Phuket Gazette � Daily News

Australian tourist dies in Phuket swimming pool

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: An Australian tourist died while swimming in a pool at a well-known Phuket hotel late yesterday afternoon.

Kathu Police duty officer Jongserm Preecha identified the deceased as 58-year-old James Bourke.

Staff and customers at the Banthai Beach Resort and Spa in Patong told police they saw Mr Bourke go for a swim after eating a meal at about 5pm. ... Full story

Ron Fanelli still at Phuket Prison

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: Ronald Fanelli, confessed killer of bar hostess Wanphen Pienjai, today blamed local media coverage for being partly responsible for his decision not to surrender himself to authorities before his arrest.

Mr Fanelli spoke to the Gazette briefly today from Phuket Prison, where he is being held for the stabbing murder of Ms Wanphen, a 33-year-old bar hostess at the Sweethearts bar in Kata at the time of her death.

Appearing healthy, Mr Fanelli said he was under instructions from his Thai lawyer not to divulge too much information about the case while it is still in the court system. ... Full story

More sewage treatment for Phuket

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: Karon Municipality will levy charges on hotels, restaurants and other small businesses in the area for the wastewater they produce.

The scheme, to start in October, will affect hotels and businesses in Karon, Kata and Kata Noi.

Restaurants will be charged a flat rate of 5. ... Full story

Phuket�s BIS wins �Best in Thailand� school award

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: The British International School Phuket (BIS) has triumphed as the �Best Provider of International Education for 2010� in the Prime Minister�s Export Awards.

Collecting the prize in person from PM Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House in Bangkok last week was BIS Headmaster Dr George Hickman.

In a recent school newsletter, Dr Hickman explained that the award follows hot on the heels of BIS recording its best International Baccalaureate (IB) examination results in the school�s 14-year history. ... Full story

Identity of Russian car crash fatality in Phuket revealed

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: The Russian diplomatic mission in Phuket has identified the foreign woman who died in a car crash near Tesco-Lotus on Thursday as 33-year-old Vera Lovtsova, a Russian citizen who was employed by a tour company in Phuket.

For the Gazette�s initial report of the tragedy click ... Full story

50 largest landholders control 14.3% of Phuket

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: Land ownership in Phuket is highly concentrated in the hands of a relatively small group of wealthy landowners, according to a prominent Thammasat University economics professor.

Prof Duangmani Laowakul, a member of the watch-dog committee Policy Watch, said the top 50 largest landholders in Phuket control 14.3% of the island's total area. ... Full story

More Dragons for Phuket; Siam Makro expanding

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 20:24:43 GMT

Phuket NEWS Hound� A daily digest of news about Thailand from around the world, compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community.

More Dragons for PhuketPHUKET: Dragon Air intends to increase services on its Hong Kong-Phuket route. ... Full story

High-tech drug detectors too expensive for Phuket

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: Top provincial officers have balked at a plan to install a drug-detecting �X-ray machine� at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint after learning the cost would run well over 250 million baht.

The drug problem was the main topic at the monthly meeting of the Phuket Provincial Peacekeeping Committee chaired by Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday.

Phuket Provincial Police on August 11 ... Full story

Chuan slams money politics

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET TOWN: Phuket leaders and ordinary residents put their heads together at a meeting Saturday to consider how Thailand can reform itself and resolve the ongoing political crisis that caused this year's violent red-shirt protests.

The seminar, �Reforming the Country at a Time of Change�, was the fourth of five organized by the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (Nesac) this year.

Chairing the event at Royal Phuket City Hotel was former prime minister and chief adviser to the Democrat Party, Chuan Leekpai. ... Full story

Two-headed turtle turns one month old in Phang Nga

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: A two-headed turtle born in late July is thriving under the care of staff at the Royal Thai Navy base in Phang Nga as it celebrates its one-month birthday.

The green sea turtle, born in a Thai Navy conservation area in the Similan Islands, was initially earmarked as one of scores of turtles to be set free in Phuket earlier this month as part of a turtle release ceremony to mark Mother�s Day.

All that changed when the organizers realized it had two heads. ... Full story

Phuket attempted murder suspect arrested

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: A man suspected of an attempted murder in Phuket last year was arrested by Lampang police on Saturday after more than a year on the run.

But it wasn't all woe for the suspect, 41-year-old Bangkok resident Prasop Homhuan.

Prasop told officers escorting him to Phuket from Chiang Mai that despite his arrest he was very excited � at the prospect of flying on an airplane for the first time in his life. ... Full story

Blackout in Rawai, Phuket tomorrow

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: Residents of Rawai be warned: the Provincial Electricity Authority has announced a scheduled blackout in parts of the municipality from 9am to 4pm tomorrow to work on high-voltage power lines.

The affected area includes Saiyuan Road, from Wiset Rd to Nai Harn Beach, including Soi Khok Yang, Soi Hua Pru, Soi Khok Makham and Soi Naya.

Much of Saiyaun Road has been in a sorry state lately as Rawai Municipality continues its installation of a 1,200-meter drainage ditch in the area. ... Full story

Arson considered in Phuket pawnshop blaze

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: Police have not ruled out arson for a pre-dawn blaze that gutted a Phuket pawnshop warehouse today.

No one was reported as injured in the fire, although it took five firetrucks 30 minutes to extinguish the inferno on Sri Sena Road in Rassada.

An initial investigation suggests that an electrical short circuit might have started the fire, but the shop had been the target of arson attempts in the past, said Phuket City Police duty officer Sien Kaewthong. ... Full story

Osotspa Saraburi down Phuket FC, 2-1

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: FC Phuket were unlucky to be beaten 2-1 at home by Thai Premier League side Osotspa Saraburi in the opening round of the Toyota League Cup.

The first leg of the pairing, which took place at Surakul Stadium yesterday, was a big step up in opposition for FC Phuket, currently two divisions below their opponents.

It was Osotspa Saraburi who got the better of the opening exchanges, but with Diarra Ali an increasingly influential presence in midfield FC Phuket improved as the half wore on. ... Full story

Chuan Leekpai defends democracy at Phuket seminar

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:24:43 GMT

PHUKET: Former prime minister Chuan Leekpai said in a speech in Phuket on Saturday that Thailand's political crisis stems not from flaws in the democratic system, but from the self-serving actions of some individuals.

Mr Chuan, a senior advisor to the Democrat Party, was speaking at Royal Phuket City Hotel at a seminar entitled �Reforming the Country at a Time of Change�. The event was organized by the National Economic Advisory Council. ... Full story