Category: The Bangkok Post

Passengers at Don Mueang airport may soon need to watch their step, quite literally, as concerns grow over poorly maintained flooring, adding to the mounting list of infrastructure worries at one of Bangkok’s busiest gateways.

This veteran airport, long a hub for low-cost carriers, handles tens of thousands of travellers each day. It has earned a reputation for efficiency and convenience, yet its age is beginning to show in more ways than one.

While authorities push ahead with ambitious expansion plans, signs of wear and tear are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore – and not just by those who enjoy people-watching while waiting for a flight. (continues below)

Past incidents have already cast a spotlight on maintenance standards. A widely reported accident involving a loose metal plate on a moving walkway, which resulted in a serious injury, prompted authorities to shut down walkways across the airport for inspection and vow improvements. Though not strictly a flooring issue, the incident raised uncomfortable questions about the condition of surfaces passengers rely on every day – especially those who prefer to keep both feet firmly on the ground.

Structural concerns have also surfaced in other parts of the ageing complex. In one incident, a service hall suffered roof damage during a storm, triggering official investigations into construction standards and resilience. While no injuries were reported, the episode did little to reassure travellers already navigating crowded terminals and ageing facilities with the occasional sense of adventure.

More recently, travellers have taken to social media and online forums to share tales of uneven tiles, worn-out surfaces and the odd unsettling wobble underfoot. These may sound like minor irritations but such stories tend to travel quickly, often faster than the budget flights departing from the airport. For expatriates unfamiliar with Thailand’s infrastructure quirks, the experience can feel like an unexpected balancing act, particularly when rushing to catch a flight.

The irony is difficult to overlook. Authorities are promoting Don Mueang as a central pillar of Thailand’s aviation future, with plans to boost capacity to tens of millions of passengers annually. Yet on the ground, the daily experience can sometimes feel stuck in an earlier era. While sleek new terminals and upgraded facilities are promised, some passengers might settle for a simpler upgrade – a smooth, even stroll to the departure gate.

Airports of Thailand (AOT) has pledged improvements as part of broader development plans, promising upgrades to infrastructure and higher maintenance standards. However, questions remain over whether routine upkeep is keeping pace with the airport’s growing passenger numbers and operational demands.

For now, Don Mueang remains a vital and functional gateway to Thailand, particularly for budget travellers and regional flights. But until improvements fully materialise, seasoned passengers may wish to keep one eye on their boarding pass – and the other on the floor.

Thailand can learn from watching first-timer teams in the Fifa World Cup 2026 tournament when it starts later this week, former Thai national player and prominent coach Sasom Pobprasert says.

Sasom, the PT Prachuap FC coach, said in a PPTV interview the tournament would give the Thai team an opportunity to study the performance of teams taking part for the first time, how they got there – and why.

The governing body has this year expanded the number of teams competing in the World Cup finals to 48. This gives small countries, including Thailand, a greater opportunity to join the big names, at least in the first stage.

To date only the Thai Women’s team has had any success at all, competing in the Fifa Women’s World Cup tournament in 2015 and 2019.

“This World Cup will show how small countries reached the finals [for the first time] and show the gap when they play against world-class national teams,” said Mr Sasom, who was a midfielder for the national team in 1997 and is a football analyst.

“Their performances on the pitch will show whether the Thai team can emulate their success,” he said.

Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan are in the World Cup for the first time. Covering just 4,033 square kilometres, Cape Verde, an island off the west African coast, is the smallest nation by area, and Curacao is the smallest in terms of population, only 156,000.

This year’s World Cup starts on Thursday and the final will be played on July 19. Mexico, the United States and Canada are co-hosting the matches.

Immigration police have arrested three foreign nationals in Mae Hong Son’s Pai district as part of a crackdown on illegal business operations, nominee shareholding arrangements and labour law violations.

The arrests followed investigations into suspected illegal business activities involving foreign nationals.

An Israeli man identified as Goren was arrested under a warrant issued by the Mae Hong Son Provincial Court.

He is accused of providing false information to officials and violating the Foreign Business Act by using Thai nominees to operate a studio business in the district.

An American man identified as Frank was arrested on charges of working without a valid permit and failing to report the presence of a foreign national at a residence within the period required by law.

