Colonel, doctor accused of B60m medical fraud at veterans’ hospital

Eight arrests were made as a result of an investigation into the selling of prescription drugs that were sold unlawfully.

Police arrest an unidentified suspect in the veterans’ hospital medical fraud case in Bangkok on Wednesday morning. (Police photo)
On Wednesday night, officers in Bangkok detained an unidentified suspect in the case of medical scam involving soldiers ‘ hospitals. ( Photo of the police )

A retired captain and a physician have been detained by the police at the Veterans General Hospital for allegedly eying money from people who have purchased overpriced drugs worth about 60 million ringgit.

Early on Wednesday night, officers conducted raids on 17 areas in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Lop Buri, and Prachin Buri, and the two ladies were taken into custody.

According to Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ), six additional suspects were also taken into custody during the raids that came to a close to a month-long investigation.

Col Kanyarat Jitprasong, 59, and Dr. Barinda Ujawathee were detained by police at their individual residences in the Kiakkai and Lat Phrao 71 Road in Bangkok.

Both of the women were employed by Bangkok’s Veterans General Hospital. Prior to this, Col. Kanyarat had left Phramongkutklao Hospital, which was close to the soldiers ‘ hospital.

Col Kanyarat reportedly organized for Lop Buri state residents to visit Dr. Barinda for treatment at the Veterans General Hospital.

Dr. Barinda reportedly prescribed increased medication and misdiagnosed their illness. Before being resold at pharmacists in different regions, the medication was stored in a washing on Rama IV Road in Bangkok.

Authorities discovered 10.9 million ringgit in cash, land deeds, and misrepresented medical records on Wednesday after seizing significant amounts of illegal medications, including Pradaxa blood thinners.

Prior to now, Thailand’s Director-General of the War Veterans Organization, Gen Detnitit Luangngamkum, had reported to the authorities about health fraud he claimed had started in 2018.

The hospital’s health workers, according to Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat, ordered the medication, and a system of mediators, including Col Kanyarat, who recruited patients to come in for treatments. The latter was compensated for each prescription that was filled, along with substantial prizes for the community leaders.

The research revealed that the structure involved deceptive prescriptions for medications, frequently those for chronic conditions, including cheap foreign-made ones, which were then resold for a sizable profit.

According to investigators, Dr. Barinda accounted for nearly 29 % of all medical medicine orders over the course of the past seven years.

Additionally, authorities discovered that six out of the eleven pharmacies that were subject to investigation had potential links to unlawful actions, including selling controlled substances without authorized pharmacists present.

One unregistered developing was discovered as a pharmacy, according to the report.

The damage was estimated to be in the region of 60 million rmb, with about 40 million supposedly going into accounts held by Col. Kanyarat.

Sompraj Kenthaworn, 49, Capt Phawana Kenthaworn, 49, Suri Thiranutti, 50, Sompong Kitcharoenphaisal, 53, Tinnakorn Chanmuang, 49, and Apinya Jorjarat, 56, were among the various six offenders detained. Four more suspects have been called in to make the costs.

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LPG tanker aground on Koh Lan beach, Pattaya

Officials on boats inspect the grounded LPG tanker at Sangwan beach on Koh Larn, off Pattaya in Chon Buri. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
Officials on vessels inspect the LPG ship that is grounded off Pattaya in Chon Buri at Sangwan shore on Koh Larn. ( Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong )

An moved LPG cargo sank early on Tuesday morning on a Koh Lan beach and landed on rocks. &nbsp,

There were no information of a spill or leak being found or of any injuries being reported. &nbsp,

The vehicle has been subjected to an inspection by Marine and Coastal Resources Administration Office 2 and various organizations. &nbsp,

The NP Bankpakong, a liquid petroleum oil tanker, slammed onto the stones at Sangwan Beach, on Koh Lan in tambon Na Klua of Bang Lamung area, close to the larger Ta Waen shore. There are numerous biological coral reefs in the waters there. &nbsp,

The vehicle was no carrying any goods, according to a supply on the inspection team.

The ship was scheduled to insert at Map Ta Phut interface in Rayong province on Monday evening after leaving Bang Pakong in Chachoengsao state around 10pm. &nbsp,

The ship ran aground about 2.25am on Tuesday, according to the user, SC Group Holding. It expressed regret and said it accepted complete accountability for the event, which it acknowledged was caused by on-duty staff members.

