Arriving with a palpable sense of urgency, Chaowalit Thongduang, better known as “Sia Paeng Nanod,” was greeted by a cadre of police and corrections officials as he disembarked from the plane at Bangkok’s police aviation division early Wednesday morning. Flanked by law enforcement, the 37-year-old fugitive was promptly escorted to a police van, solidifying the end of an arduous game of cat and mouse. Chaowalit’s journey back to Thailand had been the culmination of a high-stakes manhunt. Captured in Indonesia, the fugitive was flown from Nakhon Si Thammarat province to Bangkok, where he was to face the heavy burden of his legal battles. The police plane touched down in Don Muang district, and in no time, Chaowalit found himself in the custody of Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi province. The transport from the airport to the prison resembled a scene from a thriller movie—a convoy of four police vehicles,…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Forensic officers meticulously collected samples at the scene where the body of a young woman was discovered beneath the Bang Phun expressway in Pathum Thani on Wednesday morning. This particular moment was captured in a video uploaded on the Facebook page of Nakon45 Anyawut Pho-amphai. The half-naked body, believed to be that of a university student, lay obscured in the grass under the expressway in the Muang district of Pathum Thani. The grim find was made by the owner of a local car garage, who observed a man on a motorcycle suspiciously dumping something in the area before fleeing. Alarmed, the garage owner promptly alerted the authorities. Arriving swiftly at the scene, police officers were accompanied by rescue workers from the esteemed Ruam Katanyu Foundation. A careful examination revealed the sad sight of a young woman’s body, draped only in a skirt and a university belt, her form partially wrapped…
On a bustling Monday morning, a team of dedicated workers from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) embarked on a mission to restore the grandeur of an iconic “กรุงเทพฯ – Bangkok” sign perched high above Pathumwan intersection. The massive overhead destination marker had recently become the subject of online complaints due to its unsightly appearance, marred by swelling and soggy patches. Sitthiporn Somkidsan, the deputy director of the traffic and transportation department, explained that the repairs were urgently initiated after keen-eyed citizens noticed the sign’s deteriorating condition. “We received numerous online complaints about a watery swelling that made parts of the sign look quite unappealing,” Mr. Sitthiporn remarked. The source of the problem was not immediately apparent, prompting the City Hall team to inspect the sign closely. Upon investigation, they discovered several soggy spots. “These spots occurred because the surface of the concrete beam on which the sign sits was not…
The Mall Group is making waves in the tourism industry by teaming up with a diverse array of partners, including top-tier hotels, airlines, international payment platforms, travel websites, and more. Their mission? To create a robust Tourism Ecosystem and expand the Tourism Network, luring global travelers to their stores. The latest chapter in this venture saw alliances with 16 leading airlines, major international payment platforms, and popular travel websites, all set to offer unparalleled experiences and exclusive perks for foreign tourists shopping at The Mall Group’s department stores. This collaboration aims to draw tourists during the June to August period, aligning with the summer holidays in many countries. Miss Voralak Tulaphorn, Chief Marketing Officer of The Mall Group Co., Ltd, explained, “In line with the government’s commitment to boosting national income and positioning 2025 as the ‘Year of Tourism,’ we have strategically partnered with various stakeholders in the tourism sector.…
The first task for Wissanu Krea-ngam, newly appointed adviser to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, is to delve into the intricate details of the PM’s defence in a contentious case regarding the appointment of the polarizing politician Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. As Mr. Wissanu appeared at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, he noted that his advisory role permitted his attendance. This appearance marked Wissanu’s initial participation under the Srettha administration subsequent to assuming his new role. “There’s nothing particularly exciting about this; I have been around the Government House for over 30 years,” quipped Wissanu. He confirmed his assignment to scrutinize the specifics of the PM’s defence in this unfolding case. The Council of State, acting as the government’s legal advisor, along with the secretariat of the cabinet, will furnish him with a draft of the defence for his review. This draft needs to be polished and submitted to the…
