The lively chatter on the streets of northern Thailand was recently overshadowed by a more serious matter as a controversial story unfolded, stirring up quite the brouhaha among citizens and netizens alike. According to the Facebook news page รู้ทันจีน (Roo Than Jeen, charmingly translated as “Know China”), allegations have arisen against three universities entangled in a student visa scandal. These esteemed institutions reportedly issued student visas to Chinese nationals who, unbeknownst to all, were actually hard at work on construction sites rather than hitting the books. The universities at the eye of this storm are Phayap University in Chiang Mai, North-Chiang Mai University, and Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University’s Lamphun campus. Apparently, an intriguing advertisement had surfaced on Xiaohoshu, a Chinese social media platform, selling student visa services at a fee of 10,000 baht a pop. The twist in this tale? The alleged students never attended classes, instead channeling their energies into building…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Nate Naksuk, once a beacon of legal integrity as a deputy attorney-general in the bustling corridors of Bangkok’s justice system, has found himself embroiled in a tale that could easily fill the pages of a gripping crime novel. On a day that will undoubtedly go down in the annals of Thailand’s legal history, Naksuk was handed a three-year jail sentence. The charge? Helping the enigmatic Red Bull heir, Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, elude prosecution for a hit-and-run incident that left a Bangkok policeman tragically dead back in 2012. The Tuesday court session at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases read like a dramatic courtroom drama. It featured a cadre of eight defendants accused of manipulating evidence to protect the influential scion of one of Thailand’s wealthiest families. The courtroom was thick with tension as the ruling was delivered amidst a flurry of camera flashes, recording each frozen expression, each…
In a twist of events worthy of a noir thriller, a 49-year-old gentleman named Patrawut found himself in the hands of the law, behind the wheel of a vehicle far too luxurious to be his own—or so it seemed. When the police officers spotted this opulent ride bizarrely adorned with mismatched red plates during their Songkran festival patrol, they knew something was amiss. The car turned out to be a grey Honda CR-V with the soul (or registration) of Phetchabun. Making this scene curiouser was the front red plate, which ironically hinted at future business (“intended for sale or repair”), while the rear shared a rather personal milestone, proclaiming “Graduated 2556 Burapha University”. Not your typical vehicular decor choices, one must admit! As police officers, including the astute Police Major General Kongkrit Lertsitthikul and Police Colonel Apichat Renshana, inspected the situation, they were confronted with Patrawut’s inability to furnish any…
Amidst the serene dawn of April 22, tranquility was abruptly shattered in Songkhla province as gunmen unleashed a deadly assault on a police vehicle escorting monks during their customary morning alms round. This harrowing incident, transpiring in the otherwise peaceful Saba Yoi district, claimed the life of a 16-year-old novice monk, leaving another young soul injured and a community reeling from shock and disbelief. As the first hues of the morning sun graced the sky, a routine drive turned catastrophic at approximately 6:30 am. The four-door Isuzu pickup truck, steered by the diligent Police Lieutenant Watthana Chumapan of Saba Yoi Police Station, carried within it an esteemed group of six monks and novices. Idyllically cruising through the Saba Yoi municipal area, the monks were engaged in their sacred ritual of collecting alms. However, the peaceful aura of Suan On Road in Ban Khlong Rian village, a mere stone’s throw of…
In an electrifying turn of events, the serene beaches of Phuket recently witnessed a gripping law enforcement operation aiming to rid its picturesque shores of a persistent menace—illegal jet ski rentals. As the turquoise waves gently lapped against Kamala Beach and a bustling pier in Koh Kaew, officers from the renowned Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Marine Police Division swooped in, bringing to an end what can only be described as a chapter in the ongoing saga against unregulated tourist services. Meet the five protagonists of this enthralling narrative: the jet ski operators who found themselves at the heart of this crackdown. Kritsada Jaija, aged 32, along with his cohorts—31-year-old Cherdchai Anuphraiwan, 25-year-old Phanomphorn Phrom-ouan, 40-year-old Bancherd Bulan, and 34-year-old Anchalee Tiangnoi—were apprehended in a bold move to restore order. The adventurous quintet now faces charges under the formidable Thai Navigation Act, primarily for helming vessels sans the essential…
