Category: The Bangkok Post

Twenty Chinese people were arrested at a luxury pool villa in Mae Rim district of this northern province on Thursday, suspected of operating scams targeting compatriots in China.

The suspects included 14 men and six women, one of whom broke her leg after jumping to the ground in a bid to escape. At least 10 other suspects managed to get away by jumping into the river and fleeing into nearby woods, police said.

The detained suspects reportedly told police that their boss paid 120,000 baht a month to rent the 90-million-baht villa by the Ping River in tambon Don Kaew and paid them salaries of 100,000 to 200,000 baht monthly.

Officers found about 100 mobile phones and Chinese SIM cards in the house. There were also surveillance cameras to monitor police activity, giving the suspects time to run.

Some of the suspects held student visas with admission registered at local universities. Others had entered the country with tourist visas, police said.

According to investigators, most of the scams involved an offer of life insurance, or a request to claim an undelivered parcel.

The victims, all Chinese nationals, were duped into transferring money to accounts controlled by the syndicate.

Pol Lt Gen Kritthapol Yisakhon, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, said the suspects worked for an established gang that had been raided twice in Hang Dong and Mae Rim districts in July. The network moved its operation to the villa two months ago.

Police said all 20 detainees face charges of forming a criminal association and fraud. They are being held at Mae Rim police station for further questioning.

Authorities are also coordinating with the Chinese consulate in Chiang Mai to assist in the investigation.

A large gang of insurgents held three security guards captive while they set fire to four parked vehicles at a road construction site in Cho-airong district early Wednesday morning.

The attack occurred around 2am in Ban Kue Rong in tambon Chuap, but was not reported to police until 6am.

About 10 men were reportedly involved in the attack on S.O.N Engineering Co Ltd, a contractor hired by Chuap municipality, police said.

They torched four vehicles used in the construction of the road – a grader, a pneumatic vibrator and a vibratory roller, and a water truck.

The gang wore black clothes with their faces covered. They held the three security guards captive and confiscated their phones before burning the company’s property.

They released the guards and fled the scene about 2.30am, the report said. No injuries were reported.

The investigation was continuing, police said.

What makes a country truly flourish? Some might credit its political leaders, while others may point to the working class – the foundation of every nation’s progress. Yet, it is the collective effort of every citizen, supporting one another in times of need, that sustains a society.

Motivated by personal experience caring for his ageing grandparents, Mr Parama Linpiyawan sought to address common challenges faced by Thailand’s elderly population, particularly those without access to advanced medical or assistive resources. His compassion and curiosity led him to develop a series of innovative, low-cost solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for seniors.

The first of these, NoSore, is a low-cost mattress topper designed to prevent bedsores – also known as pressure ulcers – through a system that monitors pressure applied over time and wirelessly alerts a caregiver when the user is at risk. The invention went on to win the Gold Award at the World Invention Creativity Olympic (WICO) 2025.

His second project, SmartPlast, emerged from an observation of the large volumes of plastic waste discarded from clinics and hospitals without being recycled. Experimenting with non-biohazardous medical plastics, Mr Parama created a recyclable toilet chair for the elderly made from discarded materials collected from local clinics. The initiative later expanded to include chairs, tables, and other products using additional plastic sources such as bottle caps. SmartPlast received recognition from both the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department and the Department of Older Persons (DOP) for its environmental and social impact.

The third innovation, FallAware, is a belt-style wearable device that detects when an elderly person falls and automatically alerts caregivers via a web application. This project also received recognition from the Department of Older Persons (DOP) for its contribution to elderly care and safety.

With Thailand’s ageing population continuing to grow, Mr Parama hopes to inspire others to contribute – whether through innovative projects or small acts of kindness – to improve the well-being of seniors in their communities.

He credits his achievements to perseverance, experimentation, and a genuine desire to make a difference. His message to young innovators is simple: commit to your ideas, embrace trial and error, and never lose sight of the impact your creativity can have on others.

Many samples of herbal inhaler products have proved to be unsafe, contaminated with microbes, yeast, mould and pathogenic bacteria, and weak and elderly people are at risk, according to health authorities.

Supattra Boonserm, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, said on Wednesday that the FDA collected samples of many brands of herbal inhalers for testing after online reports in May of fungal contamination found in herbal inhalers which could harm users’ lungs.

