Udon Thani News & Events

[Oytopikos]

Thailand-Australia Sugar Dialogue in Udon Thani

The Nation
Sugar millers in Thailand and Australia, the world's second and third largest sugar exporters, will convene a meeting in Udon Thani, where they will exchange view on latest market movements and non-tariff barriers.
Attending the 8th Thailand-Australia Sugar Dialogue will also be representatives of sugar cane farmers and the Commerce Ministry’s External Trade Department. It is scheduled for February 4-6. Raw sugar export from Thailand to Australia is now subjected to zero tariff. Thailand is obligated to reduce the tariff rate to zero per cent within 2020.

Sirivuthi Siamphakdee, a representative of Thai sugar millers, noted that Australia is also committed to share its experiences on quality enhancement.

[Oytopikos]

ALLEGED MASTERMIND AND AIDE ARRESTED AFTER CONFESSIONS BY GUNMAN, DRIVER
THE chairman of a private hospital in Udon Thani was arrested late |yesterday over his alleged role as the mastermind behind the murder of a revered Udon Thani monk early this month, a police source said.

Another man was arrested for allegedly identifying the monk for the gunman to shoot.

The two men have been identified as Banjerd Chatphaithoon, the chairman of Ek Udon Hospital, and Bunnag Hongsakham, a driver with an irrigation office.

Both men have been charged with premeditated murder for their alleged roles in the killing of Phra Bundit Supanditto on March 1 at Wat Ban Pa Seesiad, where he was the abbot.

Assistant Royal Thai Police chief Lt-General Panya Mamen earlier hinted at the identities of Banjerd and Bunnag after they were implicated in the crime through the confession of Pol Sr Sgt-Major Charnchai Soisangwan, who was apprehended this week after fleeing to Laos. Panya said Charnchai admitted to receiving Bt300,000 from the mastermind to co-ordinate the shooting, and paying Bt50,000 to the gunman, janitor |Panja Chareesaen.

In his statement quoted by a number of senior police investigators, Charnchai said he had tracked the monk on a daily basis for quite some time before he drove Panja to Wat Pa Seesiad.

Police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri said that the mastermind was being closely |monitored by undercover police.

Panya said that Panja was feeling very guilty for shooting such a |highly-respected monk and had |volunteered additional details to police while also showing them |evidence he had hidden.

The evidence allegedly included the headwear he wore during the shooting of the monk from the roof of a pickup truck driven by Charnchai.

Panja and Charnchai are in the military custody under martial law.

Charnchai is being questioned by military interrogators and his re-enactment of the alleged crimes will be conducted after he is handed over to police.

Prawut said it was not immediately clear whether the two suspects were linked with any senior policemen. "But all suspects and policemen found linked to the murder will be caught and prosecuted," he added.

Meanwhile, at a police facility in Khon Kaen villagers who were |followers of the late monk gave flower bouquets to police investigators as a token of appreciation.

The Nation

[Oytopikos]

JAPAN – Air Force physician Lt. Col. Mark A. Anderson in Kadena, Japan, is accused of raping a 21-year-old Thai woman while his unit took part in an exercise last year in Udon Thani, Thailand, Air Force Times has learned.

Lt. Col. Mark A. Anderson is the 353rd Special Operations Group surgeon general and operations support medical flight commander. He is not in pre-trial confinement because he is not considered a flight risk, according to information obtained by Air Force Times.

Anderson, who is married, is charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm, adultery and failing to obey a lawful order. He is accused of binding the woman’s wrists and holding her down, according to Anderson’s charge sheet.

The 353rd Special Operations Group took part in Exercise Teak Torch with members of the Royal Thai Air Force from Jan. 27 to Feb. 7 of 2014.

The charge sheet alleges Anderson sexually assaulted the Thai woman on two occasions between Jan. 30 and Feb. 7 of 2014. He is also charged with adultery and unlawfully having guests in his government billeting between Jan. 20 and Feb. 24 of 2014.

During an Article 32 hearing at Kadena Air Base in December, one witness testified that airmen in Anderson’s unit routinely disregard rules and standards during temporary duty assignments and that womanizing and partying is accepted as part of the culture, Air Force Times has learned.

Anderson’s court-martial is slated for June 8 at Kadena. He has not seen patients since the investigation started.

Air Force Times’ attempts to reach Anderson for comment through 18th Wing public affairs were unsuccessful.

During the exercise in Thailand, airmen with the 353rd Special Operations Group trained with Thai airmen for combat casualty evacuation and casualty care, Anderson is quoted as saying in a Feb. 20, 2014, Air Force news release.

“They trained us on local plants and snakes as well as their experiences in flood relief,” he said in the story. “Our Thai counterparts were actively engaged and extremely motivated, which made for a productive exchange.”

“We made new friends,” Anderson also said. “We were able to participate in several events outside of training as well, which solidified long lasting friendships.”

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/us-air-force-doctor-charged-with-raping-thai-woman-in-udon-thani.html

[Oytopikos]

Police investigators will conclude their probe of the March 1 murder of revered Udon Thani monk Phra Bundit Supanditto for submission to public prosecutors in one month, Pol Colonel Akkaradet Pimonsri, acting Crime Suppression Division chief, said yesterday.

