In a dramatic turn of events that could have come straight out of a whodunit novel, seven officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have found themselves behind bars following a sweeping crackdown on a sophisticated corruption scheme. The alleged crime? Fabricating repair records for a fleet of buses that never actually saw the inside of a garage, all to the tune of a staggering 2.8 million baht! The crackdown was spearheaded by high-ranking officials, including Phumwisan Kasemsuk from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and the dynamic Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew of the Police Counter Corruption Division (CCD). Our saga kicks off in the bustling heart of Bangkok’s Saphan Sung district, where the supposedly hardworking repair garage became the unexpected focal point of a high-stakes investigation. On a bright March 12 morning, the garage, which was theoretically at the service of five BMA buses, was swarmed by officials…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Bangtao Beach, the sparkling gem of Phuket’s western coastline, has recently found itself at the center of attention, not for its golden sands or azure waters, but for a rather less idyllic matter—land encroachment. Under the vigilant eye of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in Phuket, local officials and a phalanx of state agencies descended upon the beach to tackle the prickly issue of property owners inadvertently—or intentionally—spilling their enterprises onto public land. On a mission that seemed straight out of a detective novel, the inspection was initiated by the rumbles of STRONG, a well-known Anti-Corruption Network. In cahoots with NACC Region 8 and a smorgasbord of local security and administrative bigwigs, the team set off on a rollicking journey to restore Bangtao Beach to its rightful, open glory. The plot thickened back in late January when STRONG tipped off authorities about suspicious activities, leading to this full-fledged excursion. As…
In a riveting turn of events, one that the political aficionados of our time were all waiting for with bated breath, the Constitutional Court made waves this past Wednesday. It shut down a cabinet petition that sought to decipher the enigmatic phrase, “a lack of clear honesty.” The court artfully dodged impacting legal decisions by ruling that this request was more about legal interpretation and didn’t hold the requisite gravitas for a formal review. Who would’ve thought the narrative surrounding “honesty” could be so thrilling? The plot thickens with a mysterious petition submitted by the ever-diligent Prime Minister’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil. Under orders from the cabinet, these documents zoomed in on Section 160 of the constitution and Section 9 of the political juggernaut known as the Holders of Political Positions Act. Now, if you’ve been following this political soap opera, you’ll remember Section 160 is that spicy little section…
In the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, a complex web of politics, finance, and real estate transactions has drawn public attention. At the heart of this intrigue is an alleged over-expenditure by the Social Security Office (SSO) in purchasing the SKYY9 Centre on Rama IX Road. The hefty price tag of 7 billion baht has raised eyebrows, especially when juxtaposed with claims that the building’s appraisal value was significantly lower, at a mere 3 billion baht. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has publicly expressed a willingness to cooperate with an inquiry panel aiming to unravel this intricate case. “We are prepared to open the books on the SKYY9 acquisition,” he assured, emphasizing the desire for full transparency. It’s worth noting that prior to this scrutiny, independent entities were reportedly engaged to assess the building’s value, suggesting meticulous groundwork before the purchase. The inquiry, spearheaded by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Prime Minister…
In a dazzling display of investor enthusiasm, RML has impressively launched its latest round of corporate bonds, setting the stage for a future that promises growth and innovation. Overflowing with interest, this bond issuance comfortably surpassed its initial target of THB 300 million. This achievement not only signifies the investor community’s faith in RML’s strategic acumen but also its visionary leap into the future. Riding high on this success, RML is gearing up to unveil a groundbreaking luxury mixed-use development in the picturesque paradise of Phuket in Q2 of 2025. This ambitious project not only boasts a staggering value of THB 10 billion but is also set to spearhead the company’s ambitious growth targets, aiming for a whopping THB 7.5 billion in sales for 2025—a remarkable 80% uptick from last year’s figures! Captaining this ship of success, Mr. Korn Narongdej, the astute Chairman of the Executive Committee of RML (Raimon…
