1.
COMMUNITY NEWS
POTISAMPAN SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY
Teachers and students of the Potisampan School in North Pattaya gathered on the morning of Friday, 10th July to take part in a ceremony to commemorate the 55th Anniversary of the School. The temple school was started by Abbot Luang Por Boonmee with a very low budget and supported by the local community. Parents were also invited along to take part in the ceremony.
2.
CRIME
POLICE HUNT FOR DOG KILLER
Dongtan police were called out to a guesthouse on Soi Welcome off Jomtien Beach Road on the evening of Friday, 10th July after receiving a report that a foreign man had deliberately stabbed and killed a 7 month old pit bull terrier. The officers found Miss Dusadee aged 42 and her dead dog. Apparently, a Russian man was the suspect, after the dog approached him, resulting in him kicking and then stabbing it to death. A report was made and a hunt is now on to find the suspect Russian man.
3
COMMUNITY NEWS
PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE MEETING
A meeting got underway at Pattaya City Hall on the afternoon of Friday, 10th July to discuss the proposed construction of a pedestrian bridge in front of the Father Ray Foundation on Sukhumvit Road in Central Pattaya. It was chaired by Deputy Mayor Ronnakit Aegasing. The new bridge is to be built after the original crossing in front of School Number 5 was demolished because of the nearby mega tunnel construction project. The aim of the meeting with business people, who work near the proposed site, is to make sure that their buildings will not be blocked by the bridge. It was agreed to have another meeting before the final decision is made.
4.
SPORT
INTERNATIONAL DARTS TOURNAMENT
A meeting got underway at Pattaya City Hall on the morning of Friday, 10th July to discuss an upcoming sporting event. Pattaya Mayor Ittipol Khunplume chaired the initial meeting to talk about the Thailand International Darts Tournament. The event, which is being organised by the Darts Association of Thailand, will take place in November, 2015. The actual dates or venue have not been finalized, but three top hotels have been put forward to host the tournament, they are the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel, the Amari Pattaya, both on Pattaya Beach Road and the Town-In-Town Hotel on Soi Town-In-Town off Pattaya Klang in Central Pattaya.
5.
COMMUNITY NEWS
MARINE ECO SYSTEM CEREMONY
Sattahip Navy Base received a visit from government officials’ wives on the morning of Thursday, 9th July. They were all welcomed by Rear Admiral Jongkol Meesawat. They were given a tour around the base and then took part in a ceremony to mark the birthday next month of H.M. the Queen and also Mothers Day on 12th August. Six Sea Turtles were released into the sea to mark the occasion as a small gesture to help the marine life in the area.
6.
COMMUNITY NEWS
NEW FISHING BOAT UPGRADE
Sattahip Chief District Officer Parinya Potisat made an announcement on the afternoon of Thursday, 9th July about the rumors going around that local fishermen were not out catching fish because apparently there were no fish to catch. The reason that a number of fishermen have been holding back from going out to sea is because their boats have not yet passed new standard requirements of a Fishing Act by the IUU. Boats over 30 tons have a further 15 days to upgrade in compliance with the Fishery Act. Meanwhile, seafood is still plentiful in the area.
7.
CRIME
HUNT ON FOR LOAN SHARK COLLECTOR
Another loan shark illegal money lending service was revealed by Pattaya Police on the evening of Friday, 10th July. Officers went out to a bar on Walking Street to find the owner of the Tiger Bar, Miss Anocha, who claimed that a man named Wit had threatened her because she had not paid her interest installment of 6,000 baht to the gang leader. Wit, claimed to be a police officer, and threatened and bullied the 25 year old woman, often demanding free drinks whilst extorting money from her. Anocha, apparently contacted the boss of the racket, who told her that Wit had nothing to do with his operation. Therefore, she called the police and a hunt is now on to find Wit who has gone into hiding.
8.
CRIME
LOAN SHARK ATTACKERS ARRESTED
Dongtan police announced on the afternoon of Friday, 10th July the arrest of three members of a loan shark money lending operation. Tirayut aged 31, Nattapat aged 32 and Subin aged 24 were charged after confessing to trying to confiscate a minibus belonging to Miss Judarak. The minibus was previously owned by a Mr. Noy, who owed her money, so he gave her the van to offset the loan. However, Noy was also one of this gang’s customers, and had quickly fled town, so they targeted her instead. She refused, so they went away and soon returned and viciously damaged the vehicle. The leaders of the gang are still at large, but police know their identities, one of whom is a monk at Na-Jomtien temple. The three will now face a day in court.
9
CRIME
RAID ON WORKERS CAMP
Officers from Banglamung Police Station gathered outside in the grounds on the evening of Saturday, 11th July in readiness to go out and raid a construction workers camp in nearby Nongplalai. The raid was as a result of information they received that the camp was residence to hundreds of illegal immigrant workers from neighbouring countries. Not only that, but it was revealed that workers had set up a number of motorcycle theft gangs and were causing trouble for locals in the area. The set time for the raid was dawn, and as soon as the officers moved in, hundreds of workers scattered in all directions, with some trying to hide in trees and other swimming away in the nearby lake. Finally, a total of 300 workers from Cambodia and Myanmar were rounded up and taken back to the Police Station for investigation and the camp employer will be traced to face the consequences.
10
CRIME
GOLD CHAIN SNATCHING INCIDENT
Pattaya police received a visit on the late afternoon of Thursday, 9th July, from Mr. Darren Hall, a 37 year old engineer from the UK. He reported that he had just been robbed of a gold chain worth 60,000 baht that had just been purchased by his Thai girlfriend. Apparently, as the couple was walking back to their room, two men on a bike came alongside and the passenger grabbed the chain from around his neck. Police set up an investigation beginning with reviewing CCTV footage near the market on Soi Buakhao where the incident occurred.
11
CRIME
WANTED MONK ARRESTED AGAIN
Police announced on Thursday, 9th July the arrest of Mr. Chockchai Tongyou, a 41 year old monk, wanted by police since 2007 for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 15. He was initially caught at a temple in Na-Jomtien a month ago, but he somehow managed to escape by jumping over the temple wall and running away. He was finally arrested at the same temple on Thursday and was taken to Chaimongkol Royal Monastery on South Pattaya Road to be disrobed and then to Pattaya Police Station to face charges.