The Police followed Somchai Khunploem's black Lexus RX270 SUV from his home in Chonburi to the Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok. At about 10:00 Somchai left the hospital in the same vehicle. When he was heading back to Chonburi, a 10-man Police team arrested him at Lat Krabang's toll gate. Somchai was accompanied by two persons (later updated to three persons). One was Ms Walai Kwanjit, identified as a female doctor, the second one was Winai Ponpaipal (or Vinai Phonphaipharn), the chief of tambon Samet and the successor of the murdered Kamnan Yoon. The third person was Mr. Prasong Charoenpol, allegedly the driver of the SUV. Mr Winai confirmed he had taken Somchai to the hospital as the fugitive had health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure. The Police found six rounds of bullets and a large amount of medicine, but no firearms. The medicine was prescribed to a Mr. Kim sae Tang. Somchai later admitted to the court that he and Kim were the same person. Mr Winai said that the bullets belonged to him. Therefore he was charged with possession of ammunition. Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital already said that neither Somchai Khunploem nor Kim sae Tang were registered as patients. The Police sent Somchai to the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he received a 30-minute health check-up. Later he will be sent to the Bang Kwang Prison. The Bangkok Remand Prison is used to detain inmates serving no more than 15 years. Somchai's relatives (!) informed the prison officials about the gangster's health conditions.

---

Somchai Khunploem has served as one of the leading figures in Thailand's political and criminal spheres. Somchai's strong power base in Chonburi province had earned him the nicknames Godfather of the East and Godfather of Chonburi. Somchai Khunploem has four sons and one daughter, all in influential positions. Itthiphol Kunplome is the Mayor of Pattaya. Wittaya Khunplome manages the Chonburi Administration Organisation and is in charge for most of Pattaya's larger festivities. He controls an annual budget of US$5 billion. Narongchai Khunploem is the Mayor of Saensuk Municipality as well as the Managing Director of the Five Leader Group and the Executive Director of Bangsaen Beach Resort, Bangsaen Beach Villas, S.S. Bangsaen Beach and The Tide Resort. Sontaya Khunpleum is Thailand's Minister of Culture. During November 2012 he replaced Culture Minister Sukamol Kunplome, a former beauty queen and Sontaya's wife. He stated that he has the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by Mrs. Sukamol. She had to took the post until a political ban on her husband had been lifted. Jiraphorn Kunplome is the President of the Bangsaenmahanakorn Property Company and Director of Bangsaenmahanakorn Housing Development and Thalay 66 Co., Ltd. (also known as Sixty Six Condominium Pattaya). Sontaya told the court he did not known that his father was in the country...

