BANGKOK: Four Chinese nationals were arrested today in a sting before fleeing to Thailand, after they were accused of masterminding a plot to steal over 27 BILLION baht. No small sum of money to be sure, the quartet were said to have each opened fake finance and trading companies in the mainland, luring people to invest, and make off with the cash.  The victims all fit the profile of wanting to reap huge earnings off investments and were targeted as such by the fraudsters.  More here in the Bangkok Post.

BANGKOK: A bus driver scored a direct hit on a power pole in his efforts to navigate the city, right in front of the Century Park Hotel near Din Daeng intersection. Likely high on the same Yaba another bus driver was caught with today, he was slightly injured, which he will likely be rewarded for as a testament to how things truly work in LOS. Police estimated the damage at 500,000 Baht using their well known scoring system for assessing property damage.  The driver said it was raining which caused him to drive wildly.

More of the actual story here.

THAILAND: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which is an international consortium of monitors from the governments of no less than 183 countries, congratulated Thailand for it’s achievements in tackling the illicit ivory trade.  (Maybe it’s all been traded by now?)  Alas the poachers are said to be on the run, perhaps they’ve reformed and are now tour guides & snake show tours etc.  More below at Bangkok Post.

Read Story Here.

PATTAYA: A thief Pattaya bus driver with ICE nabbed by BIB and absconding with an American tourist’s bag, which was found by police searching his bus and also found 6 small bags of Ya ice. In what could be the crime of the century BOB took no chances and arrested Mr Suchart.

Next time you get flattened by a bus, think ICE. Mr. Suchart will face a theft charge and another charge of possession of narcotics which can likely be paid off with the proceeds of previous luggage he was not caught for stealing. Everyone wins.

More here in Bangkok post.

CHUMPHON: A wild elephant calf named “Ai Duan” by locals in the area, has been rescued from a muddy swamp area below a very steep cliff which it is said to have fallen from.

Vetrinarians arrived quickly to administer first aid to the pachydern, and locals brought fruit and grass to visit the calf, -despite the fact it was well known to invade their farmland.

More here: from Bangkok Post.

The bull elephant, aged around 2 years, was spotted lying in a muddy swamp at the foot of a mountain in Ban Chan Rane of tambon Tako on Friday by a patrol team of national park and wildlife officials.

The calf appeared to have suffered back injuries and was struggling hard to lift itself from the swamp, about 3-4 metres wide and 60-70cm deep. The animal was believed to have fallen from the steep mountain

1-2 days ago before it was found. The officials immediately called the Ngao Waterfall National Park, Thai media reported.

 

HAT YAI – Police have ruled that the death of a female Chinese national is a murder after forensic discovery that she had been hit several times with a blunt object.

A taxi driver has also spoken up about witnessing the deceased pointing out a specific male as she arrived at the location, which gave the driver the impression she knew the man.

A suspect has been detained and interviewed and police are discussing the matter with Chinese consular officials as the case widens back to the mainland.

From Bangkok Post:  https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/1548618/cops-treat-waterfall-death-as-murder-after-autopsy

His car, a white Honda City, was spotted there and was the last to leave the spot. “Investigators are now giving consideration to jealousy as a potential motive,” Pol Maj Gen Surachate said.

The deputy Tourist Police Bureau chief will today meet Chinese embassy officials to discuss the case.