Picture a city bustling with life, yet serenely cloaked in a bubble of fresh, clean air. That’s Bangkok on a delightful Thursday morning for you! Out of its 50 districts, an impressive 47 districts strutted around wearing their ‘green’ badge of honor, signaling good air quality. But wait—what about the other three? They chose to play it ‘cool,’ sporting a ‘yellow’ or moderate air quality rating. It’s not perfection, but hey, a bit of color diversity keeps things interesting! The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its ever-zealous Air Quality Information Centre were ecstatic to announce the city’s PM2.5 levels on this glorious Thursday morning. They clocked in at a respectable average of 18.3 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). This is way below the threshold of 37.5 µg/m³, the line that separates optimism from a cloudy day, over a three-hour window that stretches from the dim glow of dawn at 5…
In the often unyielding rain of Narathiwat, a deadly encounter was narrowly averted. Yesterday, amidst the relentless downpour, a roadside bomb went off, seemingly targeting a vehicle carrying territorial defense volunteers. Miraculously, even with the blast’s formidable power, it left no casualties, merely a chilling statement. The explosion happened at exactly 1.59 p.m. The scene? A quiet U-turn nestled in Ban Bango Humo, part of Mueang subdistrict within the Sungai Padi district. This was no ordinary day in the neighborhood. The head of Sungai Padi Police Station, Police Colonel Mataha Muna, confirmed it—a suspected insurgent attack. Armored vehicles roared in response, setting the scene in a steel embrace, while both the fury of the rain and the tension rose. The rain, refusing to yield, turned companions with chaos, rendering the investigation an impossible feat for a moment. Still, diligence was the order of the day, revealing a 2-meter-wide and 1-meter-deep…
Ah, the age-old tale of the dine and dash, but this time it’s making waves in the tropical paradise of Krabi for all the wrong reasons! Picture this: a foreign tourist, as bold as brass, leaving both staff and locals fuming after giving the slip at the well-frequented Into the Forest restaurant, nestled in the scenic Khao Thong subdistrict of Mueang district. The saga unfolded on March 9, with the restaurant’s CCTV capturing every tantalizing detail. The culprit? A tall, tattooed gentleman who indulged in a feast fit for a getaway artist before vanishing into the night, leaving his tab—and a trail of disbelief—behind. Patrons and employees alike were left in shock, prompting the establishment to take drastic measures by alerting the public of this dining Houdini through a social media blitz. Enter Sloth Sa, a vigilant Facebook user who quickly took matters into their own hands. They shared the…
In a tale that reads like a crime thriller set in the heart of Thailand, a couple accused of masterminding an extensive car theft operation was apprehended in the bustling city of Pattaya. Allegedly, this duo had been renting vehicles only to disconnect the trusty GPS trackers and later sell the cars on the elusive black market. Their operation, which spanned multiple provinces, has now left a trail of victims across Chon Buri, Pattaya, Nonthaburi, and Kanchanaburi. On March 9th, Chon Buri Highway Police intercepted 48-year-old Thanakrit and his 29-year-old partner-in-crime, Kanyakhorn, at the Pattaya Highway Police Station in Nongprue, located in the rapidly developing area of East Pattaya. With the arrest warrant issued by the Nonthaburi Provincial Court for embezzlement hanging over their heads, the law finally caught up to them. Law enforcement also seized a gray Toyota Yaris along with two license plates linked to their illicit activities.…
In a distressing episode that unfolded recently on the bustling Asia Highway 41, a six-wheel delivery truck veered disastrously off its intended path, toppling onto a hapless pickup truck and leaving a trail of chaos in its wake. The scene was nothing short of a calamity, marked by the grim ordeal of a severely injured driver ensnared within the crushed confines of his vehicle. The driver of the mammoth truck, weary and worn-out, confessed to succumbing to sleep mid-journey, having embarked on a nocturnal quest from Chon Buri, with parcels destined for Surat Thani. Despite multiple intermissions to stave off fatigue, his eyelids grew heavy, leading to a cataclysmic collision that would never escape memory. The harrowing incident was reported at 11:30 am on March 11, ushering Police Lieutenant Kriengchai Choomkaew of Sawi Police Station into swift action. Nestled within the scenic charm of Chumphon province, at kilometer 27 in…