Northern Thailand

Former Thai Boxer Punches Woman to Death Over Opium Debt

Sawet Manotham, 32, was apprehended at his house on Wednesday in the northern province of Mae Hong Son

MAE HONG SON – Royal Thai Police have arrested Sawet Manotham aka Pandu Lukratchawang a former boxer accused of punching a 40-year-old woman to death and then setting her body on fire over a 90,000 baht opium debt in Mae Hong Son Province.

Saengkham Suddaenklai

Sawet Manotham, 32, was apprehended at his house on Wednesday in the northern province of Mae Hong Son on charges of colluding in the murder of Saengkham Suddaenklai and setting fire to her body to destroy evidence, Pol Maj Gen Pracha Rattanaphan, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 5, said during a police press conference.

The former boxer, who fought as Pandu Lukratchawang and now earns his living selling fruit, confessed he had punched Saengkham to death in a fit of anger because the woman had failed to pay him 90,000 baht she owed for opium she bought from him, The Bangkok Post reported on Wednesday.

He had asked the woman to meet him near Huay Mae Tho to settle the debt on April 18. When the woman arrived on a motorcycle, he asked her to accompany him in his pickup truck to tambon Muang Pon of Khun Yuam district. He also loaded her motorcycle on his vehicle. A Myanmar friend, identified only as Toon, accompanied him.

According to police, Sawet asked Saengkham about the opium debt, but she kept refusing to pay, Sawet lost his temper, punching her in the face until she fell down dead.

He asked Toon to use a blanket to cover her and then set her body on fire. He sold her motorcycle to cover part of the debt she owed him, he told police.

He said he had sold opium to Saengkham for four years, as a sideline to selling fruit.

Pol Maj Gen Pracha said the discovery of the burned body was reported on April 23. It was later identified as the remains of Saengkham, who had been missing from her house in Mae La Noi district for several days.

An investigation led to the arrest of Mr Sawet, he said.

Daily News Online quoted the suspect as admitting he had smuggled opium from Myanmar for sale. The woman had bought seven lumps of opium from him for 13,000 baht each, and then refused to pay him as promised.

He said he had asked her several times for the money because he needed it to pay his supplier across the border.

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.

Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.

When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.

The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.

Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.

She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.

The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.

Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.

According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.