Pattaya & Thailand LATEST NEWS from Fabulous 103fm (23 March 2023)

Pattaya & Thailand LATEST NEWS from Fabulous 103fm (23 March 2023)

Gunman Kills 3 in shooting rampage 
Thais nationally have been glued to TV and radio following the latest in a series of deranged and armed individuals.  The outcome of a police operation surrounding a home occupied by a gunman in Phetchaburi province was never going to end well, as a 29 yr old man was holed up in a house after shooting and killing 3 people.  At midnight, police moved in, first to remove those departed and then at 1 in the morning began an armed entry into the building where gunfire ensued for close to 20 minutes, seeing them retreat and re enter at 3.  Retreating from that exchange of fire, drones were used to search the building before. At 4 am this morning, police reported that he had been found dead on the second floor.  It’s estimated that between the gunman and police, some 50 rounds were fired during the operation.

Thais flock to close suspected mule accounts
In Nakhon Phanom, banks and police stations reported heavy queues prior to opening, as several HUNDRED locals applied to CLOSE bank accounts, before reporting themselves to the police as having given their details to criminals, who subsequently used MULE accounts, to launder money swindled from the public online.   Seems they had been paid 500 baht each for their services ,and the move followed new laws implemented now that promise heavy fines and even jail for those caught facilitating fraud by availing their own accounts to scammers.

Immigration officers suspended over extortion case
Four immigration officers accused of the abduction of a Chinese man and his Thai interpreter in the capital, have been suspended from duty and arrest warrants issued for each.  The national police chief told the media that each had been involved in the kidnap and demanded payment in crypto coins from the two.  Identifying themselves as police, they had persuaded the dsuo to get into her vehicle before racing away and holding them captive.   Later freed , those involved are said to be high ranking immigration and police officials, from Major down to Senior Sgt major.  All are being held without bail currently.

Hungry wild bear roams Thai streets
In Chaiyaphum, villagers were amazed to spot a BEAR wandering their streets and called authorities.  The Sun Bear, unique to Asia, and usually mild mannered, appeared to be hungry and locals surrounded it before experts used a tranquiliser to safely remove and relocate. Weighing in at 80 KG and clearly healthy it was later released in the jungle. Sun Bears, with a distinctive orange and cream marking on their chests, are native to all regions from India through to Vietnam and are listed as species threatened due to deforestation.

Abducted Chinese released, one suspect arrested
In Pattaya, 2 chinese, a 33 year old housewife and her brother, who were allegedly kidnapped whilst on a school run to a local private school near Mabprachan lake were released yesterday morning by their captors, after family met the financial demands made. Close to a million baht is believed to have been paid by the husband, with police unaware of his compliance and reports that he was less than fully helpful when questioned.  Tired and messed up, but otherwise well, they were interviewed by police, who have already assessed that the kidnap followed a business dispute.   The kidnappers were quickly identified from statements given previously by her husband, seeing one caught at Bangkok’s main airport but another thought to have slipped through Don Muang on another flight.

Cheap charlie hits new low in Pattaya bars 
And amid the woes of news, local bars and clubs are seeing a new kind of Cheap Charlie on the streets, with an increase in the number of tourists who run up bills, only to either run away or refuse to pay them, bar keepers have been kept on their toes lately, but the latest money save takes the biscuit.   Rather than pay the nominal fee to enjoy exclusivity for a while with pretty staff members, at least one elderly, British man has taken to passing a rolled up gift to the lady of his fancy.  Unraveled, it reveals his name, phone and messaging details, and invitation to contact him  “on the side”.  With bars paying good salaries now, as business returns to the city faster than staff,  the old guys saving the cost of a packet of cigarettes in his home country,  heightens awareness with the increase in business.  The knuckles draggers are coming back too.

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