Police bring birthday cake to drug bust

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Unusual gesture moves suspect to tears in Nakhon Si Thammarat

PUBLISHED : 10 Nov 2023 at 18:30

Police bring birthday cake to drug bust
Police give a birthday cake to drug suspect Ratchanon Phongsawat, 37, who was arrested on her birthday in Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo: Nujaree Rakrun)

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Police who arrested a woman after finding nearly a million speed pills in her home brought more than handcuffs when they took her into custody. When they learned it was her birthday, they brought a cake.

Ratchanon Phongsawat, 37, burst into tears at the gesture and promised to turn over a new leaf after being released from jail.

Her arrest was one of two made in the southern province, in which more than 1.4 million methamphetamine pills were seized.

Police had been keeping a close watch on Ms Ratchanon, who also owns a spa in Phrommakhiri district, as they suspected she was linked to drug dealers.

On Thursday they followed her car and managed to intercept it on a road leading to Nakhon Si Thammarat airport.

They subsequently brought her to her rented home in Muang district, where they found 944,000 speed pills, police said at a media briefing on Friday.

During questioning, Ms Ratchanon admitted she was about to fly to Bangkok to stay with her mother after learning that other members of a drug network in Phuket, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat had been arrested.

The suspect admitted she had kept the drugs at the rented house pending delivery to other dealers, police said.

In Khanom district, meanwhile, police arrested Prachak Suksarn after 536,000 speed pills were found inside his house on the same day.

Police display more than 1.4 million speed pills seized in two separate cases in Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo: Nujaree Rakrun)

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Chiang Mai links up with Austin, Texas

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Sister cities agreement to be signed on Sunday

PUBLISHED : 10 Nov 2023 at 17:53

Chiang Mai links up with Austin, Texas
Kayakers enjoy an outing on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, the capital city of Texas. (Photo: Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons)

Chiang Mai is about to become a sister city with Austin, the capital city of Texas, at a ceremony this weekend.

Nirat Phongsittithaworn, the governor of Chiang Mai, will sign a memorandum of understanding at Austin City Hall on Sunday with Mayor Kirk Watson to launch the initiative.

A 30-member visiting delegation from Thailand will join the Thai Ambassador to the United States, Tanee Sangrat, and the US Consul General in Chiang Mai, Lisa Buzenas, at the ceremony.

A kickoff event will follow at Wat Buddhananachat, a Buddhist temple just southeast of Austin.

Austin currently has 13 sister cities, in countries including Mexico, Peru, Australia, France, the United Kingdom and India. There are also three “friendship cities” — in Cambodia, France and Mexico — that are in the process of becoming sister cities.

According to the City of Austin website, the sister cities pact aims to facilitate collaboration between the local governments of Austin and Chiang Mai, promote trade, investment and economic development for mutual benefit, and cultivate new educational and cultural connections

The Thai delegation is visiting Austin from Nov 11 to 16 for a series of meetings, exchanges and business matchmaking events. 

“We hope to meet new partners and friends, participate in an exchange of ideas and expertise, generate important new economic ties between our cities, and of course share the beauty of Thai culture and incredible Thai food with communities in Austin,” said Mr Nirat.

“Austin and Chiang Mai share many similarities,” said Mr Watson. “Both cities stand as global hubs for art, culture, music, food and film.

“We share a commitment to cutting-edge technology, creative industries, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. We envision significant potential for both cities as we collaborate on shared goals.”

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Some Bukit Timah Market stallholders put off by higher rents at interim site; about half will move over

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SINGAPORE: When Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre is demolished in 2024, about half of the current 180 stallholders will move to an interim site and pay higher rents to operate there.

CNA reported on Thursday (Nov 9) that the market will be torn down to make way for the Bukit Timah Integrated Development, which is slated to open in the second half of 2029.

The new five-storey integrated development will house Bukit Timah Community Club, the market and food centre, a school sports hall and other amenities.

While the integrated development is being built, a privately operated interim market with 100 stalls will open at 2A Jalan Seh Chuan, which is across the road from the current Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre site.

About 60 hawker stalls and 30 wet market stalls have chosen to move to the interim site, said Mr Loh Chao Kiat, chairman of the committee for the interim hawker centre and market. The deadline to decide passed in 2022.

Stallholders said their considerations include the higher rents, as well as the requirement to sign a lease of five years, and their ability to continue working throughout that lease.

