A chilling tale unfolded in Chiang Mai as a used car saleswoman fell victim to a suspected serial rapist who posed as a potential customer. The 40-year-old suspect, Nathapol Panpadungsap, was arrested in Muang district less than 48 hours after his heinous act was committed. The unsuspecting 35-year-old victim met the suspect at a coffee shop near her used car dealership in San Sai district after he claimed to have just driven past her establishment. At the coffee shop, the unsuspecting woman and the suspect, who was clad in a polo shirt and trousers, engaged in a friendly conversation over coffee as she showed him a car quotation form. Taking advantage of the situation, the suspect lured the woman into his pickup truck. According to police reports, the man admitted to raping the victim at a nearby motel before brutally murdering her. He proceeded to load her lifeless body into…
Posts published in “Thailand”
On an ordinary Sunday morning at Ban Song railway station in Surat Thani’s Wiang Sa district, the quick thinking and bravery of station master Thitipong Piripol made him a local hero. Thanks to his timely intervention, a 75-year-old woman with impaired hearing narrowly escaped being hit by a train on its way into the station. A security camera captured the heart-stopping moment, which has since been widely shared, earning Thitipong the admiration and gratitude of the community. At approximately 9:50 am on Sunday, the elderly woman, unaware of the rapidly approaching express train No. 85 (Bangkok-Nakhon Si Thammarat), proceeded to cross the rail track. The video footage clearly shows her oblivious to the imminent danger she was in. Thitipong Piripol, witnessing the unfolding scene from his office, wasted no time in taking action. He dashed out and pushed the woman off the track just moments before the train would have…
Deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej recently inaugurated a temporary vaccination facility situated on the 6th floor in Zone D of the renowned MBK Centre shopping mall. The establishment of this unit, Tavida explained, is the result of a collaboration between the Medical Service Department and the Klang Hospital. Open daily from 9am to 3pm, individuals can receive a complimentary Moderna bivalent vaccine at this walk-in clinic. To be eligible, individuals must be a minimum of 12 years old and either have received a prior vaccination or recovered from a Covid-19 infection more than three months ago. Additionally, proof of vaccination must be provided. Foreign visitors can also take advantage of the vaccination services by presenting their passports, although fees may apply for non-residents. This temporary unit will operate daily until May 12 and will reopen for the weekends of May 20-21 and May 27-28. The deputy governor informed that the number…
Key members of the Democrat Party, Suchatvee Suwansawat and Watanya Bunnag, have announced the ambitious plan of turning the resort island of Phuket into a technology hub and model city for Thailand and the ASEAN region. As part of their election campaign, the Democrat Party aims to make Phuket a top tourist destination by providing free internet access in various locations across the island, creating a public transportation system to ease traffic congestion, and upgrading Phuket Rajabhat University to expand its fields of study. Suchatvee Suwansawat, who is also the head of the party’s policy committee, believes Phuket’s appeal as a top tourist destination makes it a perfect candidate for the proposed free internet access initiative. He emphasized that the service should be offered as a form of public welfare and be more convenient for locals and tourists alike. In addition, the Democrat Party has committed to supporting the development…
With his popularity on the rise, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is setting his sights on the South as he campaigns with his United Thai Nation (UTN) Party in the upcoming May 14 election. Deputy UTN leader Witthaya Kaewparadai notes the party’s growing support in the region, and they aim to secure at least 20 seats in the South. Gen Prayut is set to visit Trang, Phatthalung, Songkhla, and Satun, where his presence is anticipated to boost the UTN’s chances in the race. While the UTN is a new party, Gen Prayut’s personal appeal and the reception he receives on the campaign trail are expected to work in their favor. With a total of 60 House seats available in the South, up from 50 in 2019, the stage is set for a fierce competition between the Democrats, who won 22 seats last time, and the UTN, which has emerged as a…
Residents of Bangkok were reminded of the continued threat posed by Covid-19 when a 70-year-old woman, living in the city’s Bang Phlat district, was discovered deceased at her home after testing positive for the virus. Upon receiving a report of the woman’s passing, a specialized team from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation, a well-known rescue organization, arrived at the scene in soi Charansanitwong 40. Accompanying them were a forensic doctor from Siriraj Hospital and officers from the Bang Yi Khan police station. An antigen test kit (ATK) confirmed that the deceased was a Covid-19 patient. After conducting a thorough examination of the body and the surrounding area, the Ruam Katanyu Foundation arranged for her to be cremated at a nearby temple. While investigating the case, it was revealed that four individuals who resided in the same property as the victim had also contracted the virus. Consequently, the infected family members were…
Small fishing boats are grounded in Tak Bai district, Narathiwat on Nov 7, 2014 due to rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand. (File photo) In a bid to promote sustainable fisheries management, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) is preparing to establish a one-stop-service center to distribute compensation funds to boat owners who wish to exit the industry. This initiative is part of the Sustainable Management of Marine Fisheries Resource Project. Deputy Secretary-General Chonthun Sangpoom of the SBPAC visited the site of the one-stop-service center in tambon Bana, situated in the Muang district of Pattani province. Chonthun said that the primary goal of the project is to reduce the number of fishing boats in the deep South. He added that the center will start its operations on May 8, and the owners of the first 96 fishing boats are expected to receive compensation for leaving the fishing industry.…
As the general election approaches in Thailand, political dynasties continue to hold significant influence, with the Thienthong family being a prime example. With five members from this prominent family running for office in the upcoming election for two different parties, their name can be seen plastered on campaign posters throughout the rural province of Sa Kaeo. The Thienthong family, along with others like the Shinawatras, have managed to build successful businesses and maintain power in the region since the 1970s, with politics and family affairs often intertwining. Families such as these are an integral part of Thai politics and offer voters a measure of stability and influence in a country that has experienced 12 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. In a system where there was no rule of law, rich and powerful families like the Thienthongs flourished through their relationships with the military, police, and influential…
On a fateful Friday night in Surat Thani, a serene evening was disrupted by a violent gunfight that left two men dead and two women injured. The incident took place at the car park of Bunjongburi Hotel on Liang Muang Road in tambon Makham Tia. The air of celebration after a wedding party quickly turned to dread when gunshots echoed in the parking lot. The victims were identified as Panuphong Suwannasin, 35, a well-known amulet expert, and Wirat Sudphakdee, 39, a pub owner. The injured women were Kansiri Suwannasin, wife of the amulet expert, and Thanaithorn Luetheng. The crime scene was littered with spent bullets, a pistol, and the lifeless bodies of the two men, cruelly marked with multiple gunshot wounds. Panuphong, also known as “Khunphaen Surat,” hailed from Surat Thani’s Tha Chang district, where he had gained prominence and respect as an amulet expert. He had been shot in…
Over 20 samples have been collected from the vehicle of the alleged murderer Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn. Cyanide traces were discovered in samples collected from the driver’s side dashboard, according to Assoc Prof Weerachai Phutdhawong of Kasetsart University’s Department of Chemistry. Weerachai plans to conduct additional tests on a suspicious substance package confiscated at the suspect’s residence. Weerachai is a chemistry expert that works closely with the Office of Police Forensic Science in examining chemical samples. The police have put together a list of 19 individuals they suspect may have been poisoned by Sararat. Police claim that 18 of these victims perished under questionable circumstances. Only one person, Kantima Paesaard, aged 36, managed to survive after allegedly being poisoned by the suspect. The two were acquainted for over six years, with Kantima having lent Sararat 250,000 baht before being poisoned in September last year. Deputy national police chief General Surachate Hakparn,…