A section of metal sheet found itself lodged in a passing pickup truck after a dramatic fall from the elevated highway under construction above the bustling Rama II Road. This gripping incident on Monday set off a flurry of activity among the Department of Highways as they sprang into action to investigate the unsettling occurrence. The scene of this unexpected plunge was near the Wat Pak Bo junction, around 11:45 AM. Helming the department, Director-General Sarawut Songsivilai has been leading the charge to uncover the specifics behind this metal rain. The stories since shared by Arjin Rodthani, the 46-year-old owner of the ill-fated pickup, paint a vivid picture: a 50cm sheet of metal embedded itself into the hood of his vehicle, sending shockwaves through him and his family, who were also in the car when this steel missile struck. In the age of digital connectivity, the news spread like wildfire…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Amid the bustling hum of Sukhumvit Road in front of Thai Oil’s Refinery in the scenic Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, an unfolding drama captured the attention of many from 24 to 26 July 2024, and again on 30 and 31 July 2024. A group of unpaid subcontractor workers from the Unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV) of Petrofac South East Asia Pte. Ltd. (Petrofac), Saipem Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Saipem), and Samsung E&A (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (formerly Samsung Engineering (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) gathered, demanding their overdue wages. Following an inquiry by Thai Oil Public Company Limited (“the Company”), it was revealed that the frustrated workers were employees of One Turn Ten Company Limited (“One Turn Ten”), EMCO LTD (Thailand) Company Limited (“EMCO”), and Thai Fong Engineering and Construction Company Limited (“Thai Fong”). These companies are subcontractors of Sinopec Engineering Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“Sinopec”), which itself is a subcontractor of the UJV,…
Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke has made it clear that the fate of Vietnamese activist Y Quynh Bdap, who was apprehended in Bangkok this past June, must ultimately be decided within the judicial system. (File photo) According to Chai Wacharonke, the Thai government steers clear from meddling in the legal process concerning a Vietnamese activist potentially facing extradition. This decision follows a plea from a group of US lawmakers who have called for Bdap’s release. In a response to a letter addressed to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin by four US House of Representatives members, requesting the release of Y Quynh Bdap, aged 32, Chai remarked that any decisions regarding Bdap’s release or extradition must be made in court. Y Quynh Bdap is the orchestrator behind Montagnards Stand for Justice, an advocacy group dedicated to advocating for religious freedom for ethnic minorities and indigenous tribes within Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Critics assert that…
Mongkol Preesukkasem’s world came crashing down when it was discovered that he had been posing as a level-five prosecutor, having been illicitly appointed by the Thanya Buri Provincial Office of the Attorney just last year. The dramatic revelation sent shockwaves through the judicial community, particularly after a picture of a certificate letter, allegedly signed and issued by the Thanya Buri Provincial Office of the Attorney, began making rounds in a Line chat group of prosecutors. The controversial certificate, dated March 26 of the previous year, ominously stated that Mongkol, an advisor to the erstwhile director-general of the Office of the Attorney General’s investigative office, Pol Lt Uthai Artiwet, held a status equivalent to that of a level-five prosecutor. Worth noting is that Pol Lt Uthai, currently stepping in as an acting deputy attorney general, seemingly vouched for Mongkol’s credentials. Positively glowing with praise, the letter described Mr. Mongkol as a…
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul spoke to reporters with an air of determination, his words charging the atmosphere after the signing of a pivotal memorandum of understanding on Wednesday. This historic event was captured in a photograph by Supoj Wancharoen, marking a significant step toward a drug-free future for Thailand. Three crucial ministries have come together in this effort: the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. They’ve agreed to intensify drug testing for staff involved in drug suppression, while ensuring that testing remains voluntary to respect workers’ rights. “The government has put drug suppression on the national agenda,” Minister Anutin stated boldly. “Along with heightening our crackdown on drugs, we also have to reduce the number of addicts by preventing children and other young people from becoming addicts.” As part of this new initiative, the ministries will maintain a…
