In a legal whirlwind unfolding faster than a Bangkok rush hour, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been ordered by the Supreme Administrative Court to cough up a hefty 10 billion baht. The ruling ties back to the notorious rice-pledging scheme, a little over a decade in the making, where grand ambitions collided with financial reality, leaving the government pocketing a mammoth deficit. The courtroom drama in the heart of Bangkok echoed with the Ministry of Finance’s arguments, which were a reverberation of discontent and fiscal concern. Initially, they had thrown a sum of 35.7 billion baht into the ring, demanding this colossal compensation. But to everyone’s surprise, the court granted a reprieve by slashing the amount to a ‘lighter’ 10 billion baht — still a sum that could make anyone’s wallet frown. At the heart of this financial saga was a scheme meant to be a knight in shining…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a spellbinding twist that whisks viewers into the whimsical yet poignant realms of the supernatural, Thai cinema has landed a memorable entry titled A Useful Ghost. This genre-defying masterpiece, steered by the creative vision of director Ratchapoon Boonbunchachoke, has soared to cinematic acclaim, snagging the Grand Prix at Critics’ Week – a coveted segment of the illustrious Cannes Film Festival. Along the cobbled path of accolades, the film carries with it a distinctive Thai charm in the form of a spectral showdown featuring a vacuum cleaner, a grief-burdened husband, and a ghostly wife. The film stars the enigmatic Davika “Mai” Hoorne, who takes on an ethereal role as a wife back from the grave. But here’s the kicker: she’s returned to this mortal coil through the nozzles and brushes of a vacuum cleaner. What initially might sound like a comedic gag unleashes an exploration of emotional profundity. Holding up…
Bangkok’s bustling streets are not just known for their vibrant life and tantalizing street food, but also for tales of wily gangs vying for glory in the world of motorcycle theft. Under the watchful eye of the esteemed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Siam Boonsom, the streets of this buzzing metropolis were once again rendered a little safer as a notorious motorcycle theft syndicate met its match. In a city as sprawling and fast-paced as Bangkok, one could say it’s a modern-day saga of cops and robbers. This particular story unfolded in the shadows of the busy Soi Lat Phrao 119, a district buzzing as much with life as with mechanical whirrs from pilfered vehicles. It wasn’t until the deft hands of Somsak, known among peers as ‘Ood,’ and his accomplice Ting Ko Ko Oo, decided to chance their luck one time too many, that the police net sprang its trap. It…
Along the vibrant and ever-bustling Pattaya Beach Road, where the salty breeze mingles with the hum of tourists, an unsuspecting cannabis shop recently found itself at the epicenter of a rather scandalous undercover operation. This quaint establishment, known as Dr Weed, was far more than it appeared on the glossy brochures found in local tourist traps. Police, in collaboration with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), uncovered a treasure trove of contraband during a high-stakes raid. Hidden away amidst the sweet, earthy aroma of legal cannabis were 110 illicit vape devices and 216 packs of foreign-imported cigarettes. The discovery shocked the local community, with the collection valued at a hefty 60,000 baht. Behind the facade of this legal business lay a clever ruse—a covert operation designed to attract and profit from unsuspecting tourists and curious teens. With Pattaya’s allure as a tourist hotspot, the shop had preyed upon these visitors,…
The still, somber early hours in Nonthaburi province have been forever punctuated by tragedy as the life of a devoted educator, Jamaree Choomueang, was abruptly cut short. Under the moonlit sky on Chaiyapruek Road, her journey ended in a fatal motorcycle crash that has left a community mourning and demanding answers. The scene, a cruel juxtaposition of life and loss, unfolded at 12:30 a.m. on this somber May 22, with the province’s police and the Ruamkatanyu Foundation both converging in a flurry of flashing lights and urgent whispers. Jamaree, a 30-year-old beacon of inspiration from Anurakprasith School, was riding her trusty black-and-red Honda Click, the sun having set long ago over the renowned thoroughfares of Pak Kret district. This road, normally a conduit connecting lives, had transformed into the site of heartbreak. The registration number 2ขค 3984 Bangkok lay as silent testimony on the asphalt next to a chilling 10-meter…
