FABULOUS 103FM HEADLINE NEWS (6 APRIL ’23) FROM THAILAND & PATTAYA 

FABULOUS 103FM HEADLINE NEWS (6 APRIL ’23) FROM THAILAND & PATTAYA

‘I thought it was a contract!’ says district official holding 3.2m baht bribe
When police cautioned a senior Bangkok district official, from the taxation offices, this week, they checked the contents of an envelope he was carrying, only to find 3.2 million baht cash.   He claimed that he thought it contained just a contract, must have been a thick one, but cops knew he had taken a bribe.   Seems he had taken it from a building company in return for his promise to make their woes go away.    THEY had reported him, as they claimed they preferred to pay legally and the money was handed over in a sting operation.

31 people charged in gun theft case 
As we reported this week on the trial of a police Sgt found guilty of stealing over 160 guns from his place of work over a period for 5 years and selling them on, so the rest of the story is being revealed by the national security police who tell us that some 31 people including 8 high ranking officers face charges for involvement.  With 64 recovered, it’s now believed that many were sold over the border to Burma where anti-government militia bought them.  Of those arrested 5 were station chiefs and deputies where he worked and  3 were operative inspectors, supposed to handle such things as.. weapons stock taking.

TAT estimates Songkran could generate 13.5 billion baht
13.5 billion baht is the predicted spend across Thailand during Songkran next week,  but as the numbers of Thais expected to be on the spend increases, airline ticket sales for the period are way down on pre-covid levels.   With domestic tourism is back to the levels of years ago already.. international arrivals for the festivals are at 60% of the pre-epidemic levels.

Large trucks banned from 6 routes during Songkran exodus
Good news for those driving in the always congested routes to the North though, as six major, usually congested, routes have banned large good vehicles, over 10 wheels.

‘Real feel’ temperature hits 46+ degrees 
Think it’s hot this week?  Well, you are right, as the heat index, which is often described as the REAL FEEL hit a whacking 46 degrees yesterday.  Calculating based on air temperature and humidity, the stunning number came with warnings not to remain outdoors for too long, wear a hat to avoid sunstroke and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Overstaying Korean fakes his own kidnapping in Pattaya
A South Korean family contacted their embassy here to report that their errant 24 yr old son had possibly been kidnapped, following a call he made to them from Thailand. Thai police were notified, Banglamung police here got the call and visited his last known address where, to their surprise, he leapt up and tried to escape through scrubland to the rear of his rented home.  Found to be here on a near 500 day overstay , it turns out that he had made up his whole story to his parents as they had refused to send him more money for him and his Thai girlfriend to live on.  Mum and dad are said to be less than proud.

Songkran in Pattaya
Planning to come to Pattaya for the extended Songkran festivals and water fun?  Well, best book your hotel now as many are porting either full or close to ful bookings.  The city will certainly be rammed next week and when the rest of the country sees the fun end, Pattaya, Naklua and Jomtien will, as previously, continue for days later.   Good for the city and business for sure, the extra revenue will be more than welcomed by those serving the tourism industry.

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