The international stage is witnessing a drama of epic proportions as a blistering tariff bombshell descends from Washington, setting Southeast Asia’s solar imports ablaze like never before. Thailand, renowned for its picturesque landscapes, now finds itself under siege from a torrent of tariff frenzy, with the United States imposing staggering duties on solar imports that have climbed to an eye-popping 3,521%. It’s a move that has not only shaken the global clean energy market but also incited a storm of fury across Southeast Asia, where the solar power industry was just beginning to shine brightly. It all began on April 21, when the United States announced these gargantuan duties following a thorough investigation into claims that solar manufacturers in Southeast Asia had taken a wrong turn down a shortcut to shadiness. The probe, which stretched over a year like an overly dramatic soap opera, suggested that these manufacturers had dallied…
In an uplifting wave of corporate kindness, AIA Thailand forges ahead with its celebrated AIA Sharing A Life initiative, marking its 12th anniversary with the inspiring theme: “Healthier You Begins with Vaccination.” As flu cases skyrocket, this benevolent venture sets its sights on nourishing public health by gifting 10,000 influenza vaccines to the diligent, yet often overlooked municipal workers of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). Picture the unsung heroes like street sweepers and waste collectors who face exposure each day while ensuring Bangkok gleams and glees! These gallant workers, standing on the frontline of public environments, are the rightful recipients of this vital vaccination drive. Shining a spotlight on this noble cause was an earnest press conference staged at the vibrant Bangkok Room in the Irawat Pattana Building. Like a convergence of hearts and minds, the conference was steered by none other than the benevolent Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of…
In the heart of Thailand’s vibrant nightlife, where the neon lights shimmer and the music pulsates into the wee hours, there came a ripple that set Bangla Road’s bustling energy into a momentary freeze. The spotlight, however, was not on a lively party or a new celebrity sighting, but rather on an unexpected arrest that took place under the dusky cloak of an April dawn. Lachlan James McGahey, a 31-year-old Australian man, found himself at the center of this drama. His detainment by the police in Patong transpired during a routine patrol in the early hours—3:40 AM to be exact—on what was otherwise a typical bustling night of revelry on Bangla Road. McGahey stood accused, caught with an unauthorized and loaded .38-caliber firearm, a strikingly Thai-made piece, weighing heavy in ramifications. As the tale unfolded, officers discovered the handgun stowed with eight rounds of PMC-brand ammunition, a tiny arsenal packed…
In the bustling heart of Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, a scene of unimaginable tragedy and intense legal drama is unfolding. As backhoes tirelessly dig through the ruins of what was once the State Audit Office tower, an eerie quiet hangs over the scene, punctuated by the somber realization that it is now a graveyard beneath the urban skyline. This catastrophic collapse, which took place on March 28 during a sudden earthquake, has not only led to a harrowing loss of life but has also spiraled into a complex web of legal entanglements and accusations of misconduct at the highest levels of the construction industry. Amidst the dust and debris, the spotlight has turned to three Thai men, Manas Sri-anan, Prachuap Sirikhet, and Sophon Meechai. These individuals stand accused of acting as mere figureheads, or ‘nominees,’ for a powerful Chinese state company implicated in this devastating incident. As these men were escorted…
In Yasothon province, a dramatic scene unfolded on April 21 as a local gold shop found itself at the heart of a foiled robbery attempt. The day began like any other for shop owner Sukanya and her nephew, but little did they know, mischief was about to knock on their door. The events unfolded on Witthaya Thamrong Road, in the serene setting of Nai Mueang, Mueang district. A man clad in a white shirt and jeans entered the shop, initially presenting himself as just another patron. His intentions, however, were far from an ordinary shopping spree. “5 baht,” he requested with an uncanny calm, typically a phrase of solicitation from beggars. But Sukanya’s intuition prompted caution, and rightly so. As she bent down, a chilling twist occurred—the seemingly benign visitor brandished a gun, brazenly demanding gold. But Sukanya and her nephew, channels of courage, held their ground. Negotiation was their…