Following the investigators' meeting yesterday, Akkaradet told reporters that police had interviewed 55 witnesses and compiled 1,449 pages of evidence.

Hence, they should conclude the case in one month against the four suspects: Pol Sr Sgt-Major Charnchai Soisangwan, Ek Udon Hospital chairman Banjerd Chatphaithoon, janitor and gunman Panja Chareesaen and accomplice Bunnag Hongsakham.


- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/crime/police-investigators-end-monk-murder-probe-one-month#sthash.bRqa4fIk.dpuf

[Oytopikos]

UDON THANI, 9 April 2015 – 19 Local Administrative Organizations in Udon Thani are urged to take care of the safety features of railroad crossings in the province to prevent the accident during Songkran holidays.

The Governor of Udon Thani Noppawat Singsakda has inspected the province's safety and accident prevention measures for railroad crossing in the Nong Khon Kwang subdistrict of Mueang Udon Thani district. This railroad crossing was the location of a fatal accident that happened during the previous New Year holiday.

After his observation, he praised the Ban Chan and Nong Khon Kwang subdistrict municipalities' accomplishments for improving the safety instruments at this crossing.

Provincial staff will be stationed at this level crossing during 9-16 April 2015 to provide assistance and assure the safety to the traffic crossing the railway. Information on the train timetable from the Nong Khon Kwang railway station will also be provided.

There are 59 railroad crossings in Udon Thani province under the supervision of 19 Local Administrative Organizations. Only 15 of the crossings are equipped with barriers, while the rest are awaiting equipment from the State Railway of Thailand, thus temporary safety solutions are required.


- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/udon-thani-continues-safety-upgrade-for-railroad-crossings-46252#sthash.TrwHOnOv.dpuf

[Oytopikos]

The fine art of cultural preservation Borvornvate Rungrujee hopes Phu Phrabat Historical Park will be the first of many new World Heritage Sites in Thailand

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/530243/the-fine-art-of-cultural-preservation.

[Oytopikos]

A MONK in Udon Thani has been arrested for allegedly stealing a corpse from a local cemetery and chopping off the head of another corpse for black magic purposes.
Pol Colonel Nawara Jannawan, chief of police at Prachak Sinlapakhom district, said Friday that the monk denied the allegation but confessed to visiting the two graves at Ban None Sa cemetery to allegedly "extract lottery numbers".

The monk, based in Buri Ram, is in police detention pending questioning by a deputy national police chief.


The Nation

[Oytopikos]

 Six Thai policemen and three Thai civilians have been arrested for allegedly collaborating to extort money from a Lao family after making false drug charge against the mother and the son of the family.
The arrest against the nine suspects was made by over 60 Nong Khai police and immigration officers led by Nong Khai Police chief Pol Maj Gen Churat Pan-ngao.

The six policemen came from Udon Thani but they arrested the Lao mother and son in Nong Khai and they allegedly had the mother call her husband and daughter to bring cash of Bt2 million to them in exchange for their release.
The arrest was made at 7 pm at the car park of Wat Chan Samakkhi near the Thai-Lao Friendship border checkpoint in Mueang district.
The six policemen were identified as Pol Capt Surapat Pensri, Pol Lt Pirapong Tripong, Pol Sub-Lt Somdej Sukrom, Pol Senior Sgt Maj Pakorn Sukprasert, Pol Senior Sgt Chainarong Ordee, and Pol Senior Sgt Maj Weerawat Tanuchon.
The three civilians were identified as Tawatchai Tipsupha, Tee Arjsuwan, and Patcharamai Promwitchalai.

Churat planned the arrest after Duangkham Tanthakaew, 60, and Puangmalee, 20, sought his help.

The daughter told police that her mother, Buachan Tanthakaew, 55, and her brother, Ponsawan, 14, were arrested by the group of policemen on charges of being involved with a drug trafficking ring.
Duangkham said her mother called her that the policemen wanted Bt2 million in exchange for the release.
Churat had Duangkham callled one of the policemen, saying she was willing to pay only Bt300,000. The suspects were rounded up when they turned up for money.

Buachan told police after her rescue that she and her son visited Nong Khai to buy goods but a Lao man called her, saying someone would ask her to carry something for him.
She agreed to take an envelop from the person but while she was about to exit the country at  the checkpoint, the group of policemen and turned up and searched the enveloped and found Bt60,000 in cash. They alleged that the money came from drug selling and arrested her and her son.
The six policemen have been fired to pave way for both legal and disciplinary investigations.

[Oytopikos]

His Majesty the King saw to it that Rajaprajanugroh Foundation officials yesterday delivered relief bags to 420 families affected by summer storms in Udon Thani's Nong Han district.

Since February 16, a total of 2,920 families in 20 districts of this north-eastern province have been affected by summer storms, and the province has spent its emergency budget to help the affected.