The statement read,” We are ready to provide our full cooperation to the appropriate companies to investigate the incident and will pursue all legal treatments,” the statement continued.

The damaged coral reef was being looked after by investigators from the Marine and Coastal Resource Centre in the Eastern Gulf of Thailand. According to an official, legitimate action would be taken if destruction was discovered.

The company promised to pay compensation for any losses caused by the tug’s failure to shift the ship from the cliffs as soon as possible. &nbsp,

The business once more stated that no oil or substance leaks had been found.

The NP Bankpakong tanker is found stranded on the rocks at Sangwan beach on Koh Larn in tambon Na Klua. There were no gas or oil leaks. The collision caused no casualties

On Wednesday, the NP Bankpakong tanker was seen and is still grounded on the rocks at Sangwan Beach in Pattaya’s Na Klua ( Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong ).

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House votes down censure motion against PM

The House convenes to vote on the censure motion against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Wednesday morning. (Screenshot from Thai Parliament channel)
On Wednesday night, the House appoints to voting on the action to rebuke former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. ( Screenshot taken from the Thai Parliament channel )

During its short session on Wednesday morning, the House voted down the Opposition’s disapproval movement against Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

487 House members were present at 10am to begin the program, according to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

By 319 to 162, with seven abstentions, the House casts a vote against the action. Mr. Wan made the announcement regarding the voting results and immediately ended the session.

On Monday and Tuesday, the reprimand movement was debated. The opposition claimed that the prime minister lacked the political will, age, and information necessary for the job.

Opposition MPs claimed that her government had not addressed pressing issues like the high cost of energy and land prices and had continued to implement its flyer policy despite warnings that it would not be able to effectively boost the economy.

The Opposition cited instances that, it claimed, showed the prime minister giving investigators and reporters incorrect or useless solutions. One instance occurred next November at the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Bangkok, where the prime minister spoke.

The prime minister appeared to avoid bringing up questions about crucial economic problems, according to Ms. Paetongtarn’s statement that a solid baht would gain Thai exports.

Opposition MPs claimed that her partnership state was unfairly influenced by her parents and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Even the opposition inquired as to whether the prime minister had fabricated rumors about her husband’s health. Instead of serving his prison sentence, he was declared critically ill and spent the night in a private clinic at the Police General Hospital.

The opposition sparked concerns about the family’s ownership of the land used to make up the Snowy golf destination and her understanding of billion-dollar stocks from family purchased with promissory information and without paying gift tax.

Additionally, Ms. Paetongtarn’s strategy for creating leisure complexes with licensed casinos received questions.

The criticism warned the prime minister that this plan may cause a grave problems for the country and have a significant effect on the populace.

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North and Northeast most dust polluted regions

Wildfire in the northern province of Lamphun on March 18. (Photo supplied)
Wildfires broke out on March 18 in the northeastern state of Lamphun. ( Photo provided )

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ) reports that over the past 24 hours, ultrafine dust has been found in the North, the Northeast, and some parts of other regions.

Gistda discovered at 7 a.m. that 43 provinces had unsafe levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and less in diameter ( PM2.5 ) and red ( hazardous-to-health levels of the dust were found in 18 northern and northeastern provinces ). The safe amount determined by the government is 37.5 microgrammes per square meter of air in 24 hours.

Bueng Kan, which had the highest level, at 154.8 % g/m3, was followed by 138.9 % in Nakhon Phanom, 114.2 in Nong Khai, and 104.4 % in Sakon Nakhon. These regions are all located in the Northeast.

Individuals in 14 other provinces even faced dark ranges of PM2.5 from 75.9 to 92.2µg/m³.

Loei, Mukdahan, Nan, Udon Thani, Lamphun, Phayao, Kalasin, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Lampang, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, and Yasothon were indescending attempt of the sand rates.

In 25 provinces, PM2.5 levels ranged from 39.1 to 73.3 % ( starting to affect health ).

In descending purchase, Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, Maha Sarakham, Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Uttaradit, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Tak, Si Sa Ket, Phetchabun, Surin, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, Trat, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Satun, Kanchanaburi, Chai Nat

In Bangkok and 32 regions, including Ayutthaya, Chumphon, Krabi, Nakhon Pathom, Phangnga, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Songkhla, and Surat Thani, mild air quality and PM2.5 ranges from 26.4 to 36.5 g/m3 were found.