The third suspect, a Spanish woman identified as Natalia, was nabbed for working without a work permit.

Following their arrests, police searched five locations to gather additional evidence and identify Thai nationals suspected of acting as nominees in an expanded investigation.

The Immigration Bureau said it would enforce laws against nominee arrangements, illegal business operations and unauthorised employment by foreign nationals to ensure fair economic competition and strengthen national security.

According to the Technology Crime Suppression Division, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), there were over 50,000 cases of online shopping fraud from January to March, including delivery of products that did not match their advertisement and non-delivery even though payment had been made. The total damage exceeded 600 million baht.

Two years ago, an online shopping scam destroyed the life of a high school student in Nakhon Si Thammarat who paid 18,500 baht for an iPhone 13 through a social media platform. However, after she discovered she had been scammed, she was devastated and took her own life.

Since online shopping scams can lead to severe consequences, the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) recently organised a forum on Facebook titled “Being Scammed Online Isn’t Just Bad Luck. It Is Because of Legal Loopholes” to discuss online scams and provide knowledge to the public so that people can protect themselves.

In the forum, the moderator, Atirut Kittipatana, showed a power strip as a product that is often involved in scams. He said a power strip that meets Thai national safety standards must have a certified logo of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI). Although the power strip in his hand had a TISI certification logo, it felt unusually light and when he unscrewed it, he found no internal electrical circuitry.

Atirut admitted that he had experienced scams when buying products online. When consumers like Atirut buy products from fraudulent online stores, they do not know how to seek compensation because these stores operate without verifiable identities and usually block victims after they receive payment.

Asst Prof Weerapun Rungseevijitprapa, a member of the TCC’s subcommittee on General Goods and Services, stated that the organisation receives approximately 200 to 300 complaints per day from consumers regarding online shopping scams. Although monetary losses are not high, the number of victims is quite high.

“When you intend to purchase an item, you should seek information about its average price. For example, a power strip costs around 400 to 500 baht in department stores. However, fraudulent online stores may offer them for less than 200 baht. You should be cautious; if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. You should read reviews and be cautious of those that seem overly positive,” Asst Prof Weerapun warned.

“Consumers should purchase products from platforms with an escrow payment system. When a buyer purchases a product, the platform holds the payment. If the consumer does not receive products they ordered or the products are not as advertised or there is some other problem, they can claim a refund. I believe there are many cases where consumers did not purchase products on these platforms and were unable to pursue legal action.”

Pol Col Neti Wongkularb, deputy commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, CIB, revealed that last year, there were over 200,000 cases of online shopping fraud which caused damages worth 2 billion baht.

Pol Col Neti explained that online scammers come in two forms. The first form involves stores on platforms with an escrow system. In this case, when consumers receive products which do not match the description, the escrow system allows consumers to claim a refund. The second form is a total scam where fraudulent pages are created on social media platforms and involve mule accounts. This makes it difficult to track the payments and scammers.

As the director of the Platform Business Supervision and Inspection Department, Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), Supachitra Laohawattanapinyo explained that the ETDA acts as the regulatory body for digital businesses under the Royal Decree on the Operation of Digital Platform Service Business Act B.E. 2565 (2022).

The ETDA works closely with two state agencies: TISI and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products requiring licences and/or certifications from these two agencies include those subject to mandatory TISI standards, cosmetics, herbal products and medical devices.

If a platform is one of the 21 e-commerce platforms designated by the ETDA, the platform must verify the identity of its sellers. If the TISI, FDA and police require seller identification, the platform must be able to provide the necessary information.

Supachitra emphasised that products on these 21 platforms must have valid licences, and the platforms are mandated to require sellers to display a QR code that allows consumers to verify the authenticity of their licence because there are many fraudulent or stolen licences.

In addition, the platform is mandated to maintain a functioning notice and takedown system. This means that when consumers encounter a problematic and/or unsafe product and report it to the platform, it must remove that product so that other users will not encounter the same issue.

Since platform sellers are divided into corporate and individual accounts, corporates must register with the Department of Business Development (DBD). Prachaya Pairojkulmanee, the director of the E-Commerce Division (DBD), revealed that for individual sellers, this is voluntary.

