Barkar Nash – Page 1006

Myanmar drug smugglers caught, with 342,000 speed pills

On: June 16, 2023

Army rangers arrest two Myanmar men and seize more than 300,000 speed pills from them along the Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province late on Thursday night. (Photo: Pha Muang task force)

CHIANG MAI: Two Myanmar drug smugglers were arrested and more than 300,000 speed pills were seized from them along the Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Dao district of this northern border province on Thursday.

Rangers from the army’s Pha Muang task force spotted three suspected men with rucksacks walking along the border near Suan Lamyai border crossing in tambon Muang Na on Thursday night. The soldiers signalled them to stop for a search, but the men immediately fled. The officers pursued and subsequently captured two of them, both of whom were Myanmar nationals.

Seized from them were two modified rucksacks containing 342,000 methamphetamine pills. The suspects were handed over to Na Wai police station in Chiang Dao for legal action, said the arresting team.

Security officers have been placed on full alert along border areas around the clock, following intelligence gathering that small groups of drug smugglers are trying to smuggle illicit drugs into Thailand via natural border crossings.

Packs of speed pills are seized from the two Myanmar drug smugglers, seated, along the border in Chiang Dao district of Chiang Mai province. (Photo: Pha Muang task force)

NACC red flags local student lunches

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Food billed as being substandard for kids

The quality of state-subsidised school lunches in Huai Yot district of Trang province is found to be substandard and lacking nutritional value, according to the results of a check by the provincial National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) office. (Photo: Capture from Workpoint News 23 Facebook)

Trang: The quality of state-subsidised school lunches in Huai Yot district has been found to be substandard and lacking nutritional value, according to the results of a check by the provincial National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) office.

An NACC team assigned by provincial office director-general Bundit Khanasuwan visited a school in tambon Paak Jaem, where students were reportedly served poor-quality lunches.

The school offers classes to 250 students in kindergarten to Matthayom 3 (Grade 9).

It is supervised by Trang Primary Education Service Area 2.

The government provides a budget of 22 baht per student lunch. The budget is disbursed via the Paak Jaem Sub-district Administrative Office to a hired cook.

However, it was reported that the NACC found the cook prepared the lunches onsite, using the school’s electricity and running water, despite a contract stipulating that meals must be prepared outside and be brought to the school ready to eat.

The agency said it discovered the school had also made a record of the cook “donating” 300 baht per day towards water and electricity costs.

On the day of the NACC inspection, the school wrote to the board that each student’s lunch consisted of stir-fried noodles with vegetables and pork, chicken soup and a banana.

When the lunch was distributed, the portion of pork and chicken was small, with guava substituted for bananas, Yutthana Wimonmuang, an NACC senior official in Trang, said.

The inspectors said students there were not receiving sufficient nutrition due to a lack of protein.

The school director, identified as Ms Arunsri, told the inspectors that teachers take turns each day designing lunch menus and evaluating quality.

The menus are prepared in accordance with government guidelines, which accounts for the student portions, she said, adding vegetables are regularly used. Students are offered fruit four days a week and dessert once a week, she said.

Mr Yutthana said the school must ensure the cook does not under-spend the budget or cut corners.

The office looked for any signs of corruption in the lunch budget, he added.

iTV clarifies discrepancy in meeting minutes and video

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

‘Media’ shares still haunting PM bid

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat shakes hands with Federation of Thai SMES president Sangchai Theerakulwanich at a meeting with representatives of the federation on Tuesday. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

ITV, the company at the centre of a media shareholding controversy involving Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, has issued a statement clarifying a discrepancy between the official minutes from its annual shareholders’ meeting and a video of the April 26 event.

It said the part of the written report stating that “the company is still conducting business activities as stipulated in the registration” does not intend to imply it is still engaged in the media business.

“Instead, it is meant to convey that the firm is operating in accordance with the objectives stipulated in the company registration, and it is not a defunct company,” said the statement.

The company said the meeting minutes are not a word-by-word transcription but a summary of questions and answers concerning the company’s business activities.

iTV has further said that its revenue, as shown in the financial statement for 2022, originated from investments and interests.

As for its financial document for the first quarter of this year, which is posted on its website, it is a draft for internal use and is non-binding.

