Barkar Nash (Page 942)

Suspect told police he wanted to earn extra money to look after 10-year-old daughter

The administrator of a Line chat group called “Little Angel” that contained over 1,000 child sex clips has been arrested in Sattahip district of Chon Buri.

The 29-year-old suspect, identified only as Abhisit, was apprehended at a house in tambon Na Jomtien on Saturday, Pol Col Kuekkong Disawat, superintendent Sub-division 5 of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD).

He was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court on Thursday on charges of possession of child pornography for making profit or involvement in producing child pornographic materials for trade.

Officers from the ATPD had earlier arrested another suspect accused of luring girls aged under 18 to perform sex acts that were recorded on video for dissemination on social media.

The officers extended the investigation and found that the videos were distributed via the “Little Angel” group, which contained more than 1,000 videos of underaged girls. The group collected membership fees starting from 100-300 baht per view.

A police informant later posed as a member of the chat group and found out who the administrator was, leading to the arrest of Mr Abhisit.

During questioning, Mr Abhisit admitted he had set up the chat group. He said he had purchased child sex videos from other Line groups.

He claimed he set up the chat group to collect membership fees because he just wanted to earn money to take care his 10-year-old daughter.

Police handed him over to investigators from the ATPD Sub-division 5 for further legal action.

67-acre Vane Court estate in Kent was home to King Prajadhipok after his abdication

A British mansion where King Prajadhipok lived in the late 1930s following his abdication from the throne has gone on the market for £5.5 million (240 million baht).

Vane Court, a 67-acre property that dates back to 1419, is located near the village of Biddenden in Kent, 70 kilometres southeast of London, according to the listing posted by the upmarket real estate agent Savills.

“While for those looking for a house with history, Vane Court’s prior use as a royal residence has truly left a mark on the home,” says Will Peppitt, head of sales for southeastern England at Savills. “One can now sleep in what was once the King of Siam’s bedroom or spend sunny afternoons beside the King’s Pond.” 

Savills says the 604-year-old mediaeval manor has been “thoughtfully restored” and features six bedrooms and four bathrooms. The timber-framed abode’s original entrance hall has been preserved on the ground floor, complete with an oak staircase and a south-facing drawing room with its own fireplace and wood burner.

The 67-acre grounds contain formal gardens, a separate sunken rose garden, a tennis court and a large heated swimming pool. The aptly named King’s Pond has its own bridge. 

“With transport links back into London conveniently nearby, we think that Vane Court will appeal to those looking for the perfect slice of country living in the garden of England,” said Mr Peppitt. 

Eton-educated King Prajadhipok ruled Siam from 1925 to 1935, a chaotic and revolutionary period. He and Queen Rambhai Barni began living at Vane Court in 1937. The villagers of Biddenden regarded the former king as “the squire” and invited him and his lady to open flower shows and other local events.

The couple enjoyed the tranquil life in England, savouring the countryside while walking their dogs, bicycling to shop in the village and watching ducks and fish swimming in their pond at home.

Tranquillity and peace were interrupted by the advent of World War II, and when Vane Court was requisitioned for war purposes, the royal couple  moved to a rented house at Virginia Water in Surrey, where Prajadhipok died of heart failure at age 47.

Some of the original oak timbers of the structure have been preserved. (Photo: Savills)

(Photo: Savills)

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has been re-elected as the Palang Pracharath Party leader, hours after stepping down from the position on Saturday morning.

Following the immediate resignation of Gen Prawit, who also serves as a caretaker deputy prime minister, the PPRP began the voting process to elect a new party leader and a 21-member executive board. 

Palang Pracharath MP Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn nominated Gen Prawit for the top post, and he was the sole candidate.

The unofficial voting results showed thT Gen Prawit made a comeback as the party leader. The five new deputy leaders elected are Santi Promphat, Paiboon Nititawan, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Wirat Rattanaset, and Trinuch Thienthong.

