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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022660

SEC files criminal charges against EARTH chairman, 13 others over alleged stock price manipulation

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed criminal charges against 14 individuals for allegedly manipulating the share price and futures contracts of Energy Earth Plc (EARTH), which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The company’s chairman of the executive board, Khajohnpong Khamdee, is among the 14 charged in an SEC complaint filed with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

In September 2018, the SEC had imposed a civil sanction on Khajohnpong and 10 other individuals for their alleged involvement in insider trading of EARTH shares.

The 13 others — eight men and five women — who were charged along with the chairman are identified as: Phipat Phihakendr, Phiroon Phihakendr, Phisudhi Phihakendr, Phiboon Phihakendr, Jittkasaem Kunchayangkul, Rungkan Sunyavirat, Supaporn Saikham, Parinda Visutthana, Luckana Jantem, Chidchanok Sri-in, Pachawat Kunchayangkul, Kasaemson Kunchayangkul, and Sompong Bovornkaisri.

The SEC on Thursday accused the 14 of violating the Securities and Exchange Act, the Advance Contract Trading Act, and the Penal Code.

The agency also reported the case to the Anti-Money Laundering Office for further investigation into possible violations.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022659

State agencies now embroiled in World Cup broadcast rights saga

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

The controversy following Thailand’s last-minute acquisition of broadcast rights for the Fifa World Cup 2022 has not only triggered a clash between broadcasters but could also lead to a showdown between two state agencies.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) on Tuesday sent a written request to the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) seeking the return of its 600-million baht contribution towards the 1.2-billion-baht fund for the purchase of broadcast rights from football’s world governing body.

The NBTC move came after subscribers to the IPTV cable service were prevented from viewing live broadcasts of World Cup matches from Qatar.

The telecom watchdog, which accused the SAT of failing to follow their agreement on the World Cup 2022 broadcasts, demanded a return of the money within 15 days along with interest in case of delay.

The regulating agency had ruled that IPTV subscribers, like viewers of free television, are also eligible for World Cup live broadcasts under the NBTC’s “must-carry” rule applied to all broadcasters for major sporting events.

In response to the NBTC’s decision, True Corporation, which contributed 300 million baht to the pooled fund, took its case to the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, asking for an injunction on live broadcasts through IPTV’s cable system. The request was granted.

Later, Super Broadband Network Co Ltd (SBN), which is part of the IPTV transmission system, asked the court to review its injunction, arguing that the broadcasters in their group were properly following the law involved and would abide by the NBTC’s relevant decision.

SAT governor Kongsak Yodmanee said on Thursday that his agency had not yet received the letter from the NBTC. He added, however, that the SAT would follow a court verdict in the case filed by SBN.

“The SAT signed a memorandum of understanding with True because the company contributed as much as 300 million baht to buy the World Cup broadcast rights. The SAT had asked private businesses to join in, but True made the highest contribution,” Kongsak argued.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022658

Police to start new driver points system from January 9 to cut road accidents

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

A new score system for motorists aimed at boosting road safety and cutting road accidents will come into force from January 9, the National Police chief said on Thursday.

Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapas told a press conference at the Royal Thai Police headquarters that each motorist with a driving licence would start with a credit of 12 points, and they will be docked penalty points depending on the severity of their traffic offence.
Speeding, not wearing the seatbelt, riding a motorcycle without a crash helmet, failing to stop at a zebra crossing, and using a phone while driving will each cost a one-point deduction. Jumping the red light would be a two-point cut.
Motorists will be docked three points for a hit-and-run offence, and four points for driving while drunk or under the influence of narcotics, and for involvement in illegal road racing.

Also, motorists who fail to pay their traffic fines will get their scores reduced, the police chief said.
The points reduction will be carried out electronically through the Police Ticket Management (PTM) system, which records all traffic offences, he said.
“If the driver’s score is zero, the driving licence will be suspended for 90 days. They will be notified in writing by the police,” Damrongsak said.

