A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

Slice of infamous Patpong mango today. Army general's extortion mafia busted, no surprise on what's going on. See his lame excuse for his presence in Patpong :p

General held in Patpong bust
Bangkok Post Published: 31/07/2014 at 05:46 AM

The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the military detained an army general and four civilians in a sting operation yesterday for allegedly extorting money from vendors at Patpong, Bangkok's best known night entertainment strip on Silom Road.

The so-called Patpong Bazaar is tightly controlled on rents and space, and vendors say a military mafia is behind the extortion. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Lt Col Burin Thongpraphai, a staff judge advocate, brought Maj Gen Jennarong Dechawan, also known as Seh James, to CSD headquarters yesterday.
The four civilians were also nabbed following complaints from vendors that the five had extorted cash from them.

The four were arrested after they allegedly received 2,000 baht in cash from a group of vendors in the lobby of the Tawanna Bangkok Hotel on Surawongse Road early yesterday in a sting operation organised by the military and local police.

Maj Gen Jennarong, 55, an expert attached to the office of the permanent secretary for defence, was among the suspects who showed up in the lobby of the hotel early yesterday, police said.



Maj Gen Jennarong denied the allegation. He said he was present in the lobby to receive complaints from the vendors who asked him to help solve the extortion problem being carried out by an alleged mafia group.

The civilians were identified as Nongnuch Sitthirat, 44, Panthong Siriwan, 40, Janthima Chotekittikasem, 44, and Surat Phoomphuang, 46. Relatives of Maj Gen Jennarong arrived at the CSD later and told police that they believe the officer was set up. Maj Gen Jennarong was initially questioned at Bang Rak and then taken to the CSD.

CSD commander Prasopchoke said Maj Gen Jennarong and the other suspects were accused of extorting money from vendors in the Patpong area. The arrest yesterday complied with the National Council for Peace and Order’s policy to try and eradicate such problems nationwide.

Under martial law, the civilians will be detained by the CSD. Maj Gen Jennarong will be held separately at an undisclosed military compound for a period of seven days, Pol Col Prasopchoke said. The military then will decide if there is enough evidence to press charges, he said. Pol Col Prasopchoke said the five would be treated fairly.

rotikosong said:

Very sound analysis. Tharman going to call you up soon

30% drop year-on-year is pretty bad. GDP numbers going to be released soon, let's see.

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No la We just say it's just a practical way of measuring the economy using new pickup truck sales so far for many years it had not failed us businessmen by using this method.

In addition, we have sort of lost faith in the GDP and stock market numbers we know these are being manipulated and don't reflect the real sector or market sentiments.

Construction can also be use as an indicator however like vehicle sales we need to be specific as different sector of construction tells you different story. A good indicator will be residential to give you an indication if the middle income; factory to give you an indication of foreign investments ; ongoing infrastructures this is like an immediate indication of the health of the government.

The biggest housing developer in Thailand whom is also my customer told me in May their Q1 sales dropped 75% now this number was given over some drinks and different from official figures which is 45% drop. Across the board SC Assets, L&H, Perfect Home some of the big ones all indicated officially a drop of 20% or more. Perhaps only good news comes from LP who build condos and apartments sales seems to be holding on.

Those people building factories who told me their business dropped 20% considered themselves lucky as their other competitors also my customers dropped even more. The biggest if them, a Japanese builder, saw drop of 50% H1, most projects are finishing up and no new projects in the horizon as many new investments had moved to the neighboring countries. There's also a trend now for local companies to invest in factories in the neighboring countries rather than in Thailand.

People living here can tell you that ongoing projects like MRT and roads and bridges building seems to be slowing and some parts completely stopped halfway, all these happened over last 3 months. I shall not comment about the reason but we know so well.

The above are what many who live here and have businesses here can tell you, not what you can read from the press. As mentioned, good news is business owners are finding more time for leisure.