The tests looked for total aerobic microbial counts, total yeast and mould counts and contamination with specific bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium spp, which are banned in herbal products.

Ms Supattra said tests on samples showed unsafe levels under all three criteria for herbal inhaler ‘Hong Thai Formula 2’, registration number G309/62, lot 000332 manufactured on Dec 9, 2024. The Clostridium bacteria detected was Clostridium perfringens.

The agency also found unsafe levels of total aerobic microbial counts in samples from Chama Herbs herbal inhaler, registration number G561/67, lot NF 2522503001 produced on March 3, 2025.

‘The FDA thus informed the public that the herbal inhalers of both brands are substandard herbal products and will gradually make more announcements if products of other brands are proved with unsafe levels of microbial contamination,’ the FDA secretary-general said.

She warned that unsafe levels of contamination with microbes, fungus, yeast and bacteria could be especially harmful to the health of people with immunodeficiency and for elderly people.

‘Inhalation risks health problems due to fungal spores and Clostridium perfringens, such as respiratory infection, breathing difficulties with wheezing, coughing and sore mouth and throat,’ Ms Supattra said.

The FDA suspended the manufacturing of the products concerned and ordered their recall and destruction. Manufacturing could resume if producers found and rectified the source of the contamination and the FDA certified the improved production process, she said.

Dr Sarawut Boonsuk, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said that in fiscal 2025 the department received 54 samples of inhalers for examination and 39 of them proved to be substandard.

‘Most of them were substandard for total counts of aerobic microbes, yeast, mould and Clostridium perfringens.

‘Clostridium perfringens is in soil and is anaerobic. Fungal spores and Clostridium perfringens can harm people who are weak, have low immunity or are old, if they are inhaled,’ Dr Sarawut said.

Herbal Hong Thai Co said it would recall 200,000 jars of the inhaler product concerned and destroy them as soon as possible. It also promised refunds for customers and business partners who have inhalers with the specific lot number.

Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno confirmed on Tuesday that the government’s plan to dissolve the House of Representatives within four months remains unchanged, despite growing political debate over the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

Mr Borwornsak, in charge of the government’s legal affairs, reaffirmed that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s previously stated timeline, calling for a House dissolution by January 2026, still stands.

Mr Borwornsak’s comments came amid renewed scrutiny of the government’s roadmap to amend the constitution and hold a referendum on rewriting the constitution, together with a new general election.

He dismissed speculation that current political tensions could derail the timeline, reiterating that “everything remains on schedule”.

Meanwhile, Parit Wacharasindhu, a list-MP and deputy spokesman for the opposition People’s Party (PP), said the enactment of the 2025 Referendum Act ensures the process can move forward smoothly.

Mr Parit serves on the parliamentary committee studying amendments to Sections 156 and 256 and the proposed new Chapter 15/1 on rewriting the constitution.

The government, he said, is still working within the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the ruling Bhumjaithai Party and the PP, targeting a House dissolution by Jan 31, followed by a national referendum held alongside the general election in late March.

Mr Parit said the referendum will pose two key questions, as outlined by the Constitutional Court, and parliament must approve the charter amendment bill in its third reading by the end of December.

The committee, he added, aims to complete its deliberations swiftly, even considering a special parliamentary session if necessary.

He acknowledged ongoing efforts to reconcile differing views among members to ensure a broad consensus, as passage of the amendment requires more than half of all MPs and senators, including 20% of opposition members and one-third of the Senate.

However, Mr Parit voiced concern about logistical challenges to the charter referendum for early voting, saying that the Referendum Act does not clearly address advance voting procedures.

He said the House Political Development Committee plans to invite the Election Commission for consultations on how to allow citizens who vote early to also participate in the referendum.

The MP also said discussions this week would focus on finalising the model for the constitution drafting assembly (CDA), as the two accepted draft versions differ significantly.

The sub-committee is reviewing both to find a framework that aligns with the Constitutional Court’s previous rulings and promotes inclusive public participation, he said.

In contrast, former senator Direkrit Jenkrongtham petitioned the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.

It argued that parliament’s decision to proceed with charter amendments without holding a prior referendum violates the 2021 court ruling (No.4/2564).

That decision stated that parliament has no authority to rewrite the entire charter without first seeking public consent.

Golf balls do occasionally collide. It doesn’t happen too often but it does occur occasionally. If a shot is played from off the putting surface and your ball hits another ball, what should you do?