Currently, hawker stall rents at the market vary but generally come up to about S$1,500 (US$1,103). Wet market stallholders pay about S$300. The National Environment Agency (NEA) rents out stalls on three-year leases.

At the interim site, hawkers will pay S$2,350 before the goods and services tax (GST), and wet market stallholders will pay about S$1,000, said Mr Loh.

A mutton soup seller, who only wanted to be known as Mr Tan, chose not to move to the interim site as he was put off by the higher rent and the possibility of forfeiting his lease deposit.

“If the rent is too high, you have to sell your food at a higher price and customers may not come,” the 63-year-old said in Mandarin.

The five-year lease may be an issue for older stallholders in particular, as they will need to keep working so as not to forfeit their deposit.

Mr Tan said he does not have a successor on hand, as his son does not want to take over his stall.

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Digital wallet to start in May, says PM

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Srettha clarifies conditions and funding sources, says 50 million people will be eligible for B10,000 handout

Digital wallet to start in May, says PM
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin explains the criteria for the government’s 10,000-baht digital wallet handout during a press conference at Government House on Friday. (Photo: Government House)

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday put an end to weeks of speculation about the government’s digital wallet programme, saying it will begin in May and some 50 million people will be eligible for a 10,000-baht handout.

All told, the government will inject 600 billion baht into the economy — 500 billion via the digital wallet scheme and another 100-billion-baht fund to enhance the country’s economic potential, Mr Srettha said at a press conference that was televised nationwide.

The government will give 10,000 baht in digital money to every Thai aged 16 and older, as long as they have an income of less than 70,000 baht per month and less than 500,000 baht in bank deposits. Based on these criteria, an estimated 50 million people will be eligible — down from the 56 million intended originally.

People who earn more than 70,000 baht a month but have less than 500,000 baht in bank deposits, as well as those who earn less than 70,000 baht a month but have more than 500,000 baht in the bank will not be eligible.

Mr Srettha has said the cash handout “will act as a trigger to revitalise the economy”, which has grown by less than 2% per year on average in the past decade, among the weakest in Southeast Asia.

Under the programme, 10,000 baht in digital money will be transferred into a digital wallet on the Pao Tang mobile app, which is already used by millions of people. The transfers will begin in May, three months later than previously planned.

The money must be spent within six months in the district where the recipient’s home is registered. It cannot be transferred to other people or converted into cash.

The handout can be used to buy food and consumer goods only. It cannot be used to buy goods online, cigarettes or liquor; cash vouchers and such valuables as diamonds, gems or gold; and cannot be used to pay off debts or pay for water or electricity bills, fuel, natural gas or tuition fees.

Shops are required to register to join the programme and they must be in the tax system.

The new 100-billion-baht fund, meanwhile, will be used to enhance the country’s competitiveness in various fields, said Mr Srettha. This could include investing in new technologies and development of human resources. The fund is intended to draw people with capabilities in various fields to join in building economic growth.

“I would like to emphasise that this (digital money handout) is not welfare to help the needy, but it is about injecting money into the economy through spending rights to enable people to be partners with the government in reviving the country’s economy while maintaining the state’s fiscal discipline in all aspects,” the prime minister said.

“I want all people who are entitled for it to spend it with pride. Everyone is a contributor to the economic growth and stability of our country.”

The source of funding for the programme has been the subject of heated debate, with critics saying that borrowing would push up public debt to an unsustainable level.

However, Mr Srettha said the most practical approach for the government is to propose a bill to seek a special loan of 500 billion baht. The draft bill will go to the Council of State by the end of this year to make sure it does not contravene any laws and will be forwarded to parliament for debate early next year.

The 11-party coalition led by the Pheu Thai Party has a comfortable majority in parliament and no parties in the coalition oppose the digital wallet programme, according to local media reports.

Mr Srettha expressed confidence that the bill would be passed by parliament in line with Section 53 of the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act of 2018, so that the programme can start next May.

The other 100 billion baht for economic enhancement projects would be from state budgets, he said.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tells the public that some 50 million Thais aged over 16 will receive 10,000 baht in digital money. Recipients must earn less than 70,000 baht per month and have less than 500,000 baht in bank deposits. (Photo: Government House)

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Singaporean 'Ah Long' who ran illegal loan shark business from China and Malaysia gets jail and fine

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SINGAPORE: A gambler who was roped into an illegal moneylending syndicate as a runner rose through the ranks over more than a decade and became an “Ah Long” or loan shark operating from foreign countries, targeting Singaporean borrowers.