By by the way people in the retail business are crying too but that's another story that I'm not so familiar with.

Recall the airport car park fiasco in 2010? Now Kasikorn Bank also kena hit for thb51.7mil as guarantor

Judge fines ex-airport car park firm. Court awards B82m to AoT in contract row
Bangkok Post Published: 31/07/2014 at 06:03 AM

A judge at the Central Administrative Court has recommended a fine of 82.6 million baht against a former car park operator at Suvarnabhumi airport as it violated a contract with the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT).

Parking Management Co last year filed a lawsuit against the AoT, which cancelled its contract to operate an airport parking lot on Oct 6, 2010.
The AoT had accused Parking Management of failing to pay the authority its share of parking revenues, not paying collateral and neglecting to install equipment and an information technology system as promised.

Parking Management appealed to the court, asking it to order the AoT to rescind the decision so the company could carry on its operation, and retrieve a seized computer system. The dispute flared in 2010 when 100 armed men raided the airport car park and seized the equipment there, prompting Parking Management to move out.

Speaking at the court yesterday, judge Anusorn Teerapataranon, who is in charge of the case, said Parking Management had broken its contract with the AoT, which had warned the company of the violations. Kasikornbank, guarantor of Parking Management, has partly compensated the AoT, but the company still failed to provide the cash collateral with the bank.

The AoT also has the right to scrap the contract without warning and to take over the parking building, Mr Anusorn said. He said an internal company conflict was responsible for the case in which armed men raided the parking lot and confiscated assets. The judge said the company should compensate for the loss which consists of the monthly revenue in line with the contract, electricity bills, a fine for failing to fill in the cash collateral, a fine for not reporting monthly revenue, and property tax.

He awarded payment of 82.6 million baht to the AoT. Of that amount, Kasikornbank has to shoulder 51.7 million baht as a guarantor. The payment must be made within 60 days at a 7.5% yearly interest rate.

Speaking about Parking Management's claims that its staff were prevented from entering the car park, Mr Anusorn said the AoT did not obstruct the company from entering the area. Its entry was hampered as a result of an internal conflict. Parking Management had held a board meeting calling for the removal of a man who was allegedly the leader of the armed men who seized money from the firm at the car park. He was identified as Tan Pojanapan.

The judge's opinion was not the final ruling but, in most cases, the Administrative Court would follow it. The panel of judges has not set a ruling date.
Parking Management lawyer Kijja Ali-Ishor said the contract termination order, signed by then AoT vice-president Somchai Sawasdipol, was unlawful as the AoT's official stamp was not on it. Company staff were also blocked from gaining access to the car parking, which prevented an official handover of the site.

Lousy exports sentiments, supports poor outlook (as with some discussions here). Reality bites vs official speak

Was at Seacon Bangkae (surburban mall across Thonburi side) last weekend. Had coffee 1.5hrs, no other customers. And cafe stall holder was idling away, and admitted business poor. Robinsons, and Tops super -can play hide and seek too. My obsevations may not be representative of downtown, touristy malls

ECONOMY
Export outlook decays further
Shippers slash view to 1.6% growth at best
Bangkok Post Published: 1/08/2014 at 06:03 AM

Although the Commerce Ministry has maintained its export growth forecast at 3.5% for the full year, the central bank expects the figure to come in below 3%, and shippers are even more pessimistic.

The Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC) yesterday cut its forecast for Thailand's exports to a range of 1% to 1.6% from an earlier 3%. The shippers cited pressure from volatile economic conditions, the baht's appreciation and a sluggish manufacturing sector.

"Despite an export recovery in June, Thai exports still face a spate of risks," said TNSC president Nopporn Thepsithar, citing the Israeli-Gaza conflict and the escalating tension between Ukraine and Russia as examples of the fragile global environment.

He said such instability led to higher premiums for cargo insurance.

The central bank still expects export growth to fall well short of the Commerce Ministry's target, given declining crop prices and the slowdown of the Chinese and Japanese economies.

