Flights rebound over Songkran
Tourism: Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) said yesterday there were 13,569 flights over the Songkran holiday, up 59% on-year.
Aerothai president Nopasit Chakpitak said there were 1,938 flights per day on average from April 11-17, 28% lower than during the same period in 2019 pre-Covid.
Suvarnabhumi airport, the nation's main air gateway, handled 827 flights a day, while Don Mueang saw 543 on average.
Elsewhere, Phuket handled the most air traffic, with 254 flights a day on average, followed by Chiang Mai (175) and Samui (82) airports.
2 men collared for child porn
Rayong: Two men were arrested on charges of possessing and distributing pornography, including images and videos of children via group chats, police said.
Mr Santisuk, 31, and Mr Poramet, 23 were detained when local police and officers from Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) raided two locations in Muang district.
The arrests followed an investigation into chat groups in which porn materials were distributed to members. Police disguised as members to collect evidence and sought arrest warrants after identifying Mr Santisuk and Mr Poramet as administrators.
Both men admitted the charges and told police that they had run group chats for about two years. They obtained pictures and videos from other websites and distributed them to the group members, who paid subscription fees of between 800-1,500 baht.
'Billy' murder case heats up
CRIME: Ten human rights organisations have called for the dismissal of senior national parks official Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn and three others from the civil service for their alleged role in the disappearance and death of Karen activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen nine years ago.
Mr Chaiwat was sacked from the civil service once before in connection with the burning of Karen villagers' homes when he was in charge of Kaeng Krachan National Park. The Administrative Court last September ordered him to be reinstated.
The activists signed an open letter that was submitted to the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment yesterday.
They note Mr Chaiwat and the three others are now defendants in a murder case before the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct.
On Sept 5 last year, the court granted bail to Mr Chaiwat and his co-accused -- Bunthaen Butsarakham, Thanaset Chaemthet and Kritsanaphong Chitthet -- on condition that they not leave the country without permission or intimidate witnesses.
All four face charges that include premeditated murder, unlawful detention and concealment of a corpse, and intimidating the victim using weapons, according to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
3 arrested for sex with minors
LOEI: A hospital director and two other men have been arrested for purchasing sex services from girls under 18 in Muang district of this northeastern province, police said yesterday.
Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) officers apprehended Phasakorn Surachaipanya, 54, director of a tambon-based public hospital in Loei; Pichai Sertsri, 34, a municipal worker; and 34-year-old air conditioning repairman Santi Srikammee on Thursday in tambon Kudpong of Muang district.
The suspects were wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on charges of buying sex from girls under 18 and enticing them into lewd activities, said Pol Maj Gen Sarut Khwaengsopha, commander of the ATPD.