He added that those who drive during the suspension of their driving licence risk a maximum jail sentence of three months and/or a fine of up to 10,000 baht.
“Three suspensions within three years will lead to a suspension longer than 90 days. Those with a fourth suspension may see their driving licence revoked,” the police chief warned.
Docked points will be restored a year after the offence is committed, except in cases where all 12 points are deducted.
Those with zero points are required to undergo and pass training by the Department of Land Transport in order to get all 12 points restored. Only two of such training facilities are available per year.
Motorists may check their scores at the E-Ticket PTM website and the Khub Dee mobile application, according to the police chief. Traffic fines can be paid through the Paotang app.
“The points system for motorists is based on the principle of transparency and equality under international standards. Offenders are allowed opportunities to correct their behaviour. The goal is to reduce road accidents and increase road safety for everyone,” said the police chief.
The driver score system is a collaboration between the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Land Transport, Krungthai Bank, and National Telecom Plc.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022654

MPs call for delay in BTS Skytrain fare hike

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

Two MPs on the House transport committee are seeking to delay the BTS Skytrain’s planned fare hike on January 1 next year.

Skytrain operator Bangkok Transit System Corporation (BTSC) announced on Wednesday that fares on the Sukhumvit (Mo Chit to On Nut) and Silom (National Stadium to Saphan Taksin/Wong Yai) lines will rise by 1-3 baht. The minimum fare (one-station journey) will rise from 16 baht to 17 baht while the maximum (eight stations or more) will go up from 44 baht to 47 baht.

On Thursday, Bhumjaithai Party MPs Siripong Angkhasakulkiart and Paradorn Prisanananthakul called on the government to negotiate with BTSC to delay the fare rise.

They said that since Bhumjaithai has used up its quota for committee proposals, they would seek help from other parties to get the proposal tabled.

The two Bhumjaithai MPs said the House panel should summon representatives from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Interior Ministry and Transport Ministry to plan negotiations with BTSC.

The BMA, supervised by the Interior Ministry, granted the concession to BTSC to operate the original Green Line routes.

The Bhumjaithai MPs complained the fare increase would add to people’s financial burdens caused by soaring energy and food prices.

Pheu Thai Party MP Pradermchai Boonchuaylua, who is also on the transport panel, said the operator decided to hike Skytrain fares because the BMA has failed to pay 40 billion baht it owes to BTSC for running and equipping the Green Line extension.

Pradermchai called on Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt to find a solution to the debt issue soon to avoid causing financial hardship to travellers.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022648

New app for drivers offers access to useful information

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

A new mobile application launched on Thursday aims to serve as a platform to record and update driver’s licence points to promote compliance with traffic laws, while providing other useful features.

The “Khub Dee” (drive well) application has been jointly developed by the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Department of Land Transport, Krungthai Bank and National Telecom Pcl (NT).

NT director Colonel Sappachai Huwanan said on Thursday that the application aims to provide motorists convenient access to useful information, such as traffic conditions, their driver’s licence and vehicle registration status.

“Over 30 million holders of valid driver licences can check their current points in real time,” he said. “They can also view any pending traffic tickets, pay the fine online, or contest the ticket by using this application.”

Sappachai added that NT has been tasked with using cloud technology to integrate the application with databases of the police and Department of Land Transport. The data can also be linked with other related agencies to ensure fast and seamless e-government services.

Khub Dee is available for free for both iOS and Android devices.

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National Telecom takes action to block calls from overseas scammers

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022645

Seven people face charges over illegal dumping in Bangkok

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

Environment police have arrested and charged seven people over illegal dumping at 16 sites in Bangkok.

The police acted on reports of illegal dumping sites that caused foul stench and air pollution as the garbage was not dealt with properly. The dumping also reportedly led to the spreading of germs to nearby land areas and water sources.

Crime Suppression Division chief Pol Maj-General Jirapop Phuridech ordered the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) to inspect 16 areas in Bangkok.

Police searched three sites each in Lat Krabang and Saphan Sung districts, two sites each in Min Buri, Nong Khaem, and Suan Luang districts, and one each in Prawet, Khlong Sam Wa, Bueng Kum, and Bang Khae districts.

The seven alleged suspects included four men — Pattaporn, 29, Abhisit, 27, Parn, 61, and Kittisak, 42 — and three women — Nongrak, 28, Chanya, 48, and Buathai, 40. Surnames of the suspects were not disclosed.

The suspects reportedly told police that they had negotiated with former landowners to use these lands. They agreed to fill the land beautifully as some lands were water ponds, so that the lands could be sold for a higher price in the future.

The suspects reportedly collected 40 to 300 baht for each truckload of waste, which included wood, construction materials, and sticks.

The seven were charged with collecting, transporting or disposing of waste for profit without authorisation and were sent to the NED for legal action.

Related stories

• DSI cracks down on electricity theft for crypto-mining
• Locomotive found on Chinese suspect’s compound not ours: SRT
• Police descend on closed Pattaya restaurant, find large casino in the making

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022641

Environmental impact of chemicals among topics at International Weed Science Congress in Bangkok

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

Thailand will host an international forum next week on environmental impact from the use of chemicals to get rid of weeds as well as lessons from the collapse of Sri Lanka’s ambitious organic farming venture.

