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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014696

Seksakol Atthawong, a former aide to the prime minister, said on Monday that he has given his final proposal on solving the problem of overpriced government lottery tickets to the PM’s Office sub-committee he chaired.

He made this statement after stepping down as aide to the premier as well as chair of the sub-committee on Monday. Seksakol said he was giving up these posts to take responsibility for a voice clip of his conversation with Palang Pracharath Party member Chureeporn Sinthuprai. In the recording, he can be allegedly heard as saying that he took 15 million baht from a man to finance an election campaign, and hoped a police raid on a lottery seller would not be tracked back to him.

In his statement on Monday, Seksakol said he proposed three measures to tackle overpriced lottery tickets.

The first is to add civil clauses in the contract between the Government Lottery Office (GLO) and ticket resellers, such as specifying the deposit amount and fine if resellers violate the contract.

Second, criminal clauses will be added to the existing GLO Act of 1974 and its 2019 amendment to prevent possible violations. Third, the sub-committee should consider revising related laws in the GLO Act and the 1999 Anti-Money Laundering Act to ensure legal action is taken against those selling government lottery tickets at inflated prices.

Meanwhile, GLO director Noon Sansanakhom said the office has entered the second phase of its “80 baht Lottery Tickets” campaign, which aims to prioritise the ticket quota given to resellers who strictly sell tickets at 80 baht each.

“In the first phase, 77 lottery vendors passed the qualification screening and will be granted a quota of 2,500 tickets per draw,” he said. “In the second phase, we have 4,790 applicants, but only 2,666 are qualified to join the programme. Qualified resellers in the second phase can start selling tickets for the draw date of May 2 onwards.”

Published : April 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014691

The Transport Ministry and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) are preparing two lawsuits against Hopewell (Thailand) Ltd to dodge having to pay billions of baht in compensation, a source at the ministry said on Monday.

The move comes after the Supreme Administrative Court on March 4 accepted the government’s request for a retrial of the Hopewell case – a two-decade-long legal battle over Bangkok’s doomed multibillion-baht-mass-transit project.

This retrial offers the Transport Ministry and SRT fresh hope of escaping the Supreme Administrative Court’s order to pay 25.4 billion baht in compensation for cancelling the 80-billion-baht elevated highway and railway project.

The source said that apart from preparing for the retrial, the Transport Ministry and SRT are also getting two lawsuits ready to invalidate the establishment of Hopewell in Thailand.

The first lawsuit will be filed at the Civil Court seeking a ruling on whether the Hopewell project violated the National Executive Council Announcement No 281, which requires companies to be qualified and approved by the Cabinet before conducting business in Thailand.

The Transport Ministry has assigned this case to Thanatdet Khamchu, an attorney for special civil cases at the Office of the Attorney General.

The second case will be filed by SRT against the registrar of the Bangkok Office of the Central Company and Partnership Registration, who did not object to the registration of Hopewell (Thailand) even though it was in violation of the announcement.

The Central Administrative Court had earlier ruled to dismiss this case, but SRT is planning to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Administrative Court.

This case will be overseen by SRT lawyer Nitithorn Lamleur.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has said the ministry’s and SRT’s legal teams are preparing to file the cases within this month.

“The ministry is confident that from the evidence at hand we can 100 per cent win the cases and protect the country’s interest,” the source quoted Saksayam as saying.

Published : April 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014690

A Japanese woman on Monday apologised for posting a TikTok video in which she took off her face mask and danced inside a Bangkok Skytrain.

In the clip posted by TikTok user shizu0405fc3, the woman rips off her mask before dancing provocatively and asking “Why are you still wearing a mask, so crazy, everywhere outside is very hot!”

The clip had earned more than 788,000 views as of press time on Tuesday. A previous clip posted by the same user during the Songkran festival shows her maskless in a Skytrain station firing a water gun at passers-by and a BTS guard who tries to stop her.

Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) complained the clip had gone viral on social media and caused concern among passengers. The clip had more than 764,000 views as of press time.

BTSC added that the guard had warned the tourist immediately that her behaviour breached Covid-19 containment measures.

The clip in which she apologises had received fewer than 6,000 views on Tuesday.

“After the incident, the company instructed guards at all stations to keep a close watch on passengers to prevent any repeat,” BTSC said, adding that travellers should inform guards if they spotted infringements of Covid rules.

