Just a passing teen
The father of a teenager killed in an early morning road chase suspects it was a case of mistaken identity.
Puwanat Kaewnil, 17, was shot in the back on Rama II Road in the Tha Kham area on March 19. His father, Sophon Phasuwan, 40, said he believes his son was attacked because the group of youngsters chasing him before the shooting recognised him as a local teen.
Police told him that a youngster attached to the gang had himself been attacked in a soi nearby and his mates were out to settle scores.
Two days later, Tha Kham police nabbed two teens for the attack: Thatsapol 19, who was driving the bike at the head of the pursuing gang and shot Puwanat with a revolver, and Thanakorn, 19, his pillion passenger.
The gang on six motorcycles happened to be biking past soi Phiman when Puwanat and his pillion passenger, Pathawee, emerged at the entrance, along with two friends on another bike.
They turned left into Rama II Road next to the Lotus store. When the gang saw them they turned around and gave chase, which lasted for 2km and was captured by CCTV cameras.
above Two teenagers were nabbed for the attack.
They were close to a PTT petrol station when two shots rang out. Puwanat was hit in the back and lost control of his bike, which struck the kerb. His body was dragged along for 10m. His mate, Pathawee, hit a power pole on the sidewalk and broke his leg.
The pursuing teens fled and met behind Wat Bang Kradi where they dumped one of the bikes, a silver Honda Wave belonging to Sor, 25, a Myanmar man from a nearby construction camp.
Police two days later caught their chief suspects at a rented place in soi Samae Dam 2, Samae Dam of Bang Khun Thian.
Mr Sophon said his son had told him that afternoon that he was going to pick up an item from a friend's place close to Bang Pakaew. He admitted his son was no angel himself, but said he would not go picking fights. "My son studied at Bangkok Commercial School but was there for just a term. He found a job in parcels and carried on with his schooling part-time," he said.
A young man in the suspect's group said he heard from a bunch of juniors that one had been attacked in soi Ekkachai the day before. Thatsapol, who is close to his mates, was hunting down those responsible.
"They happened to go past the victim and his friends and in the dark mistakenly thought it was them. I am sure Thatsapol didn't think he would actually kill him. He knew who it was he wanted, as they studied at the same school," he said.
The Thon Buri Criminal Court denied the suspects bail as police inquiries continue. While the shooter Thatsapol has admitted the charges, including joint killing, attempting to kill, and firearms charges, his pillion passenger Thanakorn denies them.
Short-stay no sex stop
The owner of a short-stay motel in Chachoengsao has extracted an apology from a local FB admin who accused her of allowing local lads to have their way with a 15-year-old on her premises.
CCTV shows youngsters dragging the drunk girl into the short-stay.
A FB site, Theenee Kuan Rabom Sanamchai Keht Wa, on March 17 posted images from CCTV footage showing six youngsters in a pickup truck arriving at a short-stay motel in Bang Phra, Muang district. They are seen hauling a drunken teenage girl from the bed of the truck into a room.
Without evidence, the admin claimed the men in the rear got her drunk and raped her at the short-stay. Within the first 24 hours, the post had been shared 5,200 times and drew 1,300 comments.
The short-stay's owner, "A", later came forward to say her business had been unfairly maligned. She said the "men" in the rear actually comprised a young man, woman, a kathoey and a tom. "They were friends of the youngster who was seen drunk in the truck. They were not attacking her but helping her into the room for some rest before her mother arrived," she said.
CCTV provided by the motel shows a second member of the group was also drunk and needed help. Reports conflict over whether the short-stay's staff or the girl's friends themselves contacted the mother, who came to pick up her daughter about 20 minutes later.
"According to her friends, the girl had asked her mother if she could go out for the night but drank too much," A said. "The girl accompanied by an 18-year-old friend had booked a room with us earlier that day. They paid for the place and left."
She asked her cleaner to keep an eye on the group when they arrived in their truck later that night. The drunken girl did not sleep on a bed but rested on a sofa. Her cleaner sponged her down as she waited for her mother to arrive.
Amarin TV said the mother initially misunderstood, thinking the group had made her daughter drunk and booked a room to molest her. She shoved a kathoey who was waiting for her. However, A said she had explained the matter, adding her staff had kept an eye on the situation.
Chachoengsao police said post could result in computer crime charges. Two days later the admin had removed it and apologised. He insisted his motive was to alert authorities to local crimes so they can respond in a timely fashion. Critics said he was trawling for "likes" and posting damaging claims without checking the facts.
Debt rage sparks assault
A Trang man was left with head wounds needing 30 stitches after a friend attacked him over a 120-baht debt.
Rerngrit 'Air' Chitchuchuen with plasters on his head after a friend beat him up over a tiny debt.
Rerngrit "Air" Chitchuchuen, 27, said his friend, Non, and a mate attacked him with a knife and metal bar in front of his home in soi 7, Thap Thiang of Muang district on Tuesday, as they came to collect an outstanding debt.
They hit him about the face and head and he was admitted to a local hospital needing 30 stitches. Mr Air's grandmother, Sawai "Pen" Sanranrit, 81, who came to his aid during the altercation, was hit with a knife, needing four stitches to her thumb.
Mr Air said he borrowed 120 baht on Monday, and within hours went to return it to Non by bank transfer. "However, I am not sure if he was among them after all as I sent money to a bunch of people at the same time," he said.
He explained the situation to Non, but he claimed Mr Air spoke to him poorly and they argued. Non declared he would come around to his house to collect the debt. "I have known Non for four or five years. We borrow 200-300 baht from each other at a time, but always return it," he said.
He and Non had had problems previously, but they were able to clear the matter. "I went to see him but the dog howled, so I revved the engine to scare it away. Non asked why I revved my engine in front of his place, but we were able to make things up."
On this occasion, Non showed no such patience. "Non and the other guy turned up and attacked me. I let off a few punches but I couldn't stand up to them. They fled and took my phone," he said, asking why Non was not able to discuss the matter in a civil manner.
Ms Pen said her grandson told her that Non was coming around. "They turned up in a white pickup and without a word started attacking him," she said. Ms Pen grabbed the fist of one attacker, only to be struck by his knife. Police said they would pull in the pair.