“The DBD encourages individual sellers to register as DBD Registered which will help build consumer confidence in purchasing products. However, since registration is voluntary, only about 100,000 out of 2 million sellers have registered. Many sellers are hesitant to register because they worry that registration might involve tax audits. The DBD is actually not involved in any tax matters,” explained Prachaya.

To improve the efficiency of the platform, Supachitra explained that the ETDA encourages e-commerce platforms to adopt self-regulation.

Verifying sellers is self-regulation, but platforms could expand their measures beyond ETDA’s current requirement that products meet TISI and FDA standards. Additionally, Supachitra stated that the ETDA can support platforms in persuading individual sellers to register as DBD Registered as it helps verify identities.

Moreover, the ETDA has introduced a draft notification from the Electronic Transactions Commission to define the duties of social media platforms.

“For example, if there is an advertisement, platforms must have a process for verifying advertisers’ identities. The ETDA is initially focusing on advertisers because advertisement on social media can specifically target groups and/or large audiences depending on the amount of money they spend on advertising,” explained Supachitra.

“Since platforms receive payment, they must know who the advertisers are. If there are scams on their platforms, they must be held responsible for the damage incurred. This measure has already undergone public hearing and will be officially enacted in the future.”

Pol Col Neti pointed out that social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) are common channels of scammers.

“These platforms should be subject to e-commerce regulations. If they claim that they are not e-commerce platforms, they should prohibit selling products. If transactions occur through these social media platforms, they must be held accountable. They cannot simply claim to be just social media platforms since they benefit from these activities,” said Pol Col Neti.

“In the meantime, people should not purchase products through social platforms. If they really want to purchase goods, to be safe, they should choose cash on delivery.”

At least three residents and a firefighter were injured, and people were evacuated, when a fire destroyed five houses in the Phraram 6 community in Pathumwan district of Bangkok on Monday morning.

The Pathumwan district office said the fire started about 8.06am in the community of mostly wooden houses on soi 15 off Rama VI Road. The flames spread quickly, engulfing about five houses and another building was scorched and cracked.

Nearby residents were evacuated to a shelter set up at Wat Sabua school. Firefighters declared the blaze under control at 10.24am.

As the world marks World Refugee Day this month, millions of people remain displaced by conflict, persecution and instability.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says more than 136 million people worldwide are projected to be forcibly displaced or stateless in 2026.

Of these, about 30.5 million are registered refugees, while millions more are asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their claims or internally displaced within their own countries.

Thailand hosts a small but significant share of this population. Asylum Access Thailand (AAT) says 7,000 asylum seekers from 45 countries live in the kingdom. Yet for many of them, reaching safety is only the beginning of a long struggle.

Unlike countries that are parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Thailand does not formally recognise refugee status under domestic law.

While asylum seekers and refugees may hold UNHCR-issued documentation, Thai law largely regards them through the lens of immigration regulations.

The result is a legal grey area that shapes nearly every aspect of daily life.

Many urban refugees entered Thailand on tourist visas or without formal immigration status.

Even after being granted refugee status by UNHCR, they can still be considered to be staying in the country illegally once their visas expire.

Without recognised legal status, they have no formal right to work, limited access to healthcare and education, and remain vulnerable to arrest, detention and deportation.

Although the international principle of non-refoulement protects recognised refugees from being returned to places where their lives or freedom are at risk, it does not resolve the practical realities of life in limbo.

AAT says urban refugees often live largely out of public view, relying on community networks, charities and informal employment to survive. Some asylum seekers, including children, have been detained.

For those who are arrested, release may depend on financial guarantees, resettlement approval or circumstances beyond their control.

Refuge beyond the border

Escaping persecution may bring safety, but for many refugees in Thailand, hardship continues in quieter, less visible ways.

For Sami, a Pakistani mother of three, the uncertainty has lasted nearly a decade. Her family belongs to Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community, which has long faced discrimination and persecution.

The decision to leave came after threats surrounding her children’s safety. “The school called me and said they didn’t want my children to come to school and could not promise if someone would hurt them,” she recalled.