The Move Forward Party (MFP) convened a press conference at parliament following a momentous Constitutional Court ruling on January 31, which insinuated that the party’s intentions could destabilize the constitutional monarchy. This event was captured in an evocative photo by Nutthawat Wichieanbut. On Tuesday, the MFP formally submitted its comprehensive written defence to the Constitutional Court, battling the dissolution case instigated by the Election Commission (EC), according to a trusted insider. The EC had sought the party’s dissolution in light of the aforementioned court ruling, asserting that the MFP’s advocacy for revising Section 112 of the Criminal Code, popularly known as the lese majeste law, suggested a threat to the constitutional monarchy. The January court decision essentially laid the groundwork for the party’s dissolution. The court officially accepted the EC’s petition to dissolve the party on April 3. The MFP’s detailed defence was submitted just in the nick of time,…
The government is setting its sights on transforming the country into a magnet for skilled foreign workers, as part of an ambitious strategy aimed at spurring long-term economic growth. On Tuesday, Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke revealed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is championing a dynamic approach to elevate the nation’s global standing by introducing an array of enticing new visa types to lure international talent. According to data from the Board of Investment (BOI), Thailand has already granted working visas and work permits to over 56,000 foreign professionals involved in investment-promoted projects. Among these, more than 4,000 individuals hold long-term resident (LTR) visas. This cohort includes 791 Americans, 479 Russians, 332 Brits, 277 Chinese nationals, 236 Germans, 207 Japanese, and 198 French citizens. Notably, there are also 2,170 smart visa holders, comprising skilled workers and investors in key target industries, alongside a burgeoning startup community. These smart visa holders hail…
Caretaker Senator Somchai Swangkarn has once again voiced his concerns regarding the integrity of the upcoming Senate elections. He insists that the Election Commission (EC) must perform thorough background checks on all candidates to ensure only qualified individuals participate in the poll, which is set to start on Sunday. This insistence comes in light of numerous complaints suggesting that several candidates have applied without proper qualifications, allegedly to manipulate the election results. The Senate election system, which allows 200 members to be chosen through a series of internal votes rather than by the public, is seen as a major loophole. Here’s how it works: candidates first compete at the district level, then move on to the provincial level, and finally to the national level. The system, according to Mr. Somchai, opens doors for people to be recruited as a means to skew the results in favor of certain individuals. This…
Most people don’t need a booster shot for the latest Covid-19 strain, except for vulnerable groups and the unvaccinated, since symptoms are relatively mild and the vaccine must be purchased, according to virologist Yong Poovorawan. Dr. Yong, from the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, explained that the virus’s severity has consistently decreased, much like other respiratory illnesses, largely due to high vaccination rates and herd immunity. Nearly 90% of the population has now been infected by the virus. The remaining group—primarily elderly individuals who spend most of their time at home—have managed to avoid infection since the pandemic’s onset. As Covid-19 has become endemic, seasonal flare-ups should be expected just like other respiratory diseases. In Thailand, these outbreaks tend to occur during the rainy season, while countries with long winters will see a surge in infections due to prolonged cold weather. “In Thailand, Covid-19 outbreaks are…
Thaksin Shinawatra is greeted by a sea of enthusiastic supporters as he strides into the Pheu Thai Party headquarters on March 25. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb) Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, finds himself at the center of attention once more. Assuring the nation, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confidently declared yesterday that Thaksin will not attempt another escape to dodge the lese majeste case looming over him. “I met with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party leader, this morning,” Prime Minister Srettha shared. “She assured me that her father is well.” He continued, “I trust he will stay. I believe he’s ready to confront [the lese majeste case]. Seventeen years of exile—it’s been a long haul. Today, he has stepped back into the justice system. This is just another obstacle for him to overcome.” “I cannot speak for him directly,” Mr. Srettha added, “but I doubt he plans on leaving.”…