According to the statement, the meeting of shareholders and submission of financial documents and the company’s operations are part of the business routine and are carried out in line with the law.

The statement came after Executive Director Kim Siritaweechai ordered iTV committee members to launch an investigation into the minutes of the shareholders’ meeting.

Mr Pita, who stands accused of holding shares in iTV, has alleged that there are attempts to “revive” iTV in a bid to block him from becoming prime minister through his shareholding in the media company.

Under the current constitution, individuals with media holdings are barred from running for office.

The MFP leader could be disqualified as an MP if he is found to have applied to be a list-MP candidate knowing he might not have been eligible.

Many MFP supporters believe that iTV ceased to operate as a media company, which would enable Mr Pita to avoid legal disqualification.

The discrepancy between what was in the video clip and in the minutes has triggered a fierce debate over whether the company was still functioning as a media company.

Critics have argued that despite iTV having stopped its television broadcasting long ago, it has since made an income from business in other branches of the media.

Bureau chief tied to illegal oil incident

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The director of the Excise Department’s Prevention and Suppression Bureau was involved in a case of illegally transported oil detected by the Highway Police on June 7, according to the results of an internal probe.

The director, whose name was not given, was caught after he reportedly called people at the Highway Police Department (HPD), asking them to let a driver go and release his tanker that had been stopped for an inspection on Phetkasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan after reports surfaced claiming that thousands of litres of oil were being illegally transported.

HPD staff refused to comply, according to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), who is also the acting HPD commander.

The director reportedly asked to contact Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat directly, but Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat declined.

Eaknithi Nithithanprapas, the director-general, ordered the investigation to be wrapped up in seven days from June 7.

The results showed the director was suspended on Tuesday and will be punished for a serious disciplinary violation, said deputy director-general Kriengkrai Pattanaporn.

The Excise Department also required the HPD to provide additional information that might help with the prosecution of any of the department’s employees involved in the case.

Evidence required from the HPD also included a voice file recorded by anti-crime activist Atchariya Ruangratanapong that linked the issue to a higher-ranking department officer nicknamed “Yoot”.

Both the department and the Finance Ministry will decide on the punishment, added Mr Kriengkrai.

RTAF plans to buy 3 fighter jets from Sweden: source

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to procure three fighter aircraft from Sweden after the US recently refused to sell F-35A fighter jets, an RTAF source said on Thursday.

The RTAF plans to procure three Gripen jet fighters from Sweden to add to its fleet in Wing 7 in Surat Thani, the source said on Thursday.

The air force had bought a fleet of 12 Gripen fighters based at Wing 7 in Surat Thani but lost one in a crash.

Each Gripen fighter aircraft costs around 2 billion baht.

The Swedes will also update a radar system the RTAF uses, which will cost around 4 billion baht as it has been in service for a decade, the source said.

The source said RTAF commander-in-chief ACM Alongkorn Wannarot had not yet formed a panel to study and select which fighter aircraft can replace the kingdom’s F-16 fighter jets that have been in service for three decades.

Although the US recommended the RTAF consider procuring 4.5-generation fighter jets, namely F-16 block 70 and F-15 aircraft, the budget for fiscal year 2024 is not enough to make a contractual obligation for such a procurement.

The source said the US recommended the 4.5-generation fighter jets as suitable for the RTAF in preparation for future procurement of F-35As.

It was reported that the US requires a minimum of 10 years to process its supply of F-35A jets to a new buyer before delivery. As part of that, the buying country needs to install specific infrastructure, training and security systems, as the jets are designed with new technical and operational concepts and possess stealth capabilities.

In addition, the logistics, inventory and management systems for F-35A jets differ from those of the F-16, making it impossible for the two types of fighter jets to share infrastructure.

The matter will be reviewed by a new commander-in-chief, who will be appointed on Oct 1.

Govt must brace for El Nino

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Low rainfall forecast for the next five years

Experts are warning Thailand to brace for unusually low average rainfall that may lead to drought as a result of the El Nino weather pattern.

Therefore, the government must take proactive action with a comprehensive water management plan to minimise its impact, they say.

The Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) yesterday held a conference on water management in the face of El Nino from this year onward.

The event was attended by researchers and officials from relevant agencies, where they discussed climate change, water resource management and ways to deal with problems and challenges that may arise.