Capt Thamanat Prompow, a key figure of the PPRP and MP for Phayao, became the party’s secretary-general again. He, along with 20 other MPs under his control, had been ousted from the party last year for plotting against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Before the voting started, Mr Paiboon said, “Gen Prawit will remain in the party and will always look after it.” 

According to a party source, Gen Prawit did not attend the meeting.

This week, the election-winner Move Forward Party (MFP) stressed that it will not form a government with the PPRP and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party as its coalition partners, calling them “remnants of a dictatorship”.

Brother named chief adviser in move seen as paving the way for possible tie-up with Pheu Thai

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has been re-elected as the Palang Pracharath Party leader, hours after stepping down from the position on Saturday morning.

The resignation of Gen Prawit, who also serves as a caretaker deputy prime minister, was strictly a procedural move, as the party board was also obliged to step down under the rules. That set the stage for the voting process to elect a new party leader and a 21-member executive board.

Palang Pracharath MP Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn nominated Gen Prawit for the top post, and he was the sole candidate.

The unofficial voting results showed that Gen Prawit had made a comeback as the party leader. The five new deputy leaders elected are Santi Promphat, Paiboon Nititawan, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Wirat Rattanaset, and Trinuch Thienthong.

Gen Prawit’s younger brother Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon, an unelected senator and former national police chief, was also appointed as the party’s chief adviser. That move was seen as possibly paving the way for the PPRP to join a new government if a deal can be reached with the Pheu Thai Party, according to sources

Capt Thamanat Prompow, a key figure of the PPRP and MP for Phayao, became the party’s secretary-general again. He, along with 20 other MPs under his control, had been ousted from the party last year for plotting against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Before the voting started, Mr Paiboon said, “Gen Prawit will remain in the party and will always look after it.” 

According to a party source, Gen Prawit did not attend the meeting.

This week, the election-winner Move Forward Party (MFP) stressed that it will not form a government with the PPRP and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party as its coalition partners, calling them “remnants of a dictatorship”.

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), stepped down from his position on Saturday, creating an opportunity for a new executive board to take charge.

PPRP deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan on Saturday confirmed Gen Prawit’s resignation with immediate effect.

Speaking during the party’s general assembly Mr Paiboon told PPRP members that Gen Prawit tendered his resignation on Saturday morning.

“Gen Prawit will remain in the party and will always look after the party,” said the deputy leader.

The resignation of Gen Prawit, who also serves as a caretaker deputy prime minister, resulted in an automatic end to the PPRP’s executive board under his tenure, paving the way for the election of a new party leader and executives.

Mr Paiboon then called an election to seek a new party leader. During the meeting, Gen Prawit was nominated again as the party leader, and he was the sole candidate for the post.

According to a party source, Gen Prawit did not attend the meeting.

This week, the election-winner Move Forward Party (MFP) stressed that it will not form a government with the PPRP and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party as its coalition partners, calling them “remnants of a dictatorship”.

Prosperity predicted in birthday speech

His Majesty the King has urged all Thais to use their wisdom and judgement and set their mind on doing what is right not only for their own good but also the benefit of others in a speech marking his 71st birthday.

His Majesty the King grants a grand audience, or ‘Maha Samakhom’, to members of the royal family, senior government officials and dignitaries as they gather to wish him a happy birthday at the Amarindra Vinijaya Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace yesterday. Bureau of the Royal Household

In remarks delivered to his well-wishers at a grand audience, or Maha Samakhom, at the Amarindra Vinijaya Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, the King said working to bring about national prosperity is the most important task and will require good and smart governance as well as support from the entire nation.

“I wish that those of you who hold key positions in the main institutions and the people, through wisdom and judgement, set their mind on carrying out tasks that are good and right for themselves and the others. The results of these actions will lead to the prosperity of the nation and peace and happiness of the people,” he said.

His Majesty also expressed his appreciation and thanks for the birthday wishes conveyed to him by representatives of the royal family members and senior officials led by the parliament president, prime minister and the Supreme Court president.

In honour of the King’s birthday, the combined armed forces yesterday fired a 21-gun salute each while yellow-clad well-wishers gathered at designated places across the country to pay respect and wish the monarch a happy birthday.