---

Update: In the night from January 30th to January 31st 75-year old Somchai Khunploem was admitted to the Corrections Department's hospital. His illness flared up, a report says. Police and the Medical Council have indicated that no action will be taken against officials and the hospital. Those who sheltered him had no ill intention because they showed gratitude to Somchai, Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Bhakdinarinath, chief of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), said. Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongson, chief of the Provincial Police Region 2, said police in his office's jurisdiction had no evidence that Somchai was in Chonburi and therefore he will not set up a panel to probe Chonburi police for possible dereliction of duty. Police have faced difficulties in doing their work in Chonburi as Somchai is an influential man in the region, Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chaiyaphan said. About 10 people living in a house named Ban Saen Suk in Chonburi's Muang district are believed to have sheltered Somchai. The suspects include Somchai's sons and daughters. The car which Somchai travelled in belongs to Winai Phonphaipharn, a kamnan (subdistrict headman usually chosen or elected among the village elders) of tambon Samet in Chonburi's Muang district. National police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said that those who provided shelter to Somchai and those who helped him escape arrest must be questioned. Kamnan Poh's family abetted his evasion, Police said. The Chief of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Bhakdinarinath, said he has given the investigators from CSD 15 days to gather evidence before deciding whether police will take action on those who helped Somchai by illegally giving him shelter while a fugitive from the law. Somchai's family has applied for a transfer of the criminal to a prison in Chonburi. They are citing the inconvence of travelling from Chonburi to visit him in Bangkok. The province also was his hometown, they said. The combined assets of the Khunploem and Sancharoen families (the family of Somchai's wife) were estimated on four billion Baht in 2004. On March 31st, 2009, Thailand's Civil Court ordered the seizure of 11 million Baht worth of assets of Somchai Khunploem and his son Wittaya Khunplome. When Kamnan Poh was residing in Cambodia, he crossed the border each year on his birthday to celebrate on Thai soil with his family and friends, with business partners, government officials, members of parliament and other important figures. There was never an attempt to arrest the Godfather. The Khunploem family is the absolute power in Chonburi province. Therefore many local media simply ignored the arrest of the(ir) criminal Godfather. Pol Col Nirand Namsuwan, chief of CSD Sub-Division 2 and head of the investigation into how Somchai evaded arrest, said on February 3rd several people were believed to have illegally provided Somchai shelter at his Chonburi home. According to Sorasit Jongjaroen, chief of Bangkok Remand Prison, Somchai is still being treated at the Corrections Department hospital for clogged blood vessels in the brain and respiratory problems. On February 4th, 2013, an ambulance transfered criminal Somchai Khunploem to the provincial prison of his hometown. The transfer from Bangkok to Chonburi happened on a request by one of his sons, Culture Minister Sonthaya Khunploem, and was approved by the director-general of the Corrections Department. 10 minutes after arriving at the prison, Amnart Prachyaphan, director of Chonburi Central Prison, decided that the gangster was too weak for the prison. The prison's doctors found the gangster had difficulty breathing and was suffering from high blood pressure. The prison decided to refer him to a VIP room on the 8th floor of the hospital for urgent treatment, as the prison had a duty to save Somchai's life, Amnart Prachyaphan said. At about 12:45, only minutes after reaching his new accommodation, Witthaya and Narongchai Khunploem arrived at the hospital with a group of local politicians to welcome the gangster. The Corrections Department had the authority to approve the transfer of a prisoner, Criminal Court president Thawee Prachuablarb said. It seems he forget very fast what he said earlier to the press: Prisoners serving more than 20 years would usually not be eligible for a transfer and would be jailed in Bangkwang Central Prison, which has the highest security. On February 5th Culture Minister Sonthaya Khunploem said that the transfer of his father from Bangkok to Chonburi prison and his rapid admission to the provincial hospital for emergency treatment were within the rights of a prisoner as allowed by the law. His father is now under the care of doctors. He has the right to medical treatment when he is sick, the Minister said. He also said that nobody knew how his father had travelled in and out of the country. As a son, he felt duty bound to take care of his father. Apart from the right to medical treatment, his father also has the right to seek a royal pardon, Sonthaya Khunploem said. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung denied Somchai Khunploem had been given privileges. Everything had been carried out according to Corrections Department regulations. The regulations include the right of an inmate to seek a transfer to a prison in his home province, Chalerm Yubamrung said. On February 6th the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) said it will question six people next week on whether they provided shelter and assistance to convicted murderer and former fugitive Somchai Khunploem. The director, the registrar and the security chief of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital would be summoned because Police assume Somchai was registered at the hospital under the false name of Kim Sae Tang. Police also will question Vinai Ponpaiparn, 50, the kamnan of tambon Samet of Chonburi's Muang district, Somchai's personal doctor, a woman, and the driver of the Lexus, the CSD director said. CSD commander Pol Maj-Gen Supisal Pakdinaruenart added that those listed on the domicile registration of house No 3 in tambon Saensuk of Chonburi's Muang district would also being checked to see if they were involved in the provided shelter. Update February 15th, 2013: Ms Walai Kwanjit, once entitled as the Godfather's female doctor, now downgraded to a nurse, Mr Vinai and Mr Prasong, they all told the investigating Police they were unaware Somchai was back in Thailand until they received a call that day to accompany the criminal to the Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok. We recommend that Thailand's Crime Suppression Division (CSD), the investigating police unit, should have a closer look into the killing of Pattaya Mayor's former driver. The mysterious killing happened on Saturday, December 8th, 2012, between 03:30 and 04:00 in front of the Netureza North Pattaya project, near the bridge #1 on the side of the road Chaipornvithee (Soi Nong Preu) Moo 12 Tambon Nong Preu, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province. A gunman shot Itthiphol Kunplome's former diver three times. Kamol Supatsaksakul, 44, died later in the hospital. He lost his job when the mayor began driving himself... Update February 17th, 2013: Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chayaphant, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commander, authorised Pol Col Athip Thaennil during December 2012 to lead a top secret operation to bring Kamnan Poh to justice. Pol Col Athip formed an undercover team of 30 officers and divided the team into 10 units. The units not only observed Chonburi, but most areas at the province, including crossing points on the Thai-Cambodian border. At the end of December the gathered information showed that the fugitive hadn't fled the country (as reported by his family) and was still living in his old home. The investigators learned that Somchai regularly travelled to Bangkok to receive medication for nose cancer and high blood pressure at the Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok. On January 30th, 2013, undercover officers followed Kamnan Poh's black Lexus and arrested the criminal as he left the hospital. Update February 19th, 2013: The investigation team says it needs another 15 days to wrap up the investigation. According to Crime Suppression Division (CSD) chief Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Phakdinaruenart they had not received information from Samitivej Srinakarind Hospital. Officers sought a search warrant from the Criminal Court for Somchai's medical records and the facts behind his fake name, Kim Sae Tang, but the court rejected the warrant request...

