South-East Asia (Page 1,598)

The Criminal Court yesterday acquitted Prinn Panitchpakdi, a former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, in a case in which he was accused of committing an indecent act on a 17-year-old girl in 2018 due to the statute of limitations having expired.

According to the prosecution’s lawsuit, in the daytime of April 25, 2018, while travelling in a van, Mr Prinn was accused of holding the girl’s left hand while touching the girl’s thigh with his free hand. This allegedly happened in full view of the public, and the minor was unable to deter the molestation. The incident occurred in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district.

He was charged with committing an indecent act against a minor aged over 15 but less than 18 years old and taking a minor away from her parents for an act of indecency.

The defendant denied the charges. He was released on bail.

Following an examination of the evidence presented by the prosecution and defence, the court found the alleged offences took place in a private van fitted with curtains and dark films and there was a curtain between the driver’s and passenger compartments.

Therefore, what happened could not be seen by outsiders. Moreover, the statute of limitations in an indecency case is only three months. Since this case took place in 2018, it expired years ago.

As for the charge of taking a minor away from her parents, the court learned that the alleged offence had taken place while the defendant was taking the girl in a van from an office to a condominium.

When the girl asked Mr Prinn to drop her by the side of the road so she could take an electric train, the defendant agreed to her request. So, there was no evidence to the charge the defendant taking a minor from her parents, the court ruled. The court acquitted him of all charges.

Mr Prinn has been indicted for numerous sexual offences against women.

In one, a court on Sept 29 sentenced him to four years in jail and ordered him to pay 2 million baht in damages after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting Hathairat “Anna” Vidhyaphum. He was later released on bail.

Police have arrested the leader of a major e-cigarette distribution network, following raids on two locations in Bangkok yesterday.

Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) launched the crackdown after receiving information about “Iqos Thailand FanClub”, a Facebook group used by the network to market and sell e-cigarette modules and cartridges online.

Authorities raided a condominium in Bang Kho Laem district and a house on Nawamin Soi 42 in Bueng Kum district after learning both locations were being used as a e-cigarette storage and distribution centre, said CPPD commander, Maj Gen Withaya Sriprasertsap.

Officials seized over 70,000 e-cigarettes modules and cartridges, worth an estimated 10 million baht.

They also arrested Jenkij Hom-aroon, 32, whom they believe was the network’s leader.

He was taken to CPPD Sub-Division 1’s office, where he was charged with distributing e-cigarettes and cartridges, which are considered illegal in the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Dr Thossaporn Sereerak, Pheu Thai MP for Phrae, on Wednesday told parliament e-cigarettes are becoming more prevalent in the market, saying they are more accessible than ever to those under the age of 20.

“Even primary school students have been found to use e-cigarettes. I have received many complaints from parents who are concerned about how easy it is to purchase e-cigarettes online and why our officers aren’t doing anything to deal with the matter,” said Dr Thossaporn.

Dr Thossaporn urged the parliament to designate the parliament as an e-cigarette-free zone after seeing some ministers and MPs vaping. They should be role models for all people to abide by, he said.

Nicotine is addictive and poses a danger to the development of children’s brains, he said.

On the contrary, Maris Karanyawat, a representative of the popular Facebook group End Cigarette Smoke Thailand, said e-cigarette bans in other countries have yielded similar results.

Countries like the United Kingdom and the United States choose to legalise e-cigarettes, which allow them to better control the distribution of e-cigarettes and collect taxes.

Such measures are a better way to prevent minors from accessing e-cigarettes, he said.

159 hotspots linked to surge in fine dust

Thirty provinces, including Bangkok, remained gripped by high levels of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) yesterday as fine dust pollution intensified in many areas of the country.

According to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), the satellite-based Check Foon (dust check) air quality app showed the dust level in Samut Songkhram peaked at 84.1 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) at 8am yesterday, which surpassed the safe threshold of 50µg/m³.

Yesterday, Samut Songkhram was the only province which reached a “code red”, signifying potentially harmful air, while dust levels in most other haze-affected provinces were designated orange or unhealthy.

In Bangkok, 42 districts were in the orange category yesterday. The highest levels of fine dust were reported in Phra Khanong, Don Muang, Laksi, Bangkok Yai and Bang Na districts.

The app, which is updated hourly, also forecasted that dust volumes in many areas were set to rise from orange to red in a matter of hours based on the PM2.5 data compiled by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the Meteorological Department.

As of Wednesday, the Gistda data showed that 159 hotspots, blamed for a surge in fine dust, were detected across the country.

Of them, 96 occurred in agricultural areas, 19 in communities and other areas, 26 in Sor Por Kor agricultural land areas, 13 in national forest parks, four along highways and one in a forest reserve.

Most hotspots were detected in Kalasin (13), followed by Roi Et (12) and Saraburi (11).

Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said the air quality data collected by the PCD showed that fine dust pollution will remain concentrated in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces until Sunday due to the influence of a cold mass from the North and lack of rain.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will launch a pilot project to plant trees along the busy Ratchadaphisek Road, where traffic clogs up during most hours of the day, in a bid to spruce up its landscape and reduce the fine dust problem.

Chatree Wattanakhajorn, the deputy city clerk, chaired a meeting yesterday to discuss ways of improving the landscape along Ratchadaphisek Road. In attendance were representatives from agencies including the BMA’s Environment Department.

He said the meeting looked into what trees are best suited to help filter dust along the road and outlined traffic management design and operations with the safety and care of pedestrians in mind.

