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…
Posts published in “Thailand”
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…
In a whirlwind turn of events, political activist Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak was met with a daunting two-year prison sentence on Wednesday after being convicted of lese majeste in 2021. This came after the Criminal Court initially sentenced him to three years but later showed leniency by reducing the term to two years, taking into account his cooperation during the proceedings. The verdict, delivered in absentia, further adds to the drama surrounding Parit, who at 26 years old, managed to avoid the court since his last appearance on June 25. With his continuous absence, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest, emphasizing that the statute of limitations for the case stretches out to a decade. The charges stemmed from a series of controversial comments posted on Parit’s Facebook page between July 28 and August 1, 2021. Adding a layer of significance, July 28 happens to be the birthday of…
Bangchak Sriracha Public Company Limited, or “BSRC,” has set the financial world abuzz with the triumphant issuance of its debut debentures. Institutional investors flocked to grab a piece of the action, leading to an oversubscription that saw the total issuance rocket to THB 4 billion, far surpassing their initial target. TRIS Rating’s assignment of an “A” credit rating to BSRC’s debentures confidently underscores the company’s robust standing. Bundit Hunsapaiboon, the dynamic Chief Executive Officer of Bangchak Sriracha, remarked with palpable gratitude, “We are immensely thankful to our investors for placing their trust in our debut debentures. The overwhelming response, with subscriptions skyrocketing over four times our initial target, prompted us to utilize a greenshoe option. This measure allowed us to upscale the offering to THB 4 billion from the initial goal of THB 2 billion.” He added, “This strong backing demonstrates unwavering confidence in our company’s performance and our promising…
Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery are cementing their status as global destinations right in the bustling heart of Bangkok. To stay on top for both Thai and international shoppers, they’ve rolled out a dazzling strategy for the latter half of the year, unveiling new attractions to craft extraordinary experiences and keep the excitement alive. By teaming up with elite brands and beloved stores, they’re satisfying shoppers’ desires and driving robust sales for the famed brands nestled within their malls. Saruntorn Asaves, First Executive Vice President and Head of the Shopping Center Business Division at Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., proudly announced, “In the first half of 2024, we successfully generated impressive sales for well-known brand stores within our centers, with customer footfall far surpassing expectations. Together, Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery witnessed over 37 million visitors, and this upward trend is set to continue in the second…
KHON KAEN: Olympic boxing champion and national hero, Somluck Khamsing, was the center of attention as he confidently strode into the Khon Kaen Provincial Court on Wednesday. Sporting a calm demeanor, the 51-year-old arrived alongside his close aide, Pichet Chinaehantha, to face the whirlwind of charges laid against him, with the stakes being his sterling reputation. (Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri) Mr. Somluck, who once brought immense pride to Thailand with his gold medal win in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, now finds himself at the heart of a legal storm. The former champ, draped in the armor of innocence, faces charges of sexual assault directed by a 17-year-old girl. With his lawyer by his side, Wednesday’s hearing was set to examine the pressing evidence and witness lists that prosecutors have meticulously prepared. The charges cast a daunting shadow over Somluck’s illustrious career. Accusations include colluding in taking a minor aged between 15…
As a traveler steps off a plane at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, a diligent health worker checks their temperature, eyes scanning for any signs of illness. This scene isn’t just an ordinary measure; it’s part of a critical advisory recently emphasized due to alarming reports. People arriving from Central or South America should be on high alert and consult a doctor if they experience high fever, aches, and chills. This urgency comes in the wake of the world’s first fatalities from oropouche fever, a disease endemic to these regions. Opas Karnkawinpong, the health permanent secretary, issued this crucial advice on Wednesday. Brazil, on July 25, reported two tragic deaths attributed to oropouche fever. Both victims were women under 30, residing in Bahia state. Their symptoms were alarmingly severe, mirroring those of dengue hemorrhagic fever. The history of oropouche fever traces back to its first reported cases in Trinidad and…
In a twist straight out of a corporate drama, workers have been staging an intense protest along Sukhumvit Road, directly in front of Thai Oil’s Refinery in Si Racha District, Chonburi Province. The agitation, spanning from the 24th to the 26th of July 2024, arose from unpaid wages by the contractors. A deep dive by Thai Oil Public Company Limited (the “Company”) uncovered that these workers are enlisted under One Turn Ten Company Limited (“One Turn Ten”), EMCO LTD (Thailand) Company Limited (“EMCO”), and Thai Fong Engineering and Construction Company Limited (“Thai Fong”). Now, the plot thickens as these three firms are not the principal contractors but mere subcontractors for Sinopec Engineering Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“Sinopec”). In turn, Sinopec is a cog in the subcontracting machine of the Unincorporated Joint Venture of Petrofac South East Asia Pte. Ltd. (“Petrofac”), Saipem Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“Saipem”), and Samsung E&A (Thailand) Co.,…