First of all, there’s no penalty and the player whose ball was in motion should be played from where it has come to rest. For the player whose ball has been moved, they should follow Rule 9.6 — Ball lifted or moved by an outside influence. If it is known or certain that your ball at rest has been moved by an outside influence again, there is no penalty, and you must replace the ball where it originally sat. And if that spot is not known, it must be estimated.

If your ball knocked another player’s ball into the hole and as long as your shot has been played from off the putting surface, the rules say that you will play the ball as it lies and the person whose ball has been knocked into the cup must replace their ball on its original spot. If you didn’t play your ball from where it had come to rest after knocking another golfer’s ball into the hole, you would receive a general penalty for playing from a wrong place.

Out of Bounds: Annoying playing partners have some terrible habits. Breathing is one of them.

A wild elephant was hit by an ambulance in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in Chachoensao on Monday night.

The park chief said it happened about 10.50pm on Oct 27 between Ban Na Yao and Khlong Toei.

The ambulance was transporting three patients to Sanam Chai Khet Hospital when a wild elephant emerged suddenly from the dark roadside and crossed directly in front of it.

The driver said he braked but was unable to stop in time. The ambulance hit the elephant, knocking it down. The animal got back on its feet and retreated into the forest.

The ambulance driver sustained minor injuries. The three patients were transferred to another vehicle and continued their journey to hospital.

The injured elephant had since returned to the sanctuary, an official said, and will be closely monitored in the coming days.

In all of my years in Thailand and numerous visits to Phuket, it was time to venture into the unseen. to places I’ve never been before.

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa drew the straw and I found myself turning left from Phuket airport to the scenic beaches of Khuk Khak Beach. The luxury beach resort is just over two hours from the airport but the ride is smooth and scenic, and goes by in a flash. especially if one dozes off in the car.

Arriving at the lobby, though small, one can see the ocean and almost immediately a sense of calm overcomes you and you can’t wait to get to your room and laze around. The resort is vast and is only two-storeys high with the upstairs rooms and suites offering beach and lagoon pool views. But it is the Deluxe Lagoon Pool Access rooms that you’re after or the Pool Villas, which come in a choice of one or two bedrooms. There is also a Duplex Suite and a Family Lagoon Pool Access.

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa caters to every family member, be it a child or the elderly. The ‘longest pool in Southeast Asia’ intertwines itself around the property and one can experience its vastness by swimming around. Pro tip: It is also a good exercise (2.5km) in case you wanted to skip the well-equipped gym. The gym also hosts various classes throughout the day. There is plenty to do around the resort and it is one of those places where you check-in and don’t leave till check-out time.

The beach is vast and should you feel fed-up of lying on the sundecks, there’s always a huge beach chess game to play or jenga. The other option would be to keep moving from pool to pool as there are so many, for a change in scenery. There’s an entire section of pool dedicated to children with a water slide and wave pool, though the adults were also having the time of their lives on it. There is a water trampoline, jacuzzis and the infinity and aquamarine swim-up bars for refreshments, because one may get a little thirsty being surrounded by water.

Close to the kids pool is the Bamboo shark nursery. Native to the Andaman Sea, Bamboo sharks are listed as a ‘near threatened’ species due to their popularity among collectors and exotic diners, as well as overfishing and destruction of their natural habitat. The Bamboo Shark Nursery and Conservation Center at the resort helps breed and nurture bamboo sharks before releasing them back into the wild to restore the balance of the marine ecosystem. One can book an appointment to learn more about the centre at the lobby.

However, for me the crowning glory of the property was the JW Garden, which is just across the road from the resort. Inspired by the JW founders – J. Willard Marriott and Alice Marriott’s love for the outdoors, The JW Garden is a signature element of the JW Marriott experience focused on creating sensory connections with the natural world. This is the second-largest garden in the JW Marriott family, in the world.

The tranquillity of the JW Garden is a good place to reconnect with nature, as there are freshwater lakes surrounded by tropical marshes and scrubland, which are home to more than 100 species of wild birds, reptiles, fish and colourful insects.

The JW Garden is a working farm, complete with chickens, ducks, goats and water buffaloes. It also is organic and grows herbs and vegetables used throughout the property. The farm is open to guests and is ideal for early morning walks, runs or strolls. There is horticulture and a cultivation of more than 200 varieties of plants, fruits, vegetables, leaves and herbs. The chickens and ducks supply the hotel with free-range eggs daily, and a separate JW Garden counter can be found at breakfast, offering the freshest eggs, salads and vegetables.