The family sold everything they owned and travelled to Thailand, hoping it would eventually become a pathway to permanent resettlement elsewhere. Instead, they found themselves waiting.

The family has since received refugee recognition through UNHCR, but that status has not turned into legal work rights.

“There are some people who give you work but pay you half salary because you don’t have anything that would allow you to work,” she said.

A former teacher in Pakistan, Ms Sami now relies on informal cooking jobs, preparing biryani, curries and samosas whenever orders become available through refugee networks and aid organisations.

She said she appreciates all the customers’ orders because it means income to support the family. Yet without a stable income, daily decisions remain difficult calculations.

Healthcare for the family is reduced to over-the-counter remedies, as proper treatment is often unaffordable.

Food is rationed, meals stretched to last another day. “My children sometimes want more curry,” she said. “I say sorry, we eat tomorrow, drink some water.”

Years of waiting have also affected her children, who have grown up in Thailand and speak Thai fluently.

“Sometimes they say, ‘Mama, you promised we would go to another country, but we are still stuck here.'”

Her response remains unchanged.

For Ms Sami, legal access to employment would make the greatest difference.

“If we were allowed to work, waiting would be easier,” she said. “We are educated people. We do not want to ask others for help.”

The cost of waiting

While Ms Sami’s story revolves around waiting, 24-year-old Zom represents another reality for urban refugees: growing up in a country that feels like home while remaining legally invisible.

Ms Zom arrived in Thailand from Vietnam in 2011 after her Hmong family fled what they feared was religious persecution.

She said her family applied for refugee status but was rejected. Her father, however, maintained that coming to Thailand was the right decision. “If we stayed there, we might die,” she said, recalling her father’s view.

Having spent most of her life in Bangkok, Ms Zom speaks warmly about Thailand and the people around her. “Apart from the issue of documents, everything here is good,” she said.

But without documents, nearly every opportunity remains out of reach.

Without legal status, she has worked in informal jobs such as packing goods, selling products and working in restaurants. Access to higher education has remained out of reach, Ms Zom said, because formal identification documents are required for enrolment.

“I tell employers honestly that I have a high school diploma but no documents,” she said. “If they understand, I work for them.”

Ms Zom says employers sometimes offer lower wages because of her status. “We don’t have paperwork. They can just pay us how much they want or not hire us at all.”

The risks extend beyond employment. Police checks in her neighbourhood are common, and being unable to produce documents can lead to detention. She knows people who have experienced it. “My friend,” she said quietly.

The friend was eventually released after receiving approval for resettlement to another country. “But if there’s no opportunity, people just remain in detention for who knows how long.”

Unlike many refugees seeking a future elsewhere, Ms Zom hopes to remain in Thailand permanently and is seeking legal documentation through formal channels. “The only thing I hope for is to become Thai,” she said.

Despite years of uncertainty, both women say Thailand feels safer and more welcoming than the countries they fled. Ms Sami can practise her faith freely and says her children can move about safely.

While Ms Zom has built her life and identity here. What troubles them most is not the kindness of ordinary people, but a legal system that leaves them suspended between protection and illegality.

Their appeals are simple.

“I would ask for permission to work legally,” Ms Sami said.

Ms Zom’s request is equally modest.

“If we haven’t broken the law, do we really deserve to be arrested?”

Then she paused.

“We’re human beings too.”

A man returning home from a party was killed when his vehicle crashed into a concrete fence outside a rescue foundation in Muang district early Sunday morning.

The fatal crash on Therd Prakiat Road in tambon Pak Nakhon was reported to police about 2.30am. His white Mitsubishi Pajero hit the concrete wall outside the People Unity rescue foundation.

The driver was killed by the impact. Rescuers had to use a hydraulic spreader to free his body from the crushed and flattened vehicle, trapped between the steering wheel and the driver’s seat. The driver was identified as Winwit Liawpatanapong, 38, of Moo 5 in tambon Tha Sak, Muang district.

Police said Winwit worked at a bank. He had partied with friends at an eatery in Muang district. After the party, he drove home alone.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was travelling at speed, and the driver appeared to lose control and crash into the concrete fence outside the foundation.