On a seemingly ordinary Tuesday night in Phuket, a harrowing tale of poor decisions and irreversible consequences unfolded on the bustling Number 4027 Road. The stage was set not far from the familiar PTT petrol station at the Paklok branch in Thalang District, where tragedy struck around 11:45 p.m. on May 20, 2025. It was here that a fateful collision occurred, claiming one life and altering another forever. Entering the scene, local police officers and emergency responders were greeted with chaos—two battered motorcycles lay sprawled across the tarmac like abandoned toys, casualties of the reckless play that had unfolded moments before. Among the victims was 42-year-old Thanwarat Chobtaeng, whose journey met an untimely end. The collision inflicted life-threatening injuries, and despite desperate attempts to save her, Thanwarat succumbed to her wounds while en route to Thalang Hospital. Standing on the other side of this ill-fated encounter was 32-year-old Piyanat Srichan,…
In a scene reminiscent of a heart-pounding action film, the early morning calm of Bangkok’s expressway transformed into chaos as an 18-wheeler truck, laden with over 30 tonnes of crude oil, took an unexpected and catastrophic tumble. This vehicular drama unfolded at the stroke of 1:20 AM on May 22, 2025, as groggy motorists rubbed their eyes in disbelief, witnessing the crude oil rain down upon the Kanchanaphisek Road, spelling an oily nightmare across its six vast lanes. The disaster’s spark? None other than a classic case of the “sandman” catching up with 25-year-old Amporn from Chon Buri. With the monotonous hum of the highway as his lullaby, Amporn nodded off, transforming the expressway into his unintended wake-up call. “I just nodded off for a moment,” he sheepishly confessed to the police, possibly feeling like the script was flipped from a bad dream into harsh reality. But reality it was,…
In a tragic turn of events, a young Russian tourist by the name of Mikhail met an untimely demise in the coastal province of Chon Buri, leaving both locals and fellow travelers in disbelief. Aged only 27, Mikhail’s life came to a sudden end when he plummeted from the dizzying heights of a ninth-floor condominium in the Jomtien area, a popular section of Pattaya known for its vibrant nightlife and stunning beaches. The sad news broke on a balmy Wednesday evening as condominium security staff dialed up local authorities to report a disturbing incident involving one of their guests. It was Pol Lt Kriangkrai Kaewpipop, a seasoned sub-inspector from the Dongtan sub-branch of the Pattaya police station, who answered the call and arrived swiftly at the scene. The officers found Mikhail’s body lying lifeless, surrounded by the macabre stillness that so often accompanies such sorrowful occurrences. As police unfurled a…
In the tranquil heart of the Mueang district in Phitsanulok province, a heart-wrenching and intimate tragedy unfolded around 4.45 pm on May 21. The serene environment of the Tha Thong subdistrict was shattered by a personal confrontation that spiraled into chaos, leaving the community in shock and grief. This sorrowful event centered around a Border Patrol officer, Yingyong, a 47-year-old squad leader, who was found deceased at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The sad tale does not end there, however, as 40-year-old Pathama, an acquaintance and pivotal figure in these events, was critically injured. She suffered a gunshot wound traversing her face, from left cheek to right, a testament to the violence that abruptly interrupted what was likely a desperate and emotional conversation. On that day, the usual hum of the accounting office where Pathama worked was fractured by the startling sound of gunfire. Initially dismissed as firecrackers…
In the serene embrace of Koh Samui, a quaint tourist island known for its tranquil beaches and picturesque landscapes, an unsettling darkness descended as the life of Anchulee Wongmuang, a compassionate 35-year-old nurse, was tragically cut short. The revelation of her death on a seemingly ordinary Wednesday morning has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, calling into question the safety and security of even the most idyllic havens. The details surrounding this grim event unfolded like a crime novel, with Suwat Khunthong, a 30-year-old from Trang’s Muang district, taking center stage as the prime suspect. On a seemingly quiet Thursday morning, a team of astute investigators zeroed in on a trace—a pulsating digital beacon that led them to Suwat’s unexpected hideout: an abandoned pub nestled in the depths of village Moo 2 in tambon Bo Phut. It was there that the intricate tapestry of crime began to unravel, just five…