Top court upholds ruling in Saudi diamond case

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Top-court-upholds-ruling-in-Saudi-diamond-case-30241916.html

THAI-SAUDI RELATIONS

Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

THE SUPREME COURT yesterday upheld an Appeal Court’s ruling of a seven-year jail term for Sawek Kanthama – a former police subordinate of crime-buster Chalor Kerdthes – for abusing authority and stealing jewellery evidence in relation to the Saudi Blue Diamond case.

Sawek, who had been acquitted along with three others by the Criminal Court in May 2006, sought to have the case dropped after prosecutors failed to file an appeal.

While the Criminal Court issued an order dropping the case in June 2007, an appeal was filed after the 30-day deadline. In the second trial, the Appeal Court sentenced Sawek to seven years in prison.

On February 9, 2012, the same court upheld the 20-year jail term for Chalor and cancelled the four subordinates’ acquittal.

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the lower court’s late issue of the document dropping the case was a mistake, as the case had not ended and the Appeal Court was authorised to overrule it. The Supreme Court declined to rule on Sawek’s plea for cancelling the jail term, as such a request had to be posted in the key case, not attached to his objection to court documents.

After the verdict, Sawek – who has been behind bars for two and a |half years – said he would accept |the seven-year jail term.

Boonyakiat Udonsawaengchok, a special attorney, explained that a prosecutor can appeal against a verdict after the 30-day deadline provided the reasons can be explained. If a defendant asks for a final ruling during this time, court officials might misunderstand. In such a case, all had to obey the court’s ruling, he said.

A source said that Sawek, in October 2012, also withdrew his appeal against the seven-year jail term with the Supreme Court, while the prosecutor pushed for the Supreme Court to continue trying the four policemen accused of embezzling the jewellery evidence. This case is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Chalor’s punishment for the jewellery embezzlement charges ended with 20 years in jail.

Chalor was released last October after serving 19 years in Bang Kwang Prison for his involvement in the 1994 abduction and murder of Darawadee Srithanakhan and her son. The intent was to force her jeweller husband Santi to give information about the stolen jewellery. His release was on grounds that he had served most of his sentence.

The case of jewellery stolen from Saudi Arabia since late 1980s has soured bilateral ties. Riyadh recalled its charge d’affairs on July 18,after the Criminal Court found five cops not guilty of abducting and murdering Saudi businessman, Mohammad al-Ruwaili, in 1990.

Integration of Myanmar park with Thai forest complex proposed

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Integration-of-Myanmar-park-with-Thai-forest-compl-30241918.html

Janjira Pongrai
The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

THAILAND IS asking Myanmar to integrate its Tanintharyi National Park, which is near the Thai-Myanmar border, into the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex that will soon become a natural World Heritage site.

Representatives of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) visited the forest complex yesterday and will continue to observe it today.

Tanintharyi National Park is next to western forestlands in Thailand’s Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi provinces.

Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, said the idea was discussed during a Tuesday meeting on bilateral cooperation in forest and wildlife conservation between Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and its Myanmar counterparts.

The matter was discussed among Thai-Myanmar policy-makers while the IUCN facilitated academic coordination, because it believes the Thai-Myanmar border area needs a project to link both countries’ forestlands, where large animals such as elephants often cross back and forth.

“If the forestland integration were done and the area were declared a natural World Heritage site, both countries could jointly and more effectively manage this forest resources,” Chaiwat said.

He said he expected the forest complex to be registered as Thailand’s third natural World Heritage site next year after the country had answered all questions about forestland management.

The two previous sites were the Thungyai Naresuan-Huai Kha Khang Wildlife Sanctuaries in 1991 and the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex in 2005.

The 4,822-square-kilometre Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex is composed of Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Kui Buri National Park, Ratchaburi’s Phachi River Wildlife Sanctuary and Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park.

NSC chief ‘won’t always be key negotiator’

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/NSC-chief-wont-always-be-key-negotiator-30241919.html

SOUTH CRISIS

The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

THE PEACE dialogue with insurgents to sort out violence in the far South will continue in accordance with a key policy of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, but the chief negotiator will not be always the National Security Council secretary-general as in previous meetings, deputy Army commander General Udomdej Sitabutr said yesterday.

The key negotiators in future rounds of talks may vary depending on the content of specific talks, but the entire framework will still be under NSC supervision, said Udomdej, secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order.