Tourism operators and event organisers have asked Ezy Airlines to introduce flights between this northeastern province and two major resort cities, to solidify Khon Kaen’s position as a travel and convention hub.

Nattiya Tantasook, president of the Khon Kaen Tourism and Mice Association, said on Monday business groups in the province had held talks with Dhanee Dharapak, chief executive of Ezy Airlines owner M-Landarch, on the airline flying between Khon Kaen and Hua Hin and Khon Kaen and U-tapao airport, which serves Pattaya.

Ms Nattiya said the proposed routes would bring foreign and domestic visitors from the two resort destinations to Khon Kaen, which is looking to bolster its position as a regional centre for education, tourism, investment and other forums.

Business groups strongly support the proposal, she said.

Ezy Airlines is based at Hat Yai Airport and uses small aircraft to connect the southern city with Betong district in Yala and to Surat Thani.

Thailand’s six domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) have continued to expand their sustainable lending portfolios, with some institutions raising their financing targets to support the transition towards a net-zero economy.

The six D-SIBs — Bangkok Bank (BBL), Krungthai Bank (KTB), Kasikornbank (KBank), Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) under SCB X, Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri), and TMBThanachart Bank (ttb) — have collectively increased financing for renewable energy, green infrastructure, environmentally-friendly businesses and sustainable consumer products, according to their latest sustainability reports.

BBL broadens financing

BBL, Thailand’s largest lender by total assets, has continued to expand its sustainable finance portfolio through its Bualuang Green Financing for Transition to Environmental Sustainability programme.

According to the bank’s 2025 sustainability report, BBL recorded 19.5 billion baht in transition financing during the year.

The programme is available to all customer segments and is designed to support a smooth and timely transition to a low-carbon economy.

In addition to providing green and transition loans, the bank helps clients to strengthen climate resilience through advisory and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

For corporate clients, BBL’s outstanding environmental loans tallied 139 billion baht last year, while sustainability-linked loan balances totalled 6.8 billion baht.

The bank offers five sustainability-focused loan products for corporate customers: renewable energy loans, environmentally-friendly transition loans, energy and environmental conservation loans, electric mass transit system loans, and environmentally-friendly real estate loans.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), BBL expanded its sustainable loan portfolio to 3.89 billion baht last year. Key products include loans for solar panel installation, green financing for a sustainable transition, employment promotion loans, loans supporting environmentally-friendly activities, and the Bualuang Transformation Loan.

BBL also expanded sustainable lending to retail customers, with outstanding balances reaching 112 billion baht.

The portfolio is driven by its green loan programme, which supports environmentally-friendly housing improvements, rooftop solar installations, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and accessibility upgrades for elderly and disabled residents.

KBank also reported significant progress in sustainable lending, with outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) loans totalling 117 billion baht in 2025.

The bank’s portfolio comprises 52.8 billion baht in sustainable loans and mortgages for retail customers, 40.4 billion in green, social and sustainable loans for corporate customers, 18.8 billion in sustainability-linked loans for wholesale businesses, and 5.05 billion in ESG financing for SMEs.

Between 2022 and 2025, KBank’s cumulative sustainable financing and investment portfolio expanded to 199 billion baht. The bank committed to achieving net-zero emissions in its own operations by 2030.

KBank aims to drive an inclusive transition across the economy and aspires to become a leading provider of climate solutions, according to its report.

“The bank focuses on delivering essential knowledge and tools alongside financial support for customers across all segments to guide their decarbonisation journeys and enhance sustainable competitiveness in a low-carbon economy,” noted the report.

Krungsri ambitions

Among Thailand’s major lenders, Krungsri took an aggressive step by increasing its social and sustainable finance (SSF) target.

Initially targeting 250 billion baht in SSF financing by 2030 from a 2021 baseline, the bank raised the goal to 350 billion baht in early 2026, reflecting growing demand for sustainable investment and financing solutions.

At the end of 2025, Krungsri’s SSF portfolio tallied 256 billion baht.

The bank finances renewable energy businesses, including solar, wind, hydropower, biogas, biomass, and waste-to-energy projects, with total outstanding loans of 10.4 billion baht.