Dr Chanya Maneechote, president of the Weed Science Society of Thailand, said the 8th International Weed Science Congress will be held at the Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park in Bangkok from December 4-9.

The congress, which will be held in cooperation with the International Weed Science Society, will be attended by more than 400 scientists from 50 countries.

During the congress, several scientists would present their studies on several subjects, including how climate change affects the handling of weeds; biology and ecosystem of weeds; how to get rid of weeds with mixed chemical and non-chemical measures; weed resistance to chemicals, invasion of alien weeds; and parasite weeds, Chanya said.

She said other subjects included weed issues in Asia, residues of anti-weed chemicals in soil, water and the environment, the use of new technologies to get rid of weeds, and how to make use of weed DNA data.

A khon dance show would be performed by students from Kasetsart University during the opening ceremony, Chanya said.

During the conference, there would also be special lectures on the topic of how to produce foods for the global population with sustainability, how to use robots to get rid of weeds, and necessary evolution for handling weeds as well as how to classify herbicide chemicals in accordance with the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee.

Chanya said a highlight of the conference would be a special speech by an academic from Sri Lanka on issues related to its ban on chemical herbicides last year.

Sri Lanka banned the import of herbicide chemicals in April 2021 but six months later, the country suffered a food shortage crisis and the number of poor people rose by half a million. The Sri Lankan government lifted the ban in November.

Chanya said the lecturer from Sri Lanka would recount and explain why the country abandoned its 100 per cent organic farming policy and returned to use chemicals again.

During the conference, there would also be sight-seeing trips for attendants to see how to handle weeds that are resistant to herbicides at the TJC Research Centre in Suphan Buri and how to handle weeds against corns and tapioca at a Bayer’s research station in Lopburi province.

Chanay said the International Weed Science Congress is held every four years. The next conference will be held in Israel.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022637

Live snakes seized in raids as triad crackdown expands to Phuket, police say

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

Police expanded their investigations into businesses they believe are linked to suspected narcotics kingpin Chainat Kornchayanan to Phuket, where raids on several companies linked to him resulted in the seizure of vehicles, computers and live snakes late Wednesday night.

The raids took place one day after the fourth of his five alleged “lieutenants” was arrested in Bangkok and property registered under his name was seized in Samut Prakan.

Chainat – a Chinese national who acquired Thai citizenship after marrying a police colonel – denied the charges against him when he turned himself into police on November 23 after an arrest warrant was issued for him.

The raids in Phuket’s Wichit subdistrict targeted eight businesses police said were linked to Chainat, who they have described as the leader of a triad in Thailand. A joint force of Narcotics, Immigration, Tourism and Region 8 police conducted the investigation and raids.

Six of the eight registered companies under investigation had shut down during the pandemic, and the remaining two – both jewelry shops – had yet to start operating.

The six companies raided comprised two leatherwear sellers, a construction contractor, and three stores: one that sold beds and mattresses, another that sold bird nests, and a third that sold traditional medicine made from snakes.

Security guards said that most of the business’s assets had been previously removed from their premises by their owners.

Police seized what was left: seven cars, one truck, 86 beds with mattresses, several computers and live snakes that had been kept in glass tanks.

The crackdown was launched after former massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit told police that Chainat ran five criminal networks in Thailand. Chuwit said each of the networks was run by a “lieutenant”. Four lieutenants have been arrested so far, while the fifth (known as “Ming”) is believed to have fled Thailand.

Related Stories

Alleged Chinese drug-ring boss surrenders to police in Bangkok

Fifty luxury houses linked to alleged Chinese drug lord under police scrutiny

Fourth ‘lieutenant’ arrested as noose tightens on triad, police say

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022634

3 arrested for transmitting Thai World Cup signal in Cambodia

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

Three men were arrested on Wednesday after being caught transmitting Thailand’s Fifa World Cup broadcast signal in Cambodia, officials said.

One Cambodian and two Thai men were detained in the raid on a residence in Cambodia’s border province of Banteay Meanchey, Cambodian authorities said. Officials also seized internet signal transmission equipment from the residence.

The arrests came after Fifa warned Thailand that its broadcast rights could be revoked over the leakage of its World Cup signal to other countries in the region. Thailand purchased the broadcast rights, which are protected by copyright law