Pattaya News & Events

[thailandgr]

THE sex tourist medic and prostitute were "arrested" after a bogus raid on a Pattaya hotel room.
But he was told the charges would be dropped if he handed over £10,000.



A SCOTS doctor paid blackmailers £10,000 after being targeted in a sex extortion scam in Thailand.
Police burst into the man’s hotel room in the resort of Pattaya where he was with a prostitute.
He was told he was being arrested as the girl was under 18 – the Thai age of consent.
He was then told he could pay a fine of £10,000 for the charges to be dropped.
But Thai police have confirmed that a serving officer has been transferred after the extortion racket was discovered.
An American and a Thai national were also charged in relation to the incident though it was not formally reported to police.
A source said: “The Scot got speaking to the wrong guy in a bar who set him up in a honey trap.
“The doctor was targeted. The girl he was given was in her early 20s but looks much younger.
“The men who arrested the doctor are thought to be a serving policeman and ex-policemen who had been sacked before this incident.
“This isn’t the first time people have been targeted by this gang. Unsurprisingly, it is rarely reported to police.”
It is understood a relative of the doctor transferred the money to a bank account before his fine was paid.
The doctor is currently suspended from working by the General Medical Council for an unrelated reason.
He previously worked for a Scottish NHS board.
A Thai police spokesman said: “This particular matter has not been formally reported to us but an American and a Thai national have been arrested in Pattaya and charged with extortion in a related matter.
“A policeman has also been transferred.”
The doctor was unavailable for comment.
Pattaya is Thailand’s vice capital and attracts hundreds of thousands of sleazy sex tourists every year.
In October, two Indian tourists were kidnapped, robbed and thrown from a car after a liaison with a prostitute.
Last year, a gang targeted men by getting vice girls to drug them and then rob them.
Officials in Pattaya report a huge surge in the number of British men retiring to the resort.
There are now 7000 Britons in the city on retirement visas while thousands more come on the 870,000 tourist visas given to UK visitors each year.


πηγη http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/scots-doctor-paid-blackmailers-10k-2989128

[halfway inn]

BANK CARDS FRAUD



Romanian Bank Card Fraudsters arrested in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- Two Romanians were arrested by Police in Pattaya on Wednesday accused of using fake bank cards containing stolen UK Bank Account details in various ATM’s in Jomtien.

The Siam Commercial Bank alerted the Provincial Transnational Crime Suppression Unit at Pattaya Police Station to two foreign nationals who had used cards to withdraw cash from a number of ATM’s on Jomtien Beach.

Undercover officers made their way to the location and spotted two men fitting the description of the men seen on CCTV at ATM’s using the cards to withdraw cash from UK bank accounts.

Officers held-back until they witnessed the men attempt to withdraw money again and then moved-in and arrested the pair, Mr. Vasile Dodon aged 30 and Mr. Oleg Sveatobog aged 32 who was also in possession of a Moldovan Passport.

Both men were escorted back to their rented apartment where 299 blank cards, a skimming device, a laptop computer, and 32,000 Baht in cash, were seized.

[halfway inn]

SHOOTING in RESTAURANT

'Parking Dispute' Leads To Drive-By Shooting



PATTAYA: -- A pair of gunmen have shot into a Norwegian Restaurant in Pattaya, after its owner had allegedly engaged in a parking dispute with several taxi motorcyclists.

At approximately around 01.00 am, Pattaya police was alerted to investigate a four-storey building in Banglamung district, Chonburi province.

The ground level of the building is operated as a Norwegian restaurant called ′Christiania′, whereas the upper levels are opened as tourists residence, it is reported.

The building is also situated close to a flyover bridge, which leads to Bali Hai pier.

In front of the restaurant, police found a golden bronze Honda car, which has a bullet hole shot through its roof.

It is believed that the group of gunmen fired their weapons from the flyover bridge into the restaurant, after police found the cartridges on the bridge.

Many foreign tourists were frightened by the incident, and were gathering around to discuss about the shooting when police arrived.

Mr. Banlue Eiamsri, 28, the owner of the restaurant, told the police that he witnessed the assailants traveling with a motorbike onto the bridge, and fled the area after the shooting.

He also claimed that earlier that day, he had a heated argument with a group of taxi motorcyclists about the parking in front of the restaurant, in which the cyclists claimed he had blocked their way.

Police said the investigation is currently ongoing, and they had retrieved CCTV footage near the crime scene.


 Khaosod

[halfway inn]

HOTEL BULGLARY

"1 Million Baht" Burglary at Central Pattaya Hotel



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday morning Pattaya Police were called to a Central Pattaya Hotel where a reported 1 Million Baht burglary had taken place.

Police met with Khun Jintana aged 38, the Manager of the Florida Hotel in Soi Skaw Beach Hotel in Central Pattaya, who directed Police to Safety Deposit Boxes located at the reception area.