A research team sponsored by the TSRI yesterday said a study projecting weather from now to 2028 shows a high possibility of a long period of lower-than-average rainfall.

Chalump Oonariya, a researcher from the Meteorological Department, said the study predicts that the effects of El Nino will be felt over the next five years as rainfall drops below the average rate.

Severe drought is predicted in the South in 2025, and extensive drought would affect large areas in 2028, Mr Chalump said.

However, a study is currently being conducted into the relationship between rainfall, streamflow and soil moisture to prepare for the drought, he said.

Kanoksri Sarinnapakom, head of the climate and weather department at the Hydro-Informatics Institute, said El Nino is expected to last over the next few years, leading to less rainfall and more drought, and stressed the need to prepare for uncertainties.

Chaiyapong Thepprasit, head of the irrigation engineering department of Kasetsart University’s faculty of engineering, said his team had assessed the amount of water needed for storage during the 2023–2024 dry season by studying the water flow into the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province and Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit province.

It is estimated that the Bhumibol Dam will hold about 7.98 billion cubic metres of water, or 44% above the average amount over the past 23 years, while the Sirikit Dam will hold 3.21 billion cu/m, or 46% less than the average amount over the past 15 years.

Meanwhile, the amount of water from natural sources is expected to decline by 28%, he said. However, heavy rainfall is expected from next month to August, he said.

Mr Chaiyapong added that El Nino is unlikely to have severe impacts this year because the country has sufficient water supplies. However, the situation will worsen if low rainfall persists for an extended period.

Thanet Somboon, director of the Bureau of Water Management and Hydrology under the Department of Royal Irrigation, said water management during the dry season is difficult.

Despite drought, some farmers plant rice in areas covering more than 2.2 million rai, and the department had to discharge water from dams to help them, he said, adding the department had come up with measures to ensure sufficient water supplies for consumption and agriculture.

“We expect about 9 billion cu/m of water will be used and consumed next year,” he said. “We will ensure that there is enough water for consumption and the preservation of the ecological system.”

“We also plan to allocate 5 billion cu/m of water to the farming sector,” he added.

According to a new update from the World Meteorological Organization, the likelihood of El Nino developing later this year is increasing.

This would have the opposite impact on weather and climate patterns in many regions of the world to the long-running La Nina and would likely fuel higher global temperatures.

The unusually stubborn La Nina phenomenon has now ended after a three-year run, and the tropical Pacific is currently in an El Nino-Southern Oscillation (Enso)-neutral state (neither El Nino nor La Nina).

There is a 60% chance of a transition from Enso-neutral to El Nino from May–July 2023, and this will increase to about 70% in June–August and 80% between July and September.

Officials suspected in frozen fish case

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Seven people, including five officials, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the sale of fish seized from an undocumented vessel in 2019.

A joint force made up of police and officials from the Customs and Fisheries Department arrested the suspects, deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, said during a media briefing yesterday.

They were identified as Boonma Siritarangsri, ex-director of the Bangkok Port Customs Office; Mr Keerati, who oversaw the confiscated goods; and Ms Sudarat and Ms Panwad, members of a committee responsible for redistributing the confiscated fish; Ms Narumon, Ms Chayakorn and Mr Rattakorn.

The frozen fish, weighing 147 tonnes, were seized from a Somali vessel in 2019. Six of seven containers confiscated during the operation were sent to the Bangkok Port Customs Office, while the remaining one was kept at the Phra Samut Chedi Customs Office in Samut Prakan province, Pol Gen Surachate said.

Asked about the legality of the fish, he said those on the vessel failed to produce the permit required to import seafood from the Department of Fisheries.

The fish, valued at an estimated 300–400 million baht, were initially being held for sale or distribution to state officials and neighbouring communities as part of a rationing system.

However, authorities discovered that the fish had not been properly sold due to a fraudulent listing involving 96 alleged buyers.

The seized fish were found to have been sold to a single buyer, and the proceeds from the sale were not handed over to the state as required.

Police began tracing the money trail and honed in on seven suspects, who were then arrested for allegedly violating sections 157, 147 and 85 of the Criminal Code, said Pol Gen Surachate.

Section 157 deals with dereliction of duty, Section 147 deals with abuse of authority in the appropriation of funds, and Section 86 involves assisting any person to commit an offence.