An additional 225 households were affected by summer storms from May 5-9 in Nong Han, Thung Fon, Bang Dung, Nam Som, Sri That and Muahg districts.


 http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/thai-king-ensures-relief-storm-victims#sthash.af7CKEYc.dpuf

[Oytopikos]

UDON THANI – A 41-year-old Norwegian National has been found hanging inside a hotel room in Udon Thani’s Muang district late Wednesday night.

The body of the Norwegian national, whose name is being withheld, was found on the third floor of a hotel on Phornniyom Road in tambon Mak Kheng around 9.30pm, Pol Lt Col Withoon Srichai, a police investigator at Muang police station, said.

The man’s head was covered with a white T-shirt and he was wearing only green underwear. He had apparently used a rope to hang himself from the refrigerator’s handle. There were no signs of struggle, Thai media reported on Thursday.

His Thai wife, identified only as Picha, 44, told police she worked at a laundry shop in Muang district and had been with her Norwegian husband for about one year.  He often complained of acute headaches and sought treatment several times, but his illness could not be cured, said Ms Picha.

When he developed the acute headache, he often fastened a rope or piece of cloth around his  head or neck, she said. He told her the pain eased when he did this. She had tried in vain to stop him from doing it.

She went to work on Wednesday morning as normal while her husband was still sleeping in the hotel room. When she returned from work that night, she was shocked to see her husband hang himself to death.

Pol Lt Col Withoon said the Norwegian had been staying in the hotel with Ms Picha for about 3 months.  Doctors said the man had died at least 5 hours before his death was reported.

Authorities believed stress caused by illness might have driven him to take his own life. They were in touch with the Norwegian embassy.

– Bangkok Post, Bangkok Coconuts, Sanook

[Oytopikos]

Udon Thani:- A farang driver was killed Saturday evening when his pickup truck crashed into the rear of a trailer truck in Udon Thani’s Nong Harn district.

Pol Lt Krissada Chanon, an office on duty of the Nong Harn police station was informed at 7:30 pm that a fatal accident occurred at the kilometer marker No 20 in Ban Phone-ngarm village in Tambon Phone-ngarm.
Krissada rushed to the scene with rescuers from the Methatham Udon Thani and rescuers of Nong Harn highway unit.
They found a black Toyota Vigo with Udon Thani license plate that has crashed into the rear of a trailer truck. Its front was dissolved because of the impact.

The officials found a body of the pickup driver, who was a foreigner, trapped behind the wheel. They had to use tools to remove the body.
Krissada said the farang was identified only as Edward. His surname and nationality was not known.
The trailer truck drive, Somjit Phuehikewa, 46, was waiting for police at the scene.

Somjit told police that he was heading to Udon Thani and he stopped his truck on the roadside at the spot to rest.
Somjit said the pickup that was speeding behind him crashed into the rear at full speed.
Police said further investigation would be carried out to determine the cause of the accident.

The body of the farang was sent to the Nong Harn Hospital pending contracts by his relatives. So far, police did not know where he lived, Krissasda added. He urged anyone with information about the killed driver to inform police about his identity.

https://www.thairath.co.th/content/500715

[Oytopikos]

Three persons were killed and 29 others, including seven students, were hurt when a Chiang Mai-bound tour bus slammed into a school van, another vehicle and three houses in Lampang province early today. The bus travelling from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai crashed head-on into the school van and a passenger sedan stopped at a red light at Den Chai intersection

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/574379/1-dead-29-hurt-in-lampang-bus-crash.

[Oytopikos]

Pheu Thai Party members had unexpected guests joining their meeting in Udon Thani province on Wednesday as they were mapping out plans to fight impeachment bids against them.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/574715/security-authorities-join-pheu-thai-talks.

[Oytopikos]

Pheu Thai Party members had unexpected guests joining their meeting in Udon Thani province on Wednesday as they were mapping out plans to fight impeachment bids against them.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/574715/security-authorities-join-pheu-thai-talks.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda warned governors and local officials on Friday they would be punished if they allowed any more political meetings in their jurisdictions.

The reminder came after the Pheu Thai Party held a meeting in Udon Thani on Wednesday without alerting authorities. Pheu Thai key member Chusak Sirinin said authorities weren't informed because meeting was organised to prepare former MPs for impeachment bids by the National Legislative Assembly.

Pheu Thai decided to cancel talks in Roi Et and Ubon Ratchathani this week after police, soldiers and ministry officials demanded to attend the gathering in Udon Thani.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/576787/anupong-warns-governors-over-political-talks.

[Oytopikos]

A 23-year-old groom-to-be’s happy day turned into a nightmare when he arrested at his fiancée’s house hours before their wedding for stealing 100,000 baht from his boss to pay for her dowry.

Piyarat Khuleedee, an employee of an Udon Thani superstore, was shocked when uninvited guests in brown turned up with employer Suchart Surawanvijit at his 17-year-old future wife's house in Bung Kan province today with wrist bracelets, not rings.

Police took from him 31,800 baht cash, three gold necklaces and a handbag.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/576875/stealing-for-sin-sot-groom-locked-up-at-altar