Don Nakornthab, the Bank of Thailand's director for economic policy, said China's economic slowdown from early this year and Japan's recent consumption tax hike had harmed Thai exports to those countries. The central bank earlier forecast 3% export growth this year, down from a previous projection of 4.5% in March.
For the first half, however, exports shrank 0.1% year-on-year.

Merchandise exports grew by 3.8% year-on-year in June after a 1.2% contraction in May thanks to increased shipments of petrochemical products, machinery and equipment.

Despite improvement in several economic indices, economic growth in the second quarter is projected to have declined by 0.4% year-on-year, Mr Don said.
"We await economic figures for July with anticipation since June is reckoned to be the first month in which uncertainty has been reduced," he said.

Mr Don said a technical recession was unlikely to occur thanks to long-awaited clarity in domestic politics and improvements in domestic consumption and exports.
A technical recession is defined as two straight quarters of negative economic growth, as measured by seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter figures for real GDP.
On the domestic side, the central bank remains adamant the main concern of the moment is swelling household debt, not inflation.

According to the Commerce Ministry's latest report on Monday, Thai exports rose for the first time in four months in June, driven by higher farm shipments.
June exports grew by 3.9% year-on-year to US$19.8 billion. For the first six months, overall shipments fell by 0.35% to $113 billion.

Thailand's shipments contracted by 1.98% year-on-year in January before rising by 2.43% in February. They slumped again in March, by 3.12%, then by 0.87% in April and 2.14% in May.

Farm and agribusiness shipments inched up for the first time in five months in June, rising by 2.6% year-on-year to $2.92 billion. Thailand's farm economy this year is expected to grow in the range of 2.1% to 3.1% compared with 1.1% growth last year, as the agriculture and livestock sectors recover.

In the first half of this year, farm exports such as crops, fish and livestock edged up 0.8% year-on-year on improving prices for poultry and livestock products, said agriculture permanent secretary Chavalit Chookajorn.

Exports of industrial products rose by 3.9% year-on-year in June to $13.1 billion, led by gems and jewellery, garments, plastic pellets and products, electronics, electric appliances, construction materials, and vehicles and parts.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) yesterday cut its economic growth forecast to 2.2% from 2.5%, citing the uncertain prospects for exports, tourism and the global economy. UTCC said Thailand's investment sector was expected to slacken, farm product prices remained low and household debt and living costs were high.

According to UTCC rector Sauwanee Thairungroj, investment is expected to contract by 0.4% from a year earlier, with private consumption expanding by just 1.2% and exports by 1.8%. She said that despite the expected recovery of Thai tourism in the fourth quarter, the number of tourist arrivals is forecast to fall by 5.9% for the full year to 24.9 million, with revenue shrinking by 2.8% to 1.17 trillion baht.

Nonetheless, Thanavath Phonvichai, UTCC's vice-president for research, said Thailand should bounce back to growth in excess of 5% next year, driven by infrastructure investment and a global economic recovery.

joetys said:

By by the way people in the retail business are crying too but that's another story that I'm not so familiar with.

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Hi Joe have you been to any of the restaurants listed here?

http://www.ladyironchef.com/2014/01/bangkok-top-10-favourite-restaurants/

Leongsam said:

Hi Joe have you been to any of the restaurants listed here?

http://www.ladyironchef.com/2014/01/bangkok-top-10-favourite-restaurants/

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From the list, I've eaten at Som Tam Nua and the place at the basement of Erawan; passed by many of the rest. The Erawan place is OK (the "boat" or nam tok noodles are their specialty), but nothing to write home about - only reason I was there was I was staying at the hotel.

Som Tam Nua is Isaan food. Very popular place with Asian tourists - hard to get a seat - must wait. Claustrophobic set-up and not the best Isaan (Joe will say Crok Mai is better but it is a ways away from center of Bangkok) if that is what you want but if you are in the Siam Sq area - this is probably it. Food is authentic and good but small portions.