Pol Gen Surachate said police investigators have already submitted a report and the indictments against the suspects.

Police are now widening the probe to look into allegations that a major fish agent in Samut Prakan sold some of the seized frozen fish to stalls at reduced prices.

Customs Department director-general Patchara Anuntasilpa and Phanthong Loykulnanta, adviser to the department’s development and tax collection management, were present at the briefing.

Ms Patchara said her department has set up a panel to take disciplinary action against the accused officials. Some have been charged with malfeasance and dereliction of duty, she said.

Pita weighs options to fight PM2.5

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

CHIANG MAI: A Move Forward Party (MFP)-led government will aim to have Chiang Mai as the location for an Asean centre aimed at tackling high levels of PM2.5 pollution.

Prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat discussed the matter yesterday with civil society groups as well as private and business sectors affected by the province’s long-overdue problem with pollution.

Mr Pita said there needs to be more local, national and international cooperation in addressing the issue, given its scale.

He talked about Asean’s cooperation plan to deal with international pollution problems in the region, which was signed in 2004, but nothing concrete has come from it yet.

“We can use the plan as it also states establishing an Asean centre to fight the region’s pollution. I will push for establishing the centre in Chiang Mai,” he said.

Mr Pita also promised to use the International Pollution Fund regarding the matter if he is the next prime minister. He added that a suitable set of laws, including the long-awaited Clean Air Act, must be in place.

According to three financial institutes’ assessments, pollution caused at least 10 billion baht in damage to the provincial economy, contrasting with an 85 million baht budget the authorities set aside each year to fight it.

Mr Pita said that since the issue has never been solved, such a budget appears to have been wasted.

He said one of the challenges is to restructure the budgeting process or allocate enough budget to help solve the problem.

Somphon Anurakwanapoom, a Mae Chaem civil network representative, said that air pollution needs to be fixed as fast as possible.

Mr Somphon said he hoped that Mr Pita’s commitment to solving it would continue.

Cops look into ‘TikTok’ scam gang’s online fraud

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Police are investigating a group of scammers posing as employees of the popular social media platform TikTok who conned a man into investing over 3.5 million baht in a bogus stock trading scheme.

The victim, identified only as Joke by the police, is known to be active on the social media platform. In a complaint filed with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau yesterday, he said the gang tricked him into sending 3.7 million baht over the course of several days.

Accompanied by lawyer Ronnarong Kaewpet, Joke said the gang reached out to him on his mobile phone early last month. The gang said as he had more than 1,000 followers on his TikTok account, he was eligible to take part in revenue-making supplementary activities.

At first, he turned down the offer but changed his mind later. The gang then gave him a list of clips to like on the video-sharing platform.

Joke said he was paid 15 baht for every clip he followed and liked. The pay went up over the course of a few weeks.

The gang later invited him to invest in its stock trading scheme. The minimum investment was set at 5,990 baht, but Joke said his exceeded a million baht each time. He ended up investing 3.7 million baht over three days.

He was promised a return he never received. He also lost the principal.

CCIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhonbancha said investigators were looking into the gang and warned people to be wary of investment offers online.

The CCIB receives about 700 complaints about cyber crimes daily, he added.

Pol Maj Gen Chusak Kanadnid, commander of the High-Tech Crime Division, said it would be difficult to go after money that has been wired to criminal gangs as it tends to be withdrawn from bank accounts quickly and laundered.

Police look into ‘TikTok’ scam gang’s online fraud

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Police are investigating a group of scammers posing as employees of the popular social media platform TikTok who conned a man into investing over 3.5 million baht in a bogus stock trading scheme.

The victim, identified only as Joke by the police, is known to be active on the social media platform. In a complaint filed with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau on Thursday, he said the gang tricked him into sending 3.7 million baht over the course of several days.

At first, he turned down the offer but changed his mind later. The gang then gave him a list of clips to like on the video-sharing platform.

Joke said he was paid 15 baht for every clip he followed and liked. The pay went up over the course of a few weeks.

He was promised a return he never received. He also lost the principal.

CCIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhonbancha said investigators were looking into the gang and warned people to be wary of investment offers online.

The CCIB receives about 700 complaints about cyber crimes daily, he added.

Barkar Nash (Page 1,006)