Sure A Not

Truck strikes power pole in Ratchaburi, killing driver’s wife

A 26-year-old man narrowly escaped death when his car plummeted 15 metres off an expressway in Bangkok early on Saturday.

Expressway police and rescue volunteers were alerted at 3:30am to a Honda Civic that had plunged from the Si Rat Expressway onto Rama VI Road. 

At the scene, authorities found the vehicle with all its tyres punctured, a large collision mark on its front, a collapsed roof and windows shattered.

Inside, they found the driver, identified only as Wachiraya, and rushed him to ViMUT Hospital.

During questioning, Mr Wachiraya told police that he had entered the expressway from Ngam Wong Wan Road but lost control of his car near the exit to Rama VI Road. As a result, his vehicle crashed through a concrete barrier and plunged 15 metres to the road below.

Police were reviewing surveillance video to determine the cause of the incident, and a blood alcohol test will be conducted on the driver. 

In a separate accident that occurred around 7am in Photharam district of Ratchaburi, a six-wheel truck crashed into a power pole, resulting in death of the driver’s wife and injuries to the driver and their five-year-old son.

Police said the driver, Prayun Thaisuay, 49, and his son were rescued from the wreck and sent to Photharam Hospital. The mother, Sirinapa Phromtao, 46, was found dead in a hammock in the back of the vehicle.

Rescue workers took about 30 minutes to remove the woman’s body and deliver her for an autopsy.

The family was travelling from Kanchanaburi to Nakhon Pathom at the time of the accident. According to investigators, the crash occurred when the driver fell asleep at the wheel and missed a turn.

The scene has been identified as a site with a history of frequent road accidents, including a recent collision involving a motorcycle and the same power pole.

A six-wheeler struck a power pole in Photharam, Ratchaburi on Saturday morning, resulting in one death and two injuries. (Screen capture)

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”.