The direction of the dialogue has also been re-adjusted by Prayuth and the negotiators will be handpicked by him based on their qualifications and expertise in various fields to ensure greater progress and success, said Udomdej.

While the NSC handles high-profile dialogue with insurgent leaders, the Internal Security Operation Command units are currently talking with local insurgents in their areas of operation, he said. Prayuth was satisfied with the situation in the South after he seized power in May, he added.

Udomdej was speaking after chairing a high-profile security meeting at an Army barracks in Narathiwat, where he was briefed about the security situation, which saw 28 fewer incidents taking place this year, compared to the same period last year. He later presided over a reforestation project involving 800 Malaysians and 1,200 Thais.

He also chaired a ceremony at Narathiwat airport to see off hundreds of Thai Muslims who will be on a government-assisted Hajj pilgrimage. There will be a total of 10,400 pilgrims under Thailand’s quota, boarding 168 flights from Bangkok, Phuket, Hat Yai and Narathiwat airports this year.

Digital boards to find missing cars, people

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Digital-boards-to-find-missing-cars-people-30241922.html

The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

Police will set up digital billboards at intersections and public places to spread information on missing people and stolen vehicles following a successful trial.

Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung, designated national police chief, signed an agreement with representatives of the Thai General Insurance Association, the Mirror Foundation and Plan B Media for screening the information on digital billboards in Bangkok.

Somyot said the idea was to help people and also make society a less welcome place for those who commit crimes like car theft.

The Thai General Insurance Association is offering Bt1.4 million in rewards for clues leading to the arrest of 50 listed car thieves.

Rewards range from Bt15,000 to Bt50,000 per case. Information on missing persons will also be screened on the billboards.

The signs have led to many being found in the past.

Man in charge of Pathum Thani condo surrenders

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Man-in-charge-of-Pathum-Thani-condo-surrenders-30241923.html

The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

Chanaichon Kerdthes, an executive of Plook Plang Co Ltd, who was in charge of the construction of a Pathum Thani condominium that collapsed and killed 14 workers on August 11, reported to police yesterday.

Chanaichon, accompanied by his lawyer Chalermchai Laisakul, surrendered to Pol Colonel Ratchapol Chanasrikhajorn, superintendent of the Khlong 5 police station.

He posted Bt100,000-worth of assets as deposit for bail release.

Power leak from neon sign blamed for baby girl’s death

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Power-leak-from-neon-sign-blamed-for-baby-girls-de-30241924.html

The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

Electric shocks that killed a two-year-old girl in Trang’s Yan Ta Khao district on August 7 stemmed from a power leakage from a neon sign placed over an automated teller machine, police said yesterday.

Citing an electrical engineer’s report, Pol Major Saroj Chongrak of Yan Ta Khao police said the ATM was linked to a nearby gas station’s power system. After all signs there were turned on, a power leakage from the sign short-circuited on the metal machine and shocked the girl when she touched it.

Police have interviewed seven witnesses, including some who suffered electric shocks on the previous night, and will soon summon the gas station owner for information.

No charges have yet been laid and Saroj said the case would take another one or two weeks to conclude.

Flooding Hits Mae Hong Son, Causes Death

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Flooding-Hits-Mae-Hong-Son-Causes-Death-30241925.html

The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

Heavy downpours on the Thai-Myanmar border caused a flash flood in Mae Hong Son province yesterday that killed one farmer and left another missing.

The flood, which occurred in tambon Pang Moo of Muang district at 1.30am yesterday, also damaged some farmlands and a bridge at the entrance of the Buddha Barami Lok Udom monastery.

Out of four people swept away by flood torrents, officials retrieved the body of 40-year-old De (last name unknown) from under a pile of splintered wood and rescued two farmers aged 20 and 55 from a nearby hill, whilst the 53-year-old man remained missing.

Video clip about cruelly-treated elephants prompts probe

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Video-clip-about-cruelly-treated-elephants-prompts-30241926.html

The Nation August 28, 2014 1:00 am

Police and soldiers are investigating after a video about cruel treatment of elephants in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district yesterday went viral on the Internet.

Hat Yai police station superintendent Pol Col Passagorn Klunwarn led a police-army team to inspect a makeshift shelter of elephants and mahouts in Kaew Sawang Community area in Tambon Khlong Hae.

One female elephant and two mahouts were found at the shelter and they were able to present the elephant-ownership documents. Police took the men into custody and collected the documents for further investigation, pending the livestock development office or related agencies’ inspection of the animal.