Bangkok has many good restaurants and Thai food is hard to do badly. The difference between a good and great Thai restaurant is minimal. For me, if you are in the area, Siam Paragon's food basement has everything and more.

Leongsam said:

Hi Joe have you been to any of the restaurants listed here?

http://www.ladyironchef.com/2014/01/bangkok-top-10-favourite-restaurants/

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The restaurants listed are mostly located in the tourist area and I am sure its very helpful and convenient for tourists or foreigners who live there.

For a local like me if I want Thai food I would not do it downtown if its street food then it'll be somewhere near wherever I am at that time. For Thai cuisine as in restaurants there are many choices for me as I drive but unlikely to dine in those areas listed.

If its Japanese food I'd go Thaniya which I encourage you to go as its as Japanese as you can get and countless joints there, Thaniya is easily accessable by BTS stopping at Saladaeng Station right in front of Thaniya Road. If you are doing Thaniya go at night, its fun to walk in this short road. For great sushi check out this post http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?...e-to-living-in-Thailand&p=1690745#post1690745

As for angmoh food the areas in your list are great and can find very good angmoh food there.

The only restaurant I had dined in from your list is Som Tam Nua but not at this branch instead at a branch near my home I'm a regular there and can say the food is good with live music.

There are 2 restaurants in your list that appeals to me and they are Hyde & Seek and Roast which I will definitely go try next week and give a report here.

Thanks to both of you for the info. Will be in Bangkok in Jan 2014.

Leongsam said:

Will be in Bangkok in Jan 2014.

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Once you're done with that time machine, can I borrow it? I need to place a bet on a certain world cup semifinal game.

rotikosong said:

Once you're done with that time machine, can I borrow it? I need to place a bet on a certain world cup semifinal game.

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I'll queue behind you but please take your time. I will sell all my family houses first.

Interest rate to hold, with high 83% household debt vs GDP. Bets to 2015?

economy
MPC expected to hold policy rate at 2%
Bangkok Post Published: 6/08/2014 at 06:00 AM

Growing optimism over the economic rebound, subdued inflationary pressure and household debt concerns could encourage the Bank of Thailand to keep its policy rate unchanged at today's meeting and for the next two quarters, according to HSBC.



"The probability of further rate cuts in this cycle is low. Moreover, policymakers remain concerned about household debt and want to discourage excessive borrowing, even if it boosts GDP growth," HSBC economist Nalin Chuchotitham said in a paper.

All economists forecast that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will leave the rate on hold at 2% today for a third straight meeting. The committee is likely to reiterate the necessity for its accommodative stance but also highlight challenges and keep its policy options open amid a slew of uncertainties, Ms Nalin said.

A nascent exports and tourism recovery, household spending constrained by high debt levels and low income growth, and the ongoing economic reform — particularly in the energy sector — are among uncertainties. The economy is regaining momentum as private sector sentiment has picked up since the military's takeover of administrative power brought a resumption of state spending. The global economic improvement is also boosting confidence. However, June's economic readings showed the economy is recovering at a gradual pace.

"June's data showed that private consumption and investment spending had declined slightly, after rising in May, indicative of an unsteady recovery trend," said Ms Nalin.
"While the data were not as positive as hoped, they were not a surprise, as household income growth remains weak while debt levels remain high. Lower expenditure on durables such as electrical appliances and vehicles also reflected this trend."

A contraction in manufacturing output and low capacity utilisation rate in the second quarter indicated that there is still substantial spare capacity in many sectors, which is part of the reason for the slow recovery of private investment.

However, optimism is still rising as businesses and consumers look towards a stronger economic revival next year. The Board of Investment's acceleration of investment incentive approvals and increasing clarity on infrastructure investment have stoked expectations of solid growth in 2015, though the junta still needs time to complete its financing plan and public spending is expected to kick-start in the final quarter.