In a series of events straight out of a gripping legal drama, Mongkol Preesukkasem found himself at the center of a scandal that could rival any courtroom saga. Arrested recently, Mongkol’s tale is wrapped in layers of deceit, all starting with his fraudulent appointment as a level-five prosecutor by the Thanya Buri Provincial Office of the Attorney just last year. The wheels of this saga began turning last Wednesday when a picture surfaced in a Line chat group frequented by prosecutors. The image showed a certificate letter, issued and signed by the Thanya Buri Provincial Office of the Attorney in Pathum Thani on March 26 of the previous year. The document affirmed that Mr. Mongkol, an advisor to Pol Lt Uthai Artiwet—then-director-general of the Office of the Attorney General’s investigative office—held a title equal to that of a level-five prosecutor. Interestingly, Pol Lt Uthai now serves as an acting deputy…
In an incident that sent shockwaves through the corridors of power, an arresting officer meticulously counted through bundles of banknotes seized from the office of senior public prosecutor Chartnarin Ketkamphon, aged 53, at the Office of the Attorney-General’s Nakhon Si Thammarat branch office. The scene unfolded on a regular Wednesday morning, but what ensued was anything but ordinary. Chartnarin, a seasoned public prosecutor, found himself at the eye of a storm, accused of demanding a hefty bribe in exchange for dropping a legal case. The officers from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) swooped in, taking him into custody at approximately 11 a.m. The ACD’s decisive action also led to the impounding of 150,000 baht—the alleged bribe money—further tightening the net around Chartnarin. Serving as a chief prosecutor at the provincial prosecution office, his fall from grace was dramatic and swift. Earlier, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases had…
Police raids across four provinces in Thailand on Wednesday led to the uncovering of a large cache of vehicles used for criminal activities. The operation, part of a larger effort dubbed Operation Ghost Car Eradication, targeted a notorious “ghost car” gang notorious for their illicit deeds. In the raids, officers seized over two dozen vehicles, each bearing identical fake number plates, and apprehended four suspects. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) spearheaded these coordinated strikes in the provinces of Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, Chaiyaphum, and Si Sa Ket. The meticulous execution resulted in more than 30 cars and motorbikes being taken off the streets, with a hefty 26 of these discovered to be equipped with matching fraudulent number plates. These vehicles had been implicated in a multitude of illegal activities, ranging from drug smuggling to trafficking of illegal workers and weapons. The operation’s success is an important milestone but signals the beginning…
Last Friday marked a special occasion as Thaksin Shinawatra greeted his 75th birthday with a warm celebration at his residence in Bangkok. The atmosphere was filled with joy, but just days later, his life took a serious turn. On Wednesday, the Criminal Court dealt a major blow to the former prime minister, denying his request to travel to Dubai for urgent medical treatment. This decision comes just three weeks ahead of his first hearing in a high-stakes lese majeste case. A reliable source revealed that Thaksin submitted his request last Saturday, hoping to secure permission to leave the country and stay in Dubai from August 1 to August 16. The charges against him revolve around comments he made in 2015 during a media interview in South Korea, involving lese majeste and computer crime accusations. The critical court date is set for August 19, where an examination of evidence and witness…
Parit Chiwarak, commonly known as “Penguin,” a 26-year-old political activist, has swiftly become a figure of intrigue and controversy. Facing an astonishing total of 25 charges under Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws, Penguin is rumored to have taken flight from the country, leaving a tumultuous whirlwind in his wake. On a fateful Wednesday, the Criminal Court sentenced Parit in absentia to a two-year prison term, a reduction from the initial three-year sentence, thanks to the valuable testimony he provided. The rather weighty decision was rendered in his absence, establishing yet another twist in the labyrinthine saga that has captured public attention since Parit’s notable absence from court on June 25th. The judge, not one to let such actions slide, issued a bench warrant for Parit’s immediate arrest. Given that the statute of limitations for his case stretches a decade into the future, the clock is ticking loudly. Parit finds himself…