15 boxes, including the Hotel Manager’s box had been forced open and items of value had been taken.

A security camera fitted on the ceiling in the reception area was found to be inoperative and according to Khun Jintana, she had left the reception unmanned between the hours of 2am and 8am and went upstairs to sleep.

When she returned to work at 8am, she noticed the rear door to the Hotel had been forced open and the boxes had been broken into.

[halfway inn]

PATTAYA VILLA BURGLARY

Russian Couple wake-up to burglary of their rented Pattaya Villa



A Russian Couple, who have rented a luxury Villa for 2 months in South Pattaya, woke-up on Thursday to find their villa had been broken into and items of value had been stolen.

Pattaya Police were called to the Villa Norway Resort in the Pratamnuk Hill area and met with Mr. Artur Stotsky aged 42 and his wife.

The pair directed Police to a window at the rear of the villa and also pointed out a grey colored towel which had been left on a chair and black marks on the wall which were not there when the pair went to bed at 2am.

As the pair slept on the 2nd floor it is thought more than 1 person illegally entered their villa and reportedly stole 20,000 Baht in cash, a Laptop Computer, Mobile Phone and a Honda PCX Motorbike.

At 9am the pair awoke to find evidence of the burglary.

[halfway inn]

Embezzlement

Austrian Arrested For Embezzlement Of Friends Funds



An Austrian man has been arrested for transferring over 17 million Baht from his friend’s bank account into his own.

The arrest was a direct result of coordination between the Thai Immigration Bureau and the Austrian embassy.

PATTAYA: February 6, 2014 at 6.00 p.m. Pol. Maj. Gen. Warawuth Thaweechaikarn (Commander of Immigration Bureau), Pol. Col. Chalermphol Jintarat (Deputy Commander) and Pol. Col. Thikhamporn Srisang (Superintendent) together made a statement about the arrest of Mr. Thomas Shobesbairker, aged 45, an Austrian national, when he was arrested at Soi Urasia Hotel, Pattaya Third Road, Tambon Nong Prue, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province at 2.30 p.m. on February 5, 2014.

Mr Shobesbairker was arrested on the basis of having cheated his friend, and stealing the funds.

The Austrian Embassy liaised with the local immigration bureau, to track down and subsequently apprehend the suspect.

In August of 2011, Mr Shobesbairker attempted to smuggle the 390,000 Euros (over 17 million Baht) from Mr Karl Mark’s Kasikorn Thai bank account.

The Immigration Bureau was able to detain the culprit on the grounds of him having over-stayed in the Kingdom of Thailand.

From there, he was sent to the investigation officers at Pattaya city police department to be prosecuted, before subsequently coordinating with the Austrian embassy, resulting in Mr Shobesbairker being repatriated to Austria.



pdn

[halfway inn]

RUSSIAN TOUR GUIDES

DSI begin crackdown on illegal Russian Tour Guides in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) Eastern Branch, have begun a crackdown on Thai Tour Companies who are accused of illegally employing Russian Tour Guides.
It is also thought that many of the companies are allowed to operate in such a way without fear of prosecution by Police.

The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) Eastern Branch, have begun a crackdown on Thai Tour Companies who are accused of illegally employing Russian Tour Guides.

It is also thought that many of the companies are allowed to operate in such a way without fear of prosecution by Police.

For this reason, complaints were made to the DSI who are the Thai equivalent of the FBI.

They conducted investigations into various unnamed Tour Companies following complaints from Thai Tour Guides who claim that the Russians are employed in jobs they are more than capable of doing themselves.

In the early hours of Wednesday a total of 7 Russian Tour Guides were arrested in various locations, including Hotels and Tourist Attractions around the Pattaya and Banglamung areas.

They were challenged to produce Thai Work Permits which they were unable to do.

The Russians were transferred to various Police Stations around the Pattaya area depending on the location of their arrest and now face fines, imprisonment or deportation.

The DSI will continue to check Tour Companies and will also continue arresting foreign workers if they are found to be employed illegally.

[diamantis]

Με τόσους Ρώσους τουρίστες επόμενο ήταν να γίνει κάτι τέτοιο.Στο Πουκέτ είναι τόσο πολλοί που έχει αρχίσει και χάνει αυτό το ''άρωμα'' ασίας που έχει ώρες ώρες νόμιζα πως βρισόμουν σε καμμιά Ρωσία με διαφορετική θερμοκρασία

[halfway inn]

RUSSIAN ATM SCAMMERS



PATTAYA: -- Police in Pattaya said they have arrested two Russians who used counterfeit cards to steal cash from ATMs.

The two suspects were identified as Mr. Dennis Gonsarov, 27, and Mr. Ilya Angriv, 26 (both names are transcribed from Thai texts).