Ms Nalin said the central bank's worries over household debt, which reached 82.7% of GDP at the end of the first quarter, will make it likely to discourage more of such debt, especially as the most affected are low-income earners who need more time to strengthen their balance sheets.

"The MPC can continue its accommodative stance to make sure that economic recovery is on a stronger path before starting to normalise its policy," she said.

YY, had lunch with business partners yesterday, 2015 don't look good here, need to look for more alternatives. So nothing to do just eat la. This is a good restaurant to go to if anyone is in The Promenade, Liu Xiang Feng







Garoupa fillet deep fried with batter then saute with XO sauce cooked with dried scallop




Garlic lobster




Don't understand why Thais like this but I don't


Duck meat from Peking duck stir fried with soya, black pepper and capsicum


More duck meat from Peking duck chopped to be eaten wrapped with lettuce


Garoupa with rice in metal dish

joetys said:

...business partners yesterday, 2015 don't look good here, need to look for more alternatives. ..good restaurant to go to if anyone is in The Promenade, Liu Xiang Feng

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On 2015, hopefully there's a rainbow after all the pessimism (especially after going bottom)?:p New meaning to your offshore plans? On makan, I'd give my left arm (never mind my busy right ) for good chinese makan there once in awhile. Promenade looks nice, only trouble is my hangout in Bangkae very ulu one. On the local teochew tze zar to humour me. But generally, thai teochews speak a diff lingo (than sinkie) -someone told me it's "teo-yeoh" dialect.

Goodness, more skeletons from surrogate mom closet ...now with a nippon's 9 offsprings in Lat Prao. Talk about hitting the lucky thai no.

Nine babies found in Bangkok 'surrogate condo'
Japanese man claims to be biological father
Bangkok Post Published: 7/08/2014 at 06:21 AM

DNA testing will be conducted to establish the relationships of nine surrogate babies and a Japanese businessman who claims to be their biological father as a fresh surrogacy scandal emerged in Thailand.

Nine babies born to surrogate mothers in Bangkok have been taken to a state-run nursing home in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district along with their nannies (pictured, right) while police launch an investigation into the surrogacy scandal. A Japanese man reportedly rented rooms in The Niche ID Lat Phrao condominium in Soi Lat Phrao 130 in Bang Kapi district and hired women to take care of the babies. (Photos by Thanarak Khunton)



Anti-human trafficking suppression police have stepped in to investigate the Japanese surrogacy case which came to light on Tuesday when nine surrogate babies were found in a city condo.

Pol Gen Aek Angsananont, deputy national police chief, said the DNA testing is a crucial part of the police investigation into the latest surrogacy case which is likely to be more complicated than the baby Gammy affair. The new case, which has raised questions over the relative ease with which foreigners can come to Thailand to have surrogate babies, was exposed on Tuesday when authorities, acting on a tip-off, found nine babies, six boys and three girls, aged from two weeks to two years, in rented rooms at The Niche ID Lat Phrao condominium in soi Lat Phrao 130 in Bang Kapi district.

The authorities also found seven nannies and a 20-year-old pregnant woman. All nine babies, as well as the one being carried by the pregnant woman, are claimed to be surrogates. The babies have been taken to a state-run nursing home in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district.

Shortly after the search, lawyer Ratthaprathan Tulathorn contacted police and claimed he is representing a Japanese man. He said his client is the father of all the surrogate babies. The surrogacy arrangements were legal and no women were forced to carry a child. Mr Ratthaprathan provided information about the father, but claimed he had no details about the biological mothers, police said.

They declined to name the Japanese man. Pol Gen Aek said Wednesday that police have questioned all the nannies as well as the pregnant woman and are asking the Japanese embassy to assist them in contacting the man for questioning.

"If the Japanese man turns out to be the father of the babies, the question is why he wants so many babies," he said. More details of the investigation, which is headed by Pol Maj Gen Chayut Thanathaweesap, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, are expected in a week, he said.