The agencies concerned will work with King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi to scout suitable trees for planting along the road. The plan will initially be carried out from the Rama IX Intersection to Wong Sawang Intersection in Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Chatuchak and Bang Sue districts.

If it proves a success, it will be expanded to other roads in the city, Mr Chatree said.

Public prosecutors yesterday filed a suit with the Criminal Court against Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun, accusing him of colluding in money laundering and assisting a transnational criminal organisation.

The suit was filed after the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) resolved to indict Mr Upakit on charges of money laundering, involvement in a transnational criminal organisation, and supporting or colluding in an illicit drug network.

The senator was accused of having ties with Myanmar national Tun Min Latt, who was arrested for drug trafficking and money laundering on Sept 17 last year.

Sen Upakit, accompanied by his lawyer, arrived at the Criminal Court yesterday. He denied all of the charges.

Prayut Phetkhun, a spokesman for the OAG, said prosecutors had filed the suit against Sen Upakit for six offences, including colluding in illicit drugs, illegal possession of drugs in category 2 (ketamine), money laundering, involvement in a transnational crime organisation, and related offences.

The court accepted the case and scheduled May 13 for the examination of evidence, said Mr Prayut.

On March 17, the 61-year-old senator held a press conference to counter allegations made by Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome that linked him to the Myanmar drug suspect.

He denied laundering money from the drug trade through an electricity supply business operating on the Thai-Myanmar border.

The OAG set up an investigation team, headed by senior public prosecutor Watcharin Phanurat, to look into Mr Upakit’s case. The panel submitted its findings to the prosecutors in charge of narcotics cases, who forwarded their report to the OAG, leading to the decision to indict the senator.

Last month, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) confiscated the assets of Sen Upakit worth 285 million baht in connection with his alleged involvement in a drugs ring and money laundering.

On Nov 30, the ONCB seized more assets worth 476.6 million baht.

Bhumjaithai heavyweight accused of holding shares in construction firm that won government contracts

The Constitutional Court will decide the fate of former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob, who is accused of share concealment, next month.

The court said it would deliver its ruling on Jan 17, after hearing testimony on Thursday from Mr Saksayam and five other people.

Speaking after testifying, Mr Saksayam said he had already presented the facts about his shareholding in Burijarearn Construction Limited Partnership. He thanked the court for giving him the opportunity to clarify the allegations against him, saying he had fully explained the matter.

Aside from Mr Saksayam, the six-hour hearing featured testimony from Varaporn Thetsen, Supawat Kasemsut, Warangsiri Rakitti, Thitima Klaophimai and Anchalee Parudram.

The court on March 3 suspended Mr Saksayam, then transport minister in the previous coalition government led by Prayut Chan-o-cha, for alleged share concealment pending a ruling.

The court made the order after accepting a petition by a group of 54 opposition MPs against the Bhumjaithai Party MP and brother of Bhumjaithai patriarch Newin Chidchob. Construction has long been one of the main businesses of the Buri Ram-based Chidchob family.

According to the petition, Mr Saksayam used a nominee to hold shares in Burijarearn, which was awarded contracts worth billions of baht by his ministry.

The case was first raised during a no-confidence debate against the Prayut government in July last year. Opposition MPs accused Mr Saksayam of using an employee as a nominee to hold shares on his behalf. Section 187 of the constitution prohibits a minister from holding shares.

Mr Saksayam became a major shareholder of Burijarearn in 2015 when he increased the company’s registered capital to 120 million baht. The company was awarded construction projects worth 440 million baht between 2015 and 2017. Before the 2019 election, he transferred his shares worth 119.4 million baht to the nominee, according to the opposition.

Mr Saksayam disputed the allegations, saying a friend had bought the company’s shares and there was proof of the money transfer.

In July this year, the Move Forward Party provided new evidence which it claimed substantiated allegations that Mr Saksayam concealed assets belonging to his family’s company.

Pakornwut Udompipatskul, a Move Forward MP, said an annual financial report issued by Burijarearn showed Mr Saksayam had an outstanding liability with the company. This fact was concealed before he became an MP and assumed the post of transport minister, and he failed to declare it to the National-Anti Corruption Commission (NACC).

Mr Pakornwut was one of 54 politicians who signed the petition against Mr Saksayam.

Vaping products sold on social media with about B100 million in turnover, say police

Police have arrested the head of an e-cigarette distribution network following raids on two facilities in Bangkok on Thursday.

The raids took place at a condominium in the Rama III area of Bang Kho Laem district and a house on Nawamin Soi 42 in the Khlong Kum area of Bung Kum district, said Pol Maj Gen Withaya Sriprasertpap, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division.

Officers had obtained search warrants from the Criminal Court following an investigation that found the two sites had been used to store and distribute e-cigarettes and liquids.

Sales of the illegal products took place via the Facebook account “Iqos Thailand FanClub”, with about 100 million baht in circulation.

Investigators found that the storage and distribution facilities were changed frequently to evade police raids, said Pol Maj Gen Withaya.

Police seized over 70,000 e-cigarettes and liquid containers, worth about 10 million baht. Alleged network operator Jenkij Hom-aroon, 32, alias “Ti-Leng IQOS Mafia”, was arrested and will face charges.

Vaping devices are illegal in Thailand but are sold widely at street stalls, especially in popular tourist areas. A survey earlier this year found that an estimated 9.1% of young people in the country used e-cigarettes, mostly due to peer pressure.