Breakfast matches the property in size and offerings. Everything under the sun you can think of makes an appearance at breakfast, including starting the day with ginger shots. The resort’s signature restaurant, Drift, is also where the farm’s produce is on display, along with its sustainability efforts and waste management. There is an entire tasting menu with ingredients from the farm, showcasing the zero-waste management. Few things go to waste here.

You are spoilt for choice at this resort. There are 11 restaurants serving different cuisines and needless to say, the Italian restaurant is by far the busiest. Offering pizzas from the wood-fired ovens to at least 15 different types of olive oil, showcased in a tasting menu, Olive offers an impressive selection of crafted authentic Italian classic dishes and hand-selected wines.

There are Thai and Japanese restaurants, with casual all-day dining at the Sala, the Deli and Waterfront, which is also the breakfast scene. To get your juices flowing, there are two swim-up bars, Infinity and Aquamarine, and sundowners are best enjoyed at the Beach Bar, and a nightcap at Czar Bar.

The body isn’t forgotten with Quan Spa offering a host of massages and luxury wellness therapies. The spa is designed like a Balinese house and the minute you enter, a different sense of tranquility washes over you. Bliss.

Focus on what matters most – you at JW Marriott Khao Lak. What better place than to unwind and take a break from the life in the fast lane.

Thailand expects Israeli tourists to be better behaved in future following a meeting between Thai police and a top Israeli security official, amid growing discontent with visitors from the Jewish state.

Police said that at Monday’s meeting Avi Bitton, an adviser to the Israeli Security Council, had strongly supported the need for Thailand to take swift action against Israeli offenders, including those running illegal businesses.

“We hope the discussion, to some extent, will resolve the problem of Israeli tourists engaging in inappropriate behaviour,” Pol Maj Gen Suwat, who is the Surat Thani police chief, said after the talks in Phuket.

The meeting came amid rising public sentiment against Israeli citizens in Thailand fuelled by bad behaviour and running of illegal businesses.

Four destinations are popular with Israelis and sanctuaries have been opened exclusively for their use. They have built these six Chabads, exclusive communities, in Pai district in Mae Hong Son, and on three islands – Phuket, Koh Samui and Phangan.

Mr Bitton explained the need to use maximum security at those places where Israelis stay, with no outsiders allowed inside, for the safety of their citizens because of the war in Gaza, police said.

He promised to allow Thai authorities to inspect the areas.

About 300,000 Israeli tourists visited Thailand from January to September this year, a 57% leap on the same period last year.

The influx of tourists from Israel has led to dissatisfaction among Thais as many show little respect for Thai law. Recently, on Oct 14, four of them were arrested on Koh Samui for holding a party with drugs.

One of the more infamous incidents was in May when an Israeli woman refused to take off her shoes before entering a Thai restaurant on Koh Phangan, saying “My money built your country”.

Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom will return to action against Martyna Dominczak at ONE Fight Night 38 in Bangkok on December 6 – and she’s back under familiar guidance.

The 23-year-old Thai, nicknamed ‘The Queen,’ has rejoined Mehdi Zatout’s Venum Training Camp ahead of her first fight since ONE 172 in March, when she outpointed Kana Morimoto in Tokyo to retain her atomweight kickboxing title.

That performance drew criticism from Zatout, her former head coach, who bluntly told the Bangkok Post backstage that night she had performed poorly, having left Venum in 2024 following an acrimonious fallout.

Now, the Algerian-French coach believes she has rediscovered her top level.

‘She is ready and she is on fire,’ Zatout told the Bangkok Post after Tuesday’s fight announcement.

Phetjeeja is undefeated in ONE Championship with seven straight wins and four finishes, having first earned her contract through the ONE Friday Fights series under the watchful eye of Zatout.

Poland’s Dominczak – formerly Martyna Kierczynska before her recent marriage to coach Maciej Dominczak – has won three of her four bouts since joining ONE in February 2024, including two in a row since dropping to atomweight.

The winner is expected to earn a title shot against Brazil’s Allycia Rodrigues, the long-reigning ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion.

Rodrigues previously told the Bangkok Post she had already signed to face Phetjeeja before the fight was scrapped – a bout many believe remains destined to happen.