Pattaya's Branch of Thailand's Department of Special Investigations (DSI) plans to initiate a crackdown on Industrial and Commercial Corruption around the Eastern Seaboard. Khun Prawit, the Director of the Eastern Branch of the DSI, said he is concerned at the rise in corruption cases which sometimes involve high ranking government officials. The DSI is mostly concerned about the illegal dumping of waste and how local government agencies are paid to ignore the problem. The DSI said that corruption also occurs during the sale of government land to private investors. According to Khun Prawit corruption is widespread around the Eastern Seaboard. The DSI will have a close look into the problem.

Since February 16th, 2013, you can see what happens at the Glasshouse, Walking Street's latest A Go-Go Club. Actions can run on two floors.

The Burapa Bike Week happened from February 15th to February 16th 2013 at the Silverlake Vineyard in Na-Jomtien and not at Pattaya's Indor Stadion on Soi Chaiyaphruek as during the last few years! Nevertheless, we have Nightwalker's Pictures! But Pattaya Days has some too!

No! It's not Harley-Davidson and not Ducati or Triumph. It is not even Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Zongshen, Keeway, Piaggio-Vespa or Katayama! Hero, an Indian manufacturer, is the World's largest Producer of Motorcycles. Hero is manufacturing more than 3'000'000 Motorcycles each year. Most of the bikes are sold on the Indian Market. Hero was in a co-coperation with Honda for many years, but is now a fully independent company. Hero is preparing to capture a part of the international market and therefore will get even bigger.

On Soi Thepprasit, about half way between Sukhumvit Road and Jomtien Beach, prospective people are building a copy (what else?) of Rom's famous Colosseum. A whole new tourist attraction for our visitors from Asia. It will get a large parking lot for their tour busses and a lot of space for souvenir shops too.

---

The original, an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the Italian city of Rome, was built of concrete and stone between 72 AD and 80 AD. Some modifications were made during 81-96 AD. The Flavian Amphitheatre (original name) offered seats for 50'000 spectators. The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas, as well as for executions. Let's see if Pattaya's copy will survive the next 2'000 years.

Without certificate they can't get a good job, no matter how intelligent they are. They have to work as a construction worker, at one of the many small cookshops along Thailand's streets, underpayed in a rice-mill - or as a prostitute. But Pattaya is different: In Pattaya pregnant students can still attend the lessons and therefore will leave the school with a certificate!

Our compliment! Honor to whom honor is due!