If the case is established to involve commercial surrogacy, police will look for the surrogacy service clinics and doctors who performed the procedures.
Yanee Lertkrai, director-general of the Department of Social Development and Welfare, said the surrogate babies were receiving good care at the Pakkred Babies' Home in Nonthaburi province.

Their nannies, who had been hired for 10,000 baht a month to take care of the surrogate babies, were released. Ms Yanee said the surrogate mother found during the raid was seven months pregnant, and was brought to a safe place to serve as a witness.

"The surrogate mother says she was hired to serve as the surrogate for 300,000 baht if she could give birth to one child, and 400,000 baht for two. She needs money to pay for her car installments," he said.

Ms Yanee quoted the surrogate mother as saying a friend persuaded her to enter the venture. Her friend hoped to be a surrogate but failed to get pregnant after a fertilised egg was implanted.

Meanwhile, the ministry will take care of the children under the Child Protection Act, which allows it to step in until families or guardians are found. Health checks and DNA tests will be provided to all children.

"The babies all look different and it is hard to believe they share the same blood. Personally, I think the surrogacy of the babies is illegal," she said.
Meanwhile, Pol Col Chitpob Tomuan, superintendent of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, said Lat Phrao police are in charge of the investigation but the division will also join in. He said legal action will be taken against the people concerned if the scandal involves human trafficking.

Based on the information at hand, he said the case is being treated as a violation of a law governing sanatorium licences and the Medical Council's regulations on assisted reproduction technology services. The division will also take part in the investigation into the baby Gammy case. It will ask for information from the Medical Council which is investigating the issue.

Wallop Tungkananurak, secretary-general of the Creation Foundation for Children, said the human rights of Gammy and the nine babies were violated because surrogacy is permitted only if blood relatives of the couple are the surrogates, under the Medical Council of Thailand's code of conduct.

"In case of the surrogate baby Gammy, his rights were violated before he had opened his eyes to the world as he was born illegally. "After he was born, his rights were further violated as his parents refused to take care of him."

Vichien Chavalit, permanent-secretary for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, said a surrogacy bill was needed to prevent commercial surrogacy. A bill likely to go before the legislative assembly would make it illegal to turn a profit from surrogacy. The would-be parents must be married under Thai law, and the surrogate mother would have to have carried a pregnancy before.

A Japanese man reportedly rented rooms in The Niche ID condominium in Soi Lat Phrao 130 in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district and hired women to take care of nine surrogate babies aged 1-6 months.

For the ex media moghul, looking at 20 years in slammer?

Sondhi loses appeal in SEC case
Court confirms 20-year sentence for company fraud
Bangkok Post Published: 7/08/2014 at 01:14 PM

he Appeals Court on Thursday upheld the lower court's 20-year jail sentence for Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the Manager Media Group, and two former Manager directors for falsifying loan documents and fraud. The two former Manager directors are Ms Saowalak Thiranujanyong and Ms Yupin Chantana.

There were initially four defendants in the case, but only three appealed against the lower court's decision. The other defendant - Suradet Mukyangkoon, also a former Manager director - did not appeal.

In October 2000, in a case filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the prosecution indicted the four men in the Criminal Court, accusing Sondhi and the three former Manager directors of falsifying loan guarantee documents to secure a 1.08- billion-baht loan by the company from Krung Thai Bank without first seeking approval from the board of directors of Manager.

The loan was arranged by The M Group, a private company controlled by Sondhi and a major shareholder in the listed Manager Media Group. The Manager Media Group was listed as a guarantor of the loan by Krung Thai to The M Group, with Sondhi, Suradet, Saowalak and Yupin, in their capacity as Manager directors, signing the guarantee document.

The SEC said the Manager board was unaware of the transaction, which was also not disclosed in the listed company's financial statements. The M Group later defaulted on the Krung Thai Bank loan, resulting in Manager becoming liable for repayment and incurring damage totalling 259 million baht as a result, according to the SEC.