Samut Prakan was the only state with a good air quality at 7 a.m., with a PM2.5 levels of 24. 9 g/m3.

On Wednesday night, the Gistda image shows unsafe levels of PM2.5 in red and orange in the North and the Northeast.

On Wednesday night, the Gistda image shows unsafe levels of PM2.5 in red and orange in the North and the Northeast.

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Transport agencies beef up services for Songkran Festival

Increasing numbers of visitors expected at Songkran

Outbound travellers are pictured at the passenger terminal of Suvarnabhumi airport during the Songkran festival last year. Varuth Hirunyatheb
During the Songkran event last year, inbound travelers were pictured at the Suvarnabhumi airport’s customer switch. Viruth Hirunyatheb

Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the minister of transportation, has given instructions to all important organizations to get ready for a flurry of visitors to the approaching Songkran Festival.

According to Mr. Suriya, 16.32 million private vehicles are expected to travel through Bangkok over the festival’s duration on March 1st, with 7.01 million using routes and roads, and 9.31 million using expressways.

Trucks, trains, boats, and airplanes are among the round 15.84 million people who are tipped to use public transportation.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand ( CAAT ) has been given the task of working with Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport and coordinating with six airlines, including Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet, to stop the issue of overpriced tickets.

According to Mr. Suriya, there will be an additional 124 private flights with 25, 000 more tickets during the time, Mr. Suriya said. Additionally, if purchased before March 20, tickets from Bangkok to 11 well-known domestic routes will also be reduced by 30 %.

The State Railway of Thailand is currently preparing to provide 758, 024 people over the same time frame.

From Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Sila At, and Yala, it does offer 26 additional train service on five roads.

The Department of Land Transport anticipates using international bus services on average 120, 000 people a time. The Transportation Company anticipates running 5, 000 visits per day, with a peak on April 11 and a passenger count of about 130, 000.

There will be about 1,500 additional trucks.

Toll costs may be waived on some expressways and motorways to assist drivers.

The Burapha Withi and Kanchanapisek motorways will temporarily be exempt from April 11 through April 15 while Si Rat, Chaloem Maha Nakhon, and Udon Ratthaya may experience taxes on April 11 and 15.

Additionally, the Department of Highways ( DoH ) will not charge any fees for Motorway No. From April 11 to April 17, Motorway No 9 and Bangkok-Ban Chang.

No. Motorway 6 ( Bang Pa-In to Nakhon Ratchasima ) and No. During the festival, 81 ( Bang Yai to Kanchanaburi ) will open.

During the holiday season, Highway No. 1 will be maintained by the Department of Rural Roads and Exat, and the DoH, Department of Rural Roads and Exat will maintain appropriate city lights. For safety and convenience, people should use Route 35 ( Rama II Road ) between April 10 and April 17.

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Trat buoyed by tourist traffic as Songkran nears

During the approaching Water Festival, Trat state, including the well-known resort area Koh Chang, is anticipating high occupancy rates at its hotels and various tourist lodging.

The Thai New Year’s festival Songkran runs from April 12 to April 16 this time.

The eastern county has seen a rise in both domestic and foreign tourists since December, according to Thaweesak Wongwilat, the Trat Tourism Association’s deputy head.

He noted that around 40 % of foreigners spend seven to fourteen days in the province, up from their previous year, with an average stay longer than that of last year.

Over 80 % of hotel rooms in Koh Chang, located 30 days off the Trat beach, were booked in advance of Songkran, he claimed.

The Thin Lai festival, a crucial component of the Songkran celebrations, is one of the island’s attractions in addition to its natural beauty.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand ( TAT ) recently ran a tourism campaign featuring Koh Chang. The area has been a target for more tour operators and influential people in Europe, according to Mr. Thaweesak, and a recent visit by Omani tourists has also improved its leads and proved to be very profitable.

Tourism numbers have increased rapidly in the first quarter and does continue to increase through Songkran, according to Korakot Opas, chairman of the TAT’s Trat Office.

He estimated that the province’s 11, 000 areas would have an average occupancy rate of 82 %, with travelers staying an average of 1.98 night and paying about 7,107 baht per day.

This is anticipated to bring in up to 200 million rmb over the course of the event.

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Uyghur row triggers bust-up

In response to the MP’s condemnation of the president’s imprisonment of the Uyghurs to China, deputy prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai has described Kannavee Suebsaeng as a “big hypocrite.”