Passagorn said after the video of men beating elephant spread on the Internet, police immediately launched investigation to look for the elephant and the culprits. So far police investigation four makeshift shelters in Hat Yai and they could all present documents, so police were waiting for confirmations from related authority before continuing the investigation, he added.

Taiwan seeks help in finding murder suspect

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Taiwan-seeks-help-in-finding-murder-suspect-30241938.html

ASIA NEWS NETWORK

The China Post
Asia News Network August 28, 2014 1:00 am

TAIWAN’S CRIMINAL Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday said it had asked its Thai counterpart for help in tracking down Hsieh Yuan-hsin, a key suspect in the murder of billionaire Shih Chia-chin.

According to police, Hsieh, Shih’s driver, allegedly abducted and killed his employer and abandoned the body. Hsieh’s two alleged accomplices – Lin Chih-hsiung, 31, and Cheng Ching-ta, 26 – were arrested on Monday night. Police believe that Hsieh fled to Thailand on August 18 using a forged passport – which he created by pasting his own photo into his cousin’s passport.

Prosecutors in the Taiwanese city of Taichung said they suspected that Hsieh had two escape plans – using his own passport to fly to Hong Kong or using a forged passport to flee to Thailand.

The CIB said it had confirmed with Thai police that Hsieh entered Thailand with his fake passport, adding that it suspected Hsieh was still in Thailand but might move on to Cambodia or Myanmar.

The passport used by Hsieh was cancelled immediately after Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs was notified of the case.

Hsieh was found to have a bank account in Hong Kong and had allegedly been to the city in May, CIB said yesterday, adding that it was still figuring out these facts’ relevance to the case.

In response to speculation that there may a fourth suspect in the murder, as recently discovered surveillance footage shows that Hsieh bought four lunchboxes on the day before the abduction took place, prosecutors said there was no reason to assume so.

The two alleged accomplices refused to answer questions after being arrested late on Mondy. Hence, the prosecutors carried out questioning yesterday morning. The pair confessed to participating in the kidnapping of Shih, but denied killing the victim, prosecutors said.

They claim to have assisted Hsieh in tying up the victim while Hsieh took all of Shih’s valuables. The three parted after Hsieh gave each of them NT$20,000 (Bt21,000), prosecutors said.

Shih was allegedly abducted by Hsieh on August 18 after being picked up at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei.

The suspects then called Shih’s family and demanded a ransom of NT$50 million. The victim was later found dead with more than 20 puncture wounds in his back in a mountainous area on the night of August 24, police said.

Bomb threat confirmed on AirAsia flight

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย-ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bomb-threat-confirmed-on-AirAsia-flight-30241939.html

AVIATION

August 28, 2014 1:00 am

A DEPUTY director of Phuket International Airport yesterday confirmed that there was a telephoned threat of a bomb on a plane operated by AirAsia, which landed safely at the airport on Tuesday.

Kanputt Mungklasisi said his office had filed a complaint with police after a caller claimed there was an explosive on AirAsia Flight 3003 that left Bangkok for Phuket.

His statement contradicted his boss; director Pratuang Sornkam said on Tuesday that the so-called bomb threat on the AirAsia flight was only an emergency drill that nobody had been informed about.

Kanputt was speaking at a press briefing after chairing a meeting of security officials as well as navy officers about the bomb threat. Initial investigation showed the threat was highly likely to have been aimed at creating a disturbance and the caller could have been an insider or employee of companies operating inside the airport.

The caller may have been affected by new measures to rearrange the airport, he said.

He added that the investigation would take into consideration possible problems of Thai national soccer players who were among the passengers of the flight. The team, led by coach Kiatisak Senamuang, is scheduled to play warm-up matches against Myanmar, Phuket Football Club and Qatar in preparation for the Asian Games in South Korea.

Security measures at the airport will be strengthened, including checking on individuals and items to ease concerns among the public including tourists. The Navy will send members to take part in the security teams, Kanputt said.

The bomb threat was made after the flight left Don Mueang International Airport. Phuket Airport received the call at 12.10pm.

After the plane landed, the Phuket Airport authorities initiated emergency procedures including parking the aircraft in an isolated area, evacuating the 168 passengers and searching their luggage.

As a precaution, the return flight of the Airbus A330-200 from Phuket to Don Mueang was delayed from 12.50pm to 3.08pm.

Kanputt said his office planned to hold emergency exercises this week but Tuesday’s incident was not part of those.