The four also falsified documents to mislead Krung Thai Bank into thinking that the guarantee by Manager was properly authorised by the company's board, and later colluded to prevent disclosure of the guarantee by the listed company to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

On Sept 17, 2012 the Criminal Court found them guilty and sentenced Sondhi and Saowalak to a total of 85 years in prison, Suradet to five years in jail, and Yupin to 65 years in jail. Because of their confession, the jail terms were halved to 42 years and six months for Sondhi and Saowalak, two years and six months for Suradet, and 32 years and six months for Yupin.

Since the law limits prison terms to 20 years, the sentences for Sondhi, Saowalak and Yupin were reduced to 20 years. All of them, except Suradet, appealed.
The Appeals Court upheld the Criminal Court's decision.

After hearing the judgement, Sondhi submitted an application for bail, offering a 10 million baht surety, pending an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Leongsam said:

Thanks to both of you for the info. Will be in Bangkok in Jan 2014.

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ah sam how do you teleport back in time?

Creative trickster, with a clever ID. Credit to his england power ..:p

Meet Mr Makelifebetter: Theft suspect
Bangkok Post Published: 7/08/2014 at 10:50 PM

A 29-year-old theft suspect from Surin has become an internet sensation after a photo of his ID card showing his name made up of a compound of English words and configured in Thai was circulated online. Meet Mr Heangjobshappy Makelifebetter.



The man’s name is written in Thai as เฮงจ๊อบส์แฮบปี้ไลฟ์ เมคไลฟ์เบสเทอร์, which is pronounced in English as “Heangjobshappy Makelifebetter”. เฮง (Heang) is the only Thai word used in his name, and means luck or lucky.

After the image of his ID card with probably the weirdest name in the kingdom went viral, many people doubted whether Mr Heangjobshappy’s name was genuine or the image was photoshopped. Some reckoned it was not a Thai name and wondered how authorities had approved it, if the name was real.
But officials at Surin’s Civil Registration Office confirmed Thursday that Mr Heangjobshappy’s name was real and did not violate criteria stipulated in the 1962 Personal Names Act.

They said Mr Heangjobshappy registered his new name with them on July 16 and showed his application documents to reporters. His birth name is San Sroi-soongnoen.

Mr Heangjobshappy’s fate apparently did not match his surname as he was arrested four days after he got his new name for allegedly stealing an iPhone 5s in Surin’s Muang district. He denied the charge.

He is now being detained at the provincial central prison. The man did not have a criminal record before he was arrested, according to PoL Lt Preecha Chana, a duty officer at Muang police station, who is in charge of Mr Heangjobshappy’s case.

95 Octane benzene today is 49.25 baht of S$1.95 per litre I guess it's not much different to Singapore no?

strange thing is this is somewhat an oil and gas producing country still fuel cost is expensive

joetys said:

95 Octane benzene today is 49.25 baht of S$1.95 per litre I guess it's not much different to Singapore no?
strange thing is this is somewhat an oil and gas producing country still fuel cost is expensive

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Not far off. Here Caltex 95 is S$2.10 (thb53), 92 S$2.062 (thb52). You don't have 98 S$2.271 (thb57). Using your same roe 25.26.

Someone I know with new Honda Accord can use E25 (gasohol 75% gasoline + 25% ethanol). Cheaper, but not at all gas stations. Always trying to do BangChak, bias againts PTT (ironically owns part BangChak).

State monopoly?

Having beef noodles at a new aircon shop now



Beehoon soup with braised beef 70 baht or S$2.75. Ordered "special" more liao if not only 50 baht. Could also order with everything like braised beef plus inards plus meatball plus lean meat for the same price but I only like braised meat with beehoon.


Separate soup with lean beef slices and beef balls 50 baht or S$1.95


Very tasty the soup and braised meat. Must return soon.