PHUKET: Phuket police quickly scooped up a pair of bag-snatch operators working in Patong late last night. “We received a report at about 11:40pm from a witness saying that a female foreigner had her bag stolen in front of Patong Hospital while she was walking with a friend,” Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette this morning
PHUKET: Darasamuth Phuket School student AJ Grosvenor won first place at the national spelling competition in Bangkok on February 19. The 10-year-old Por 4 student studies under Andy Dawson in the English Program at the school in Phuket Town.
PHUKET: Flames engulfed the dense jungle on Toh Sae Hill on Friday night after a dry tree caught on fire, most likely from a discarded cigarette, said a Phuket firefighter. Phuket City Municipality Firefighter Chief Pairat Sulin was notified of the fire by residents and led his brigade to the scene near the Khao Toh Sae Viewpoint at about 11pm.
PHUKET: A 72-year-old German woman died yesterday after falling down a flight of steep stairs at a rented house near Nai Thon Beach, said Phuket police. Tah Chat Chai Police were notified of the incident at 7:30pm, and rushed to the scene with rescue workers
PHUKET: Two photographers, a makeup artist and an owner of a Phuket photography studio were caught working without work permits yesterday after their rude behavior was flagged by local residents. Phuket Old Town residents filed a complaint to police against Love Island Wedding Studio Co Ltd, which had been using their homes as backdrops for pre-wedding photos without asking permission. “Locals said that people in the company shouted a lot and were impolite,” said Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sanchai Chokhayaikij.
PHUKET: The funds for compensating Phuket landowners who would be displaced by the construction of the Patong Tunnel has more than doubled, jumping from 1 billion baht to 2.56bn baht. The Chief Inspector-General of the Ministry of Transport Somchai Chanrod made the announcement in Phuket earlier this week.
PHUKET: The law reducing the time limit of boat stays in Thailand to two months is on hold starting today, and the old law will be applied in the interim, Phuket Customs Chief Nanthita Sririkub confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. As of today, yachts entering Thailand will be permitted to stay for up to six months.
PHUKET: For the second time in a year, Samkong residents have filed a formal complaint over a sickening stench emanating from the Bang Yai Canal. In April last year, the source was allegedly raw sewage dumped into the canal further upstream, in Rassada. This time, residents blamed an upstream noodle factory.
PHUKET: Parts of Chalong will be effected by a booze ban this weekend for local elections. “Alcohol sales will be banned in District 2 of Chalong from 6pm on February 21 until midnight on Saturday due to local elections,” Phuket Election Commission Director Kittipong Thiengkunakrit told the Phuket Gazette. The ban will cover five Chao Fa West villages, Chalong Municipality Election Commission Director Waritthaya Boonyarat said.
PHUKET: A Swedish tourist fell to his death early this morning while dancing on top of a bar counter in Patong. “Witnesses in the bar said that the man had been drinking before he decided to climb onto the countertop and dance,” said a Kusoldharm Patong rescue foundation worker. “The bar was wet and slippery.