Of this renewable energy portfolio, solar power accounted for the largest share at 42.9%, followed by hydropower at 34.2%, biomass 16.7%, wind power 5.01%, biogas 0.70%, and waste-to-energy projects 0.40%.

In addition, Krungsri wants to develop a transition plan to mitigate environmental and climate-related risks within its loan portfolio, particularly in industries with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and significant exposure to the bank’s lending portfolio.

The initiative includes calculating financed emissions and developing a transition plan for at least one carbon-intensive industry or a significant sector within the bank’s portfolio.

The plan and its findings were submitted to regulatory authorities last year.

Krungsri focused on the power generation and land transport sectors in 2025, with the initial phase analysing the bank’s power-generation portfolio and calculating financed emissions in accordance with international standards.

SCB X, the holding company of SCB, reported the bank’s cumulative sustainable finance portfolio between 2023-2025 tallied 223 billion baht across all customer segments.

In 2025, the bank provided sustainable loans worth 78.7 billion baht to 35 corporate clients. Financing for SMEs totalled 404 million baht across 59 businesses, while 39 retail customers received sustainable loans worth 313 million baht.

SCB integrates ESG considerations into its loan approval process, as well as the development and delivery of financial products and services.

The bank offers green loans to support environmentally-friendly projects and initiatives, including renewable energy, EVs and energy-efficient buildings.

In addition, SCB provides sustainability-linked loans with preferential interest rates tied to specific sustainability performance targets.

These targets are measured through client-defined key performance indicators, such as external sustainability ratings relevant to the client’s business, improvements in energy efficiency, reductions in GHG emissions, and water conservation.

ESG-focused financing

Ttb also expanded its sustainable financing activities, particularly in support of green transport and SME transitions.

In 2025, sustainable finance accounted for 12% of total corporate lending, comprising 12 billion baht in green and blue loans and 30.3 billion in SME-tailored financing, out of a total credit limit of 99.9 billion baht.

The bank also provided loans totalling 14.7 billion baht to retail customers for the purchase of EVs, representing 16.5% of its consumer auto finance portfolio of 89 billion baht.

In addition, ttb supported auto dealers in the distribution of EVs through floor plan financing amounting to 28.8 billion baht.

“To support businesses and individuals in their transition towards sustainability, ttb offers a comprehensive suite of ESG-focused financial solutions, integrated with advisory services to help clients effectively navigate ESG-related risks and opportunities,” noted the bank’s 2025 sustainability report.

These solutions include green and blue loans that support climate change mitigation, low-carbon transitions, environmental conservation, and sustainable water management projects, as well as sustainability-linked loans that incentivise improvements in ESG performance.

KTB framework

KTB developed a range of sustainable financial products and services, including sustainable loans, green loans and sustainability-linked loans.

Through the sustainable loan programme, the bank supports entrepreneurs and SMEs engaged in green businesses or environmentally-focused activities.

The green loan programme is designed for entrepreneurs and projects seeking to transition towards more environmentally sustainable operations, with objectives including reducing GHG emissions, adapting to climate change, and preventing and controlling pollution.

The bank’s sustainability-linked loans incorporate performance targets to encourage businesses to improve their ESG performance.

Gaining momentum

The growing commitment by Thailand’s leading banks highlights the increasing role of the financial sector in driving the country’s low-carbon transition.

As regulators, investors and customers place greater emphasis on climate action and sustainable development, banks are expanding financing solutions that support renewable energy, cleaner transport, resource efficiency and climate resilience.

With several institutions already surpassing earlier targets and setting more ambitious goals, sustainable finance is emerging as a growth area for Thailand’s banking industry and a critical tool in supporting the nation’s long-term net-zero aspirations.

Two women were arrested following a raid at a massage parlour in Bang Khunthian district.

Dararat Thamwanich, 51, the owner, and receptionist Warin Promsopa, 37, were charged with trafficking minors and procuring sexual services.

The arrests followed complaints that the parlour recruited girls under 18 and advertised on a website. The suspects allegedly used the Line messaging app to offer sexual services to customers.

Undercover police posed as customers to arrange services before making the arrests. Two girls, aged 16 and 17, were rescued and taken to a welfare centre.

Police seized four mobile phones, two used condoms and a customer booking notebook. Both suspects denied the charges.