He operated from Kuala Lumpur, before shifting to China where he remained for 12 years, collecting a total of SS$756,000 (US$555,800) in salary before factoring in his cut of the profits.

Eventually, he suffered a stroke in China and returned to Singapore in 2022 to turn himself in because of his failing health.

Alan Sia Peng Xing, a 56-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years’ jail and a fine of S$700,000 on Friday (Nov 10). 

If he cannot pay the fine, he will have to serve another 20 months’ jail.

He pleaded guilty to 20 charges under the Moneylenders Act, with another 39 charges taken into consideration.

SIA’S STORY

The court heard that Sia was in debt in mid-2006 due to gambling. He had taken loans of about S$5,000 from a loan shark known as Ah Heng or “Towkay”.

Ah Heng, whose real identity is Ang Wee Siong, is the sponsor and head of the moneylending syndicate that is based overseas.

In early 2007, Sia was unable to pay his loans and accepted a job to work as a runner for the syndicate for S$1,000 a month.

Sia first started working for the syndicate from early 2007 or 2008, harassing debtors at their flats, collecting payments and depositing cash.

He went by the name “Ah K” and was “promoted” to become a loan shark himself, operating from Kuala Lumpur in mid to late 2008.

Ah Heng arranged for Sia to take over the stall in Malaysia, with a pool of 50 debtors in Singapore. He was given a runner to assist him with errands in Singapore and he was paid S$3,000 a month, with a profit sharing of 30 per cent from the stall.

He was placed on a year’s probation, with 10 per cent of his profit sharing given to his mentor, a senior loan shark known as Johnny, who is Sia’s co-accused.

Sia operated his illegal moneylending stall from a condominium in Kuala Lumpur under Johnny’s watch, issuing loans ranging from S$500 to S$2,000 to his debtors in Singapore.

The loans came with interest rates of 20 per cent, repayable over daily, weekly or monthly instalments.

In mid-2009, Sia completed his probation and began operating his stall independently and reporting directly to Ah Heng. He received a 30 per cent profit sharing from Ah Heng after finishing his probation period.

In mid-2010, Ah Heng directed Sia to shift his base of operations from Malaysia to China.

Sia complied and stayed in China for about 12 years, regularly travelling to different regions and cities to operate his illegal moneylending business.

While in China, Sia communicated with his pool of Singapore debtors using Singapore and China mobile lines, maintaining his own records and informing Ah Heng if he faced difficulty in collecting repayments.

Investigations showed that Sia’s salaries and profit sharing increased several times during this period.

He was paid a monthly salary of S$6,000 in 2014, with a profit sharing of 30 per cent from his stall.

This percentage was increased to 40 per cent in mid-2016.

Based on the salary calculation alone, Sia collected a total of S$756,000, excluding the profit-sharing arrangements, while working for the syndicate, the prosecution said.

In mid-2016, Sia’s health deteriorated after he suffered a minor stroke in China. Because of his failing health, he decided to return to Singapore and surrender.

SURRENDER

He arrived at Changi Airport on Dec 1, 2022, and was placed under arrest after a police gazette was found to be put up against him.

Several of Sia’s co-accused, who were fellow unlicensed moneylenders from the same syndicate, have already been arrested and sentenced to jail terms, including caning.

The prosecution sought seven years’ jail and a fine of S$800,000 for Sia, to disgorge the sum of S$756,000 earned by Sia in his illegal line of work.

Sia had carried on his business for 12 years in China, first receiving training from a “senior” in Malaysia before operating a stall on his own in China, said the prosecutor.

Ah Heng is currently on the run.

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Property agent gets jail and fine for drunken behaviour, kicking police officer

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SINGAPORE: A property agent was sentenced on Friday (Nov 11) to 16 weeks’ jail and a S$1,500 fine, more than six years after a drunken display after attending a wedding and losing her way in a car park.

Rochelle Chow Shuting, 35, was convicted of one count each of behaving in a disorderly manner and hurting a police officer to deter him from discharging his duty.

Chow intends to appeal against her conviction and sentence.

According to charge sheets, Chow was at the Parkroyal on Pickering hotel when the incident occurred at about 5.30pm on Aug 13, 2019.

