.96 million.” One collection of 20 ballots will be distributed to each of the 100,000 polling stations, which means that 2 million of…
Thailand is bracing for the potential impact of two storms next week, with concerns that they may affect the crucial Election Day, scheduled for May 14. The Climate Change and Disaster Centre at Rangsit University has issued the information regarding the upcoming weather conditions. Cyclone Mocha is currently producing heavy rainfall in the Bay of Bengal, while another tropical depression is forming in the South China Sea near the Philippines, according to the center’s director, Seri Suparatit. The impact of these two storms is expected to be felt in Thailand starting from May 9. Additionally, heat and a low-pressure trough will also contribute to thunderstorms beginning on May 8 in central, eastern, northeastern, and northern regions of the country. In a recent Facebook post, Seri Suparatit highlighted a 30% chance of thunderstorms, especially in the South, on Election Day, May 14. The presence of heavy rainfall on the day could…
Sathit Chamchalaem, a 50-year-old director of the Public Works Division at Khlong Luang municipality in Pathum Thani, was arrested alongside Ekkapot Panyaem, the 53-year-old mayor, after being charged with collusion in demanding and receiving bribes. The arrests were made by the Counter Corruption Division (CCD) and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission following a complaint lodged by a man who had requested permission for a land fill from the municipality. While the usual fee for a land fill is only 500 baht, the mayor allegedly demanded 50 baht per cubic meter for the 60,000 cubic meters of soil to be used in the land fill, resulting in a total of 3 million baht. The man, fearing repercussions if he refused to pay the bribe, agreed to pay an advance of 500,000 baht to Mr. Sathit, with the remainder to be paid in installments. CCD police initiated an investigation in response to…
High-ranking members of the Democrat Party recently convened at the Thai-Japanese Youth Centre in Din Daeng district of Bangkok to discuss their vision for Thailand’s future transportation infrastructure. During the meeting, Samart Ratchapolsitte, a deputy party leader, announced plans to prioritize the expansion of inter-provincial railways and high-speed rail lines if they manage to join a coalition government after the upcoming election. Ratchapolsitte stressed the urgency of reducing Thailand’s logistics costs, which currently stand at around 14% of the nation’s GDP. In contrast, countries with well-developed railway systems usually experience logistics costs falling within the 8-9% range. Ratchapolsitte also pointed out that Thailand’s current reliance on cars and trucks for transportation is hindering the nation’s progress. Rather, he feels that investing more in railway systems would provide a cheaper and more efficient mode for transportation. As part of the Democrat Party’s grand plan for transportation, they aim to support the…
The newly implemented opening hours at the popular Rot Fai Park now span from 4:30 am to 9:00 pm, allowing locals and visitors alike even more time to enjoy the park’s array of amenities. With its expansive 375-rai (60-hectare) footprint on Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road, the park not only offers dedicated lanes for joggers and cyclists but also features a captivating butterfly garden and insectarium that welcomes guests from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm every day except for Mondays. In a concerted effort to create a haven for the city’s four-legged residents, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has joined forces with BMA’s Department of Environment and Charoen Pokphand Foods to transform a section of Rot Fai Park into an urban sanctuary for pets. This designated area provides pet owners a safe and welcoming space for their furry companions to roam, play, and interact with others, under the condition that specific…
In a recent dialogue titled “Is Thailand Ready for an Ageing Society?”, various political parties discussed their plans and promises to tackle the challenges faced by Thailand’s growing elderly population. With increasing numbers of senior citizens living below the poverty line, each party outlined their respective strategies to provide financial support, healthcare, and work opportunities for older individuals. The Move Forward party, led by Decharut Sukkumnoed, pledged to increase the monthly allowance for senior citizens to 3,000 baht by 2027. They also intend to establish a special fund to allow bedridden seniors to access 24-hour nursing care, as well as community-based treatment centers to ensure convenient medical care for the elderly. Additionally, the party is considering offering support to help individuals clear household debts. The Pheu Thai Party, represented by Theerarat Samrejvanich, aims to improve the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme to facilitate easier access to medical treatment for older individuals.…