Jomtien's Beach Promenade was hard to reach for disabled visitors. At Soi 5 Pattaya's Engineering Department is now improving the situation for wheelchair-bounded tourists. With the help of private partners the city is building parking lots, restrooms and a sloped access path from Jomtien Beach Road to its Promenade. And whole the work looks as made by professionals! Chai-yo!

To tackle the numerous complaints from Tourists and Residents of Pattaya, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome is now setting up a Consumer Protection Operation Center in conjunction with Thailand's Consumer Protection Police. The Consumer Protection Center has to stop bad-practices of companies and individuals in Pattaya, the persistent problems with Jet Ski Scams, Metered Taxi's that refuse to use the Meters, Gem Scams, Baht Bus problems and the infamous practices in the Real Estate Industry. The Consumer Protection Operation Center is located at Pattaya's City Hall and will work closely with local Police Divisions.

On January 23rd 2013 Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced that it arrested two Nigerian men suspected of operating a scam misleading and luring Thai women through social networking websites. According to DSI the suspects claimed to be US Navy sailors based in Afghanistan, showing the victims photos of good-looking naval personnel. They told their victims they would like early retirement in order to marry them, but said some payment would be required immediately in order to do that. The Nigerian men worked as a team and had separate duties to lure targeted single women aged over 40, or widows. Apparently the two alleged gangsters received as much as 20 million Baht from Thai women for false marriages.

Thousands of Farangs here in Pattaya - or anywhere in this beautiful country - are losing their savings, their house(s) and/or their condo(s) to lovely Thai ladies doing the very same as the two recently arrested Nigerians. Be careful! It happens on a daily basis - and you can be the next vitim!

February 1st, 2013: Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has established a special fund to provide financial help to disabled veterans. It will provide monthly financial help to 139 honorably discharged veterans. The foundation will pay 2'000 Baht per month each for six months. The Army Chief started the foundation with only one million Baht in funding obtained from the War Veterans Organisation, supplemented by donations from the public. Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha appealed to the public to lend support to the disabled veterans by donating money to Directorate of Personnel's personnel rights division. A group of academics said they have found that military veterans in the country have been discarded and forgotten by the government.

February 7th, 2013: The use of gadgets like calculators, mobile phones and even karaoke machines opens up the possibility for users to lose their memory and eventually develop Alzheimer's disease, Thailand's Deputy Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew said on February 7th, 2013. Using technologies instead of the brain at a young age could speed up the process of memory loss, the minister added...

February 8th, 2013: Rayong's residents are suffering from industrial pollution and poisoning. The number of people sseking medical care increased 50 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. The expansion at Hemraj Chonburi Industrial Estate in Pluak Daeng, which now boasts more than 60 factories, is seen as the main source for the health problem. Deputy Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said people need to be educated on preventative health measures they can take, from eating better to getting more exercise, and he noted that the area lacks a sufficient number of health-care centers...

February 11th, 2013: In some countries nowadays Gay and Lesbians are allowed to marry. In Thailand two water buffaloes tied the knot on February 11th, 2013. Chiang Yuen, a 23-year-old male buffalo, wedded the 15 years younger Thong Kwaw at Wat Pho Than in Sena district in an event witnessed by monks, villagers and the district chief. The ceremony ended when the district chief inked his signature on their marriage certificate.

February 12th, 2013: Thailand's loudly announced deepwater port project, located in the Myanmar-based Dawei special economic zone, has been stalled because of planning uncertainties and conflicts with potential investors. Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt said the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning had yet to study into public utility demand, suitable utility fees, total required investment, development timeframes and technical aspects of infrastructure including port locations. Required investment in the Myanmar city is estimated at more than 290 billion Baht, but the Thai government is having difficulty getting Japan on board as the major investor...

---

Last month we published another set of Miraculous Stories from Amazing Thailand.

---

Buy One - Get One or Buy One - Get One FREE? Restricted to spirits only?

---

Thailand's school year finishes either at the end of February or during the first week in March.

---

Why not Chonburi Cable Network?
Oh! We are in Thailand! Here we say Bar Beer and not Beer Bar!

---

Seen on 3rd Road: We are happy they do not announce Western Foot...