During the parliament’s condemnation discussion with Mr. Kannavee from the FAIR Party on Monday night, Mr. Phumtham was brought up the recent controversy over the repatriation of 40 Rohingya detainees to China, accusing the government of staging a drama and taking sides abroad.

The Uyghurs ‘ imprisonment was criticized worldwide. When you lie in Thailand, it is awful enough. When you lie on the global level, it’s even worse,” said Mr. Kannavee.

He claimed that the government lacked a steadfast approach on this matter and was unable to adopt a foreign policy that would save Thailand from global politics in the twenty-first era.

Mr. Phumtham, even the defense minister, responded that Mr. Kannavee’s claims were fictitious because they were made by someone who had no prior experience in charge of a nation.

You accused the government of producing the play, so I’d like to use your admission that you’re a great liar, according to Mr. Phumtham. Don’t say that my words are meaningless, kindly.

He claimed that Thailand had three options regarding the Uyghur issue: keeping them imprisoned on suspicion of unlawful passage, sending them to a third nation, or returning them to Xinjiang.

The Tamils were held in custody for 11 years, and previous governments were unable to reach a choice. Additionally, according to Mr. Phumtham, no country has previously granted them a refugee position.

Additionally, he added that he was prepared to disclose the proof that each of them was a citizen of China.

The deputy prime minister said the foreign affairs minister of Thailand did travel there in the next few weeks, so it would be easier to tell if something were being staged, regardless of whether or not his recent visit to Xinjiang had been made.

He claimed that the Thai embassy in Beijing is keeping an eye on the condition.

In response to Mr. Kannavee’s speech, Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said that Thailand didn’t taking sides and that it wanted a proper balance in international relations.

In the current political environment, Thailand’s decision to address its issues may not appeal to everyone, but it must be in Thailand’s best interests, he said.

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Paetongtarn lays down tax challenge

The criticism is welcome to ask for an investigation into home transactions, according to PM.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks to reporters prior to the opening of the no-confidence debate at parliament in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Reuters)
Prior to the start of the no-confidence conversation at the Bangkok parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses writers. ( Photo: Reuters )

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pushed the opposition to file a complaint with the Revenue Department on Tuesday asking them to stop paying the 218.7 million ringgit estate taxes.

Ms. Paetongtarn told an audience of writers outside parliament that she was unconcerned with the opponent’s prepare to file a complaint with the tax agency and launch an ethics research.

” Go ahead and following the process so that everything is crystal obvious,” she urged. ” As for myself, I have often followed all the rules and restrictions. We welcome any inquiry. I knew when I entered elections that I would face inquiries.

Women’s Party MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn accused Ms. Paetongtarn of avoiding inheritance taxes of 218.7 million baht by&nbsp and accepting stocks for 4.43 billion ringgit from family members on Monday.

Bank notes were issued for pay, but Mr. Wiroj inquired as to why they did not specify a payment deadline and were interest-free.

The director-general of the Revenue Department, Pinsai Suraswadi, stated on Tuesday that the Civil and Commercial Code permits promissory notes to describe a repayment period and may or may not contain an interest rate.

However, it must be clearly stated on the word if interest is charged.

The owner is responsible for paying taxes when selling stock on the secondary market. According to Mr. Pinsai, salary is only recognized when a personal income tax is paid when it is paid in full in money.

Tax may get paid when the statement is paid in cash if shares are sold using bank information. In this situation, it is well known that Ms. Paetongtarn may receive a cash payment in 2026, which means that the recipient has factor this income into their 2026 tax calculations when preparing a return in 2027.

The receipt of the bank note does not affect the tax until it is received.

This type of revenue falls under Category 4, which is subject to withholding income at a liberal price and must also be taken into account in the citizen’s general progressive income tax analysis.

Mr. Pinsai emphasized that these revenue laws have been in place since before 1987. He continued,” The division has consistently applied the money rule in all circumstances.”

Mr. Wiroj responded by saying that the government is awaiting more information from the top regarding the note and the tax payment for the upcoming year.

The Revenue Department needs to know whether such deals are commonplace in organization as the top claimed and whether they are legitimate for dealing in anonymity.

He stated that he intends to fully address the problem to the Revenue Department for immediate clarity.

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Suriya denies secret rail deals

Opposition contends that concessionaires may profit from changes to the three-airport rail line contract.