It also warned that those caught violating Covid-19 prevention measures face a fine of up to 20,000 baht.

Published : April 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014688

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) expects a wave of Covid-19 cluster outbreaks to hit Thailand over the next two to four weeks, following the end of the Songkran holiday.

“After the holiday, new cluster cases could emerge as people who travelled back to their hometowns return to work and interact with others,” said the department’s Epidemiology Bureau chief Dr Jakrat Phittayawong-anon on Monday.

“The DDC will monitor the situation closely and evaluate periodically over the next 2-4 weeks,” he said.

Jakrat added that the current rates of infection, hospitalisation and daily deaths from Covid-19 are still within the department’s estimate. Pneumonia patients now number around 2,000 with about 900 needing respirators, which is lower than the numbers during the Delta outbreak last year.

“To keep the hospitalisation and mortality rate low we need to prevent the virus from spreading to people in vulnerable groups – namely the elderly and those with underlying health problems – by following three measures,” said Jakrat.

The measures are:

1. Isolate at home for at least 5-7 days after returning from Songkran trips and monitor for symptoms. Before returning to work, take an ATK test.

2. Avoid sharing meals with others or visiting crowded areas. Always wear a face mask in public.

3. If possible, work from home.

“These measures must be implemented together with the universal prevention practices, including getting vaccinated and receiving a booster shot every four months,” said Jakrat.

“Currently most Covid-19 deaths are among people aged over 70, those with chronic health problems and people who have yet to receive a booster shot.”

On Tuesday Thailand recorded 16,891 new Covid-19 cases and 129 deaths over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile 24,927 patients recovered and left hospital.

The country has logged over 1.8 million (1,840,409) cases so far this year.

Published : April 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014685

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has ordered an investigation into why a roof and supporting structures collapsed at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on Monday.

The roof and walls of a section of Terminal 1 gave way at about 4.30pm during high winds and heavy rain.

The heavily damaged section connects the international passenger terminal with the parking lot of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

No deaths or injuries or deaths were reported in the incident. The collapse left large chunks of concrete strewn across the floor of the concourse, which was not in use at the time.

Airport officials have closed off the area for safety and are preparing for an investigation, which will be led by Keerati Kitmanawat, AOT’s chief of engineering and construction.

Saksayam added that the collapsed section was constructed over a year ago but had yet to be opened for passengers due to the Covid-19 situation.

Published : April 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014675

Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday (April 19) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 16,891 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 85 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 129, while 24,927 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,840,409.
 

Published : April 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014666

Police on Monday gave an update on their investigation of sex abuse complaints made against former Democrat politician Prinn Panitchpakdi.

Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Trairong Piwpan confirmed the cases cover complaints made by four women – three at Lumpini station and one in Phetchaburi.

Police were still gathering evidence for a complaint against Prinn made in Chiang Mai.

He spoke after meeting with investigators at Lumpini station on Monday at 10am.

Trairong said police had received useful testimony from several witnesses in the first case reported on April 12, referring to the complaint by an 18-year-old student that Prinn groped her at a Bangkok rooftop bar. Police were investigating the bar as a possible crime scene, he added.

They were also questioning the accusers and gathering evidence for the other two complaints made at Lumpini police station.

These were a rape complaint made by Hathairat Thanakitamnuay, 30, wife of anti-government figure Thanat “Luk Nut” Thanakitamnuay, and a sexual harassment allegation made by another 18-year-old student.

In the Phetchaburi case, Lumpini police questioned the accuser and sent the case back to Phetchaburi.

Trairong admitted the investigation was challenging as many of the alleged crimes occurred some time ago so evidence might be lost. The Chiang Mai case, for example, stems from an alleged incident early last year.

Regarding the accusation that Prinn used a police colonel to try to bribe one of the alleged victims to drop the case, Trairong said if evidence was found for this, police would ask the court to revoke his bail.

Prinn was granted bail release on a 700,000-baht cash surety on Sunday, on condition he does not leave the country or seek to meddle with evidence or his accusers.

Trairong said police were preparing to receive complaints of sexual abuse against Prinn by another five or six women on Monday.

He declined to comment on the large number of accusations at the same time, or whether the cases had any relation to politics, only saying that police would proceed according to the evidence and be fair to all sides.