Meanwhile, the grand reception, or Samosorn Sannibat, gala will be held today at Government House in honour of the King’s birthday, said deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek yesterday.

His Majesty has granted the government permission to host the night event, and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana will also attend the event, which starts at 7pm and will be broadcast live on television, she said.

About 1,888 pairs of guests have been invited, and they include political office holders, senior state officials and foreign diplomats, she said.

According to Ms Rachada, the government has put the final touches on the grand reception and appreciates the cooperation it received from both the state and private sectors, including the Fine Arts Department and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

She added that the reception will also feature a special khon Thai classical masked dance by performers from the Bunditpatanasilp Institute of Fine Arts and live orchestra music by Mahidol University’s College of Music.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of the Progressive Movement and key supporter of the Move Forward Party (MFP), has been questioned if he has made a political deal with Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party.

Assoc Prof Somchai Preechasinlapakun, who is a Chiang Mai University law scholar, said that Mr Thanathorn owes other MFP supporters a clear answer whether he had recently negotiated a deal with Thaksin in Hong Kong.

“[Mr Thanathorn] remains tight-lipped about this very question, and this will only shatter confidence in the MFP’s political direction,” said Assoc Prof Somchai, who stated he voted for MFP in the May 14 general election.

“As a citizen of Thailand, I expect to see a straightforward political development, not another political game being played through secret negotiations,” he said.

According to a Pheu Thai source, a political deal involving the forming of a new government was reached in Hong Kong between Mr Thanathorn and Thaksin, who has vowed to return to Thailand on Aug 10 after living in self-imposed exile for almost two decades.

Assoc Prof Somchai said if Mr Thanathorn didn’t go to Hong Kong, he needs to dismiss the rumour; but if he did go and was involved in negotiations, he must explain why.

Responding to media reports about the alleged Hong Kong deal, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an MFP list-MP, tweeted that he didn’t pay much attention to whether or not it was true.

“Even if I end up feeling like a fool when I realise I have been deceived and lost everything, my honesty and integrity will still be here with me. And I can still walk with my chin up and face anyone as usual,” he said on Twitter.

“And even if this mission is doomed to fail because of betrayal, that will still be better than making it fail now due to distrust within the team.”

Rangsiman Rome, another key list-MP for the MFP, declined to comment on the rumour, saying he wasn’t in a position to comment as Mr Thanathorn doesn’t hold a formal position in the MFP.

Attachak Satayanuruk, a history scholar at Chiang Mai University, said he thinks Thaksin’s announced return to Thailand is part of a deal between him, Pheu Thai and a side that the scholar described as the ruling class.

These sides are in a deal due to their mutual fears that the MFP’s reformist movement could threaten their political security, said Mr Attachak.

As a part of the deal, Thaksin will look for ways to divide the supporters of Pheu Thai and MFP as much as possible so as to stall the MFP’s reformist movement, said Mr Attachak.

The head of Khao Kho National Park has been ordered transferred to an inactive post, and an inquiry launched after several resorts were found encroaching on a forest reserve in Phetchabun province.

On Thursday, a snap inspection was conducted, led by the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and Khao Kho National Park chief Prasan Iadsang.

It focused on Pha Hua Sing (lion head cliff), which is part of the park.

They found two resorts illegally occupying park territory. The first one was Phu Thap Boek Suansawan, situated about 200 metres from the edge of Pha Hua Sing on a 69-rai (110,400-square-metre) plot of land. The second resort, known as Good View-Hot View Suansawan Phu Thap Boek, was approximately 100 metres from the cliff’s edge and included a 100-metre-long stretch of land being used for camping.

Documentation for both sites was seized, and charges were laid for violating forestry laws, including the unauthorised destruction of natural resources.

Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said yesterday that the issue is not being taken lightly, and the head of the national park was ordered transferred from the area to an inactive post and will be subjected to a thorough investigation by a committee.

Demolition of the illegal resorts has been authorised, Mr Atthaphon added.