Passengers prepare to board an Airport Rail Link train to travel to Suvarnabhumi Airport. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
Teach people getting ready to table an Airport Rail Link station to the Suvarnabhumi Airport. ( Photo: Somchai Poomlard )

Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the minister of transportation, has refuted the opponent’s claims that the state is attempting to negotiate two” very offers” for more than 100 billion ringgit with the concessionaire for the delayed high-speed rail project connecting Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao flights.

The orator made an effort to defame the facts by using his own thoughts to deceive the audience, according to Mr. Suriya.

He was responding to claims made by Surachet Pravinvongvuth, a list-MP of the criticism People’s Party, on Tuesday during the debate over the firing of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Mr. Surachet claimed that the Paetongtarn authorities had renegotiated the agreement signed on October 24, 2019, at the expense of the taxpayers.

The State Railway of Thailand ( SRT ) and Asia Era One, a consortium led by the Charoen Pokphand ( CP ) Group, signed the original contract in 2019. The joint investment plan included a concession agreement to run the Airport Rail Link ( ARL ).

According to Mr. Surachet, the two super deals are being brokered in favor of a group he described as” a gigantic group of travel buyers.”

The government has agreed to pay the concessionaire up to 159.8 billion ringgit as part of the proposed contract correction, which could result in significant losses for the government, he claimed.

Additionally, the MP claimed that the government may request from the SRT to award the concessionaire the right to use and develop for up to 50 years a story of 141 rai in Bangkok’s Makkasan and another 25 ra of SRT property in Chon Buri’s Si Racha area.

According to Mr. Suriya, those ideas have not yet been finalized. He claimed that the Office of the Attorney General and other state firms are still under investigation.

The minister even refuted claims that he had been involved in deal disputes with the task linking the three flights, claiming that it had been delayed for years by previous governments.

Asia Era One requested payment for the Covid-19 epidemic because of declining customer numbers on the Airport Rail Link. In 2021, the contract’s update was approved by the Prime Minister’s cabinet, Prayut Chan-o-cha.

However, despite the pandemic, much progress was made, in large part due to delays in the seizing and moving property needed to construct the rail line.

The SRT and other organizations are also reviewing any more changes to the deal. The deal is anticipated to be submitted to the cabinet for final approval second month, when construction would then be finished in May or June.

The three-airport road series, which was actually scheduled to open in 2024, is then anticipated to go into operation in 2029 or 2030.

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Chiang Mai rejoins list of top 10 polluted cities

Wildfires on mountains in Chiang Mai as seen from the cockpit of a helicopter deployed for fire control last week. (Photo supplied)
Wildfires on Chiang Mai mountains can be seen from the cockpit of a plane that was used for flames control next week. ( Photo provided )

As wildfires continue to burn in Chiang Mai, the capital of this northwestern province is currently ranked as the eighth-worst city in the world for weather pollution on Tuesday. This is because of Chiang Mai’s air quality, which is still impenetrable.

Local information claim the town was blanketed by heavy dust from rising PM2.5 fine allergens on Tuesday night, making locals have to wear face masks while out and about.

This problem, according to city government Nirat Phongsittithaworn, is a seasonal one, made worse by local hotspots and cross-border haze. In response to the crisis, officials have increased light control actions and public support efforts.

According to Mr. Nirat, impacted residents are advised to get assistance from local public health hospitals, stay informed, and follow authorities instructions.

In an region between the Ban Chang and Sob Poeng subdistricts, fire spots were discovered in the Mae Taeng area. A 7-rai agrarian story located in a designated forest in Sob Poeng was investigated by authorities, who discovered numerous burned traces on the plot.

The landlord reportedly fled the scene.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed issues about the worsening air pollution in Bangkok and pledged to make weather quality control a top priority.

She also suggested that the matter be brought up in Asean conversations, noting that some of Thailand’s PM2.5 pollution comes from burns in neighboring nations.

Cooperation at all levels is still required as the condition is expected to worsen in May, according to authorities, despite current control efforts that have reduced pollution levels.

All legal staff members officially committed to making a country with cleaner air by cooperating with neighboring nations to tackle cross-border smog.

Each government has been given certain responsibilities to deal with pollution.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has given more money to manage fire, while the Interior Ministry reported over 133 prosecutions for waste violations in the last three decades.

According to Ms. Paetongtarn,” the government will continue to do its job, as heat pollution control is a responsibility shared by everyone.”

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