She had gone there for a wedding, TODAY reported then, and a security guard was called in to keep an eye on her after she had a dispute with some wedding guests.

TODAY reported that Chow, who had consumed several glasses of wine, managed to get to her car at the hotel’s car park, but was unable to find her way out. She alighted and began screaming.

The security guard then called the police for help as he was unable to contain her. He said she had hit a car and was violent.

When the police arrived, three of them handcuffed Chow’s hands behind her back, court documents stated.

Her mobile phone then dropped on the ground, and Sergeant Muhammad Taufiq Zainudin squatted down to pick it up.

Body-worn camera footage from the police showed that as SGT Taufiq stood up, Chow lifted her right leg towards him while shouting “No!” and “that’s my phone!”.

The prosecution’s case was that Chow then intentionally kicked SGT Taufiq, leaving tenderness and a bruise over his right thigh.

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Jail for man who made a scene at mother's funeral wake, prompting relative to call police

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SINGAPORE: A man with a criminal history returned to his violent ways when he was out on bail, even making a scene at his mother’s funeral wake and prompting a relative to call the police.

Tay Kim Hui, 53, was sentenced to 13 weeks’ jail on Friday (Nov 10) for three charges including a rash act, causing hurt to a police officer and affray. A fourth charge was taken into consideration.

The court heard that Tay had been arrested by police officers on Jul 6.

This was after Tay fought with a drinking acquaintance at a hawker centre in Ang Mo Kio, after his request for money was rebuffed.

Tay left the hawker centre after a scuffle, before returning with two knives from his mother’s house and smashing a glass beer bottle on the ground at the hawker centre.

He was released on bail pending police investigations when he made a scene at his mother’s funeral wake.

On Oct 11, the wake was being held for Tay’s mother at a block in Boon Lay.

Investigations revealed that Tay had been present at the wake since 3pm and had been drinking alcohol since that time.

He walked around the wake, pestering his family members so they would be a bailor for his court hearing the next morning.

According to his elder brother, none of their relatives could control him, so police assistance was sought to prevent Tay’s disruptive behaviour from escalating.

A relative called the police, saying she had seen Tay being drunk, trying to fight his family members and refusing to leave the wake.

A police officer went to the scene shortly and saw Tay drinking beer at a bench, with slurred speech.

He was persistent in his attempts to stand up and return to the wake, despite the officer’s efforts to stop him.

While the police officer was guarding Tay from entering the wake, Tay suddenly threw a half-full can of beer towards the officer, hitting his face.

The officer immediately restrained Tay.

The prosecution sought 19 to 22 weeks’ jail for Tay, citing his long list of past convictions for crimes like theft, affray, gambling in public and drug offences.

Tay was remanded and unrepresented.

In mitigation, he asked for a light sentence, acknowledging that what he had done was wrong.

“I drank on that day because I was feeling very sad over my mother’s death,” he said. “And when I requested my brother and sister to bail me on the next day, they ignored me and also made fun of me, therefore I became very upset.”

He asked for a shorter sentence, saying he hoped to “go out and pay last (respects) to my mother, as I didn’t have a chance to send her to the crematorium on her departure”.

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80% of free-roaming dogs sterilised since introduction of neutering programme in 2018: Desmond Lee

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SINGAPORE: About 80 per cent of free-roaming dogs in Singapore have been sterilised since the nationwide Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programme was introduced, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said on Friday (Nov 10). This exceeds the five-year target of 70 per cent, which was set when the programme was launched exactlyContinue Reading

Amos Yee back in jail for violating parole, might only be released in 2026

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SINGAPORE: Singaporean Amos Yee is back in jail because he violated parole conditions, US authorities said on Thursday (Nov 9), with prison records showing it could be three years until he is free again. 

Yee was admitted under the custody and control of the Illinois Department of Corrections on Tuesday, according to a message from the victim notification network. 

The message said he was held at the Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum security prison in Crest Hill, Illinois.

The 25-year-old had been released on parole only a month ago, halfway through his six-year jail term.

In response to queries from CNA, the Department of Corrections said on Thursday that Yee was readmitted on a parole violation. 

“That is the only information we can provide,” it added.

Prison records seen by CNA show that Yee’s projected parole date is now Oct 8, 2026 – which is also his projected discharge date.

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