Published : April 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014665

A virologist at the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotech) dismissed concerns that Covid-19 destroys the human immune system as HIV does.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Dr Anan Jongkaewwattana said that though the SARS-CoV-2 virus affects T-cells like HIV, the outcome of the two infections is entirely different.

A study published in the online journal Nature found that infected T-cells destroy themselves, resulting in lymphopenia or a drop in the white blood cell count. The study also found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects activated T-cells by using a protein receptor.

However, Anan said the key difference between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the lifespan of the infected T-cells.

He said the coronavirus kills the T-cells, causing very little of the virus to replicate. HIV, however, uses CD4 T-cells as factories to continue reproducing the virus.

Anan also said HIV can insert its RNA (ribonucleic acid which serves as a genetic code carrier) into the DNA of the host. Once the T-cells are activated and multiplied, the viral RNA is spread with the cells, causing the T-cells to endlessly produce the virus so it cannot be eradicated.

“Since SARS-CoV-2 causes infected T-cells to die without multiplying and the RNA of the virus does not mix with the DNA of the host cell, SARS-CoV-2 cannot create acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS like HIV does,” Dr Anan explained.

Published : April 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014661

A total of 1,917 road accidents were reported and 278 people were killed during the “Seven Dangerous Days” of the Songkran Festival when thousands of people travelled from their places of work to their home provinces.

Road Safety Thailand told the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department that 1,869 people were injured in the 1,917 road accidents from April 11 to 17.

The data was revealed by Nirat Pongsitthaworn, deputy permanent secretary for the Interior Ministry who is in charge of Road Safety Thailand, at a press conference on Monday.

Nirat said 188 road accidents had happened on Sunday, the last day of the so-called “Seven Dangerous Days”.

He said 171 people were injured and 32 people killed in Sunday’s accidents.

Nirat said violation of speed limit was the biggest cause of the accidents (40.69 per cent), followed by drunk driving (21.81 per cent).

Chiang Rai province reported the most number of accidents at 66, followed by Chiang Mai with 63.

He said Bangkok had the highest number of deaths at 13, while six provinces — Nakhon Phanom, Pattani, Yala, Ranong, Samut Sakhon and Singburi — reported no fatalities.

The seven-day statistics showed that violation of speed limit topped the cause of accidents (40.96 per cent), followed by drunk driving (21.81 per cent) and sudden lane changing (17.02 per cent).

More than 82 per cent of the accidents involved motorcycles, followed by pickups (7.37 per cent) and cars (4.74 per cent).

Speaking at the same press conference, Boontham Lertsukhee, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and secretary of Road Safety Thailand, said the number of road accidents during the Songkran monitoring period was lower than last year but the death toll was slightly higher.

Last year, the monitoring period from April 10 to 16 saw 2,365 road accidents and 277 deaths, while 2,357 people were injured.

Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Athirat Rattanaseth said on Monday that no boat accidents were reported during the monitoring period from April 11 to 17.

During the period, the Chao Phraya Express Boat service provided 302 shuttle boat services to 20,735 passengers, and Chao Phraya ferry boats made 5,617 shuttle trips, carrying 85,906 passengers.

Athirat added that the shuttle boats on Saen Saeb Canal, which stopped services from April 13 to 17, carried 18,847 passengers on April 11 and 12.

In the provinces, boat services made 21,397 trips, carrying 1,036,389 passengers during the period with no accidents, the deputy transport minister added.

Published : April 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014660

A Phitsanulok man has described how he reduced his electricity bill to only 44 baht per month, in a Facebook post that electrified social media.

Hasthanon Lakluang posted pictures of his house covered with solar panels on his Facebook on Saturday.

He revealed that he turns on three 12,000 BTU air conditioners in the house both day and night to combat the sweltering temperatures of the hot season.

For most people, using their air conditioners accounts for the majority of their household electricity bill.

Before he installed solar panels, Hasthanon was no different, running up bills of 4,000-5,000 baht per month to keep his house cool.

However, that figure has plunged to just 44 baht since he invested in solar power technology.

Hasthanon said it took only three days to install the panels while the cost was around 300,000 baht.

He said the installation would soon pay for itself as he was now saving up to 5,000 baht per month in electricity payments.

Hasthanon may have got inspiration from the nearby Phitsanulok-EA Solar PV Park, one of Thailand’s largest solar farms with panels spread across 1,850 rai or 296 hectares.

Published : April 18, 2022

By : THE NATION