In the press conference, the police displayed 202 counterfeit ATM cards and a card skimming device allegedly used by the two suspects.

The police added that they have confiscated 18,000 baht from Mr. Gonsarov and Mr. Angriv.

They were charged with electronic cards forgery.

According to the police, officers in Pattaya have been informed by Kasikorn Bank that two foreigners had been stealing "huge amount" of cash from their ATMs.

Detective police eventually arrested the suspects as they were withdrawing cash from an ATM in Banglamung district.

Mr. Gonsarov reportedly told police he had planted skimmer device and small camera on ATMs to copy the victim′s cards and observe their passwords.

He also allegedly claimed to have sent "millions" of baht back to his homecountry.

Investigation is ongoing.



khaosod

[halfway inn]

MAKRO

Ένα καινούργιο κατάστημα ΜΑΚΡΟ θα είναι σύντομα έτοιμο (under construction now) στην Pattaya.

Είναι επάνω στον κεντρικό δρόμο της Βόρειας Pattaya (North Pattaya Road /  Thanon Pattaya Νua) και ακριβώς απέναντι από την κεντρική είσοδο του Σταθμού των Λεωφορείων.

Καλά τα νέα για όσους το ΜΑΚΡΟ στην Jomtien (Sukumvit) τους πέφτει να είναι μακρυά για τα ψώνια τους.

[halfway inn]

HUGS ...

Hugging World Record broken in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- 26 couples broke the current Guinness World Record for hugging on Friday to coincide with Valentine’s Day.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! organized the event which began on Thursday afternoon with 31 couples.

Slowly the numbers decreased throughout the night until 26 couples were left.

A decision was made to stop the attempt at 26 hours 26 minutes and 26 seconds which broke the current record.

Last record was broken in March 2013 in London, England where a couple continuously hugged for 25 hours 22 minutes 36 seconds.

[halfway inn]

Russian Fugitive Real Estate Developer caught by Pattaya Immigration



PATTAYA: -- Chonburi Immigration with assistance from the Russian Embassy in Bangkok arrested a 41 year old Pattaya Property Developer on Thursday, wanted in Russia on charges of extortion amounting to 1 Million Russian Rubles.

Police Colonel Chayor, the Superintendent of Chonburi Immigration, based in Jomtien, announced the arrest of Mr. Dmitry Ishmukhametov aged 41, who is reported to be the owner of the Anastasia International Company which is currently selling a condominium project in Soi 5 off the Tepprasit Road in Jomtien.

He was arrested at the offices of the company on the strength of an International Arrest Warrant issued in Russia claiming the suspect is wanted in connection with an extortion case amounting to 1 Million Rubles which equates to approximately 910,000 Baht.

[Oytopikos]

Pattaya Police received complaints on Tuesday of a man, who was impersonating an Immigration Police Officer and was extorting cash from illegal immigrants on Larn Island.

The Pattaya Police Chief, Police Colonel Supachai, dispatched a team of real officers to the Island who located the fake officer, Khun Padungiet aged 30. In his house a selection of Police Uniforms were found, along with two firearms, which are believed to have been stolen from a firing range on the Island.

Other items such as handcuffs, two-way radios and even a Police Vehicle License Plate were recovered and taken into evidence.

The suspect was taken back to Pattaya and formally charged with possession of a firearm, impersonating a Royal Thai Police Officer and extortion.

 http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/120534/fake-immigration-officer-arrested-by-pattaya-police-on-larn-island/#sthash.Cv3mSZ3y.qMGMGgON.dpuf

[halfway inn]

SONGKRAN COMING UP - PATTAYA

Pattaya Street Shower Installed For Song Kran day





PATTAYA – April 9 2014 at 15.00 Pattaya daily news reporters were notified by the parks and environment department of Pattaya that they were testing a shower on the Northern Pattaya Rd at a length of 500.

It has been installed to keep expats cool during Song kran day.

The shower system testing drew a lot of attention from both Thais and foreigners.

They stopped and took photos.

The shower was the idea of Mr Itthipon Khumpleum- the mayor of Pattaya- and Mr.Chaowalit Praditpruek- the head of parks and environment department of Pattaya.


PDN

[halfway inn]

JOMTIEN BEACH

Oil washed ashore along Jomtien Beach



PATTAYA:  On Thursday the local authorities were alerted to a 2km stretch of Jomtien Beach which was covered in lumps of oil.

Environment Agency officials and a clean-up team of 10 people were sent to Jomtien Beach, in front of Soi 15, where the oil was first seen.

The black lumps of oil were clearly visible along a stretch of beach measuring approximately 2kms and had been spotted by tourists on the Beach, some of them showed us oil stains on their swimming costumes and skin.

Officials suspect the oil originates from a Tanker which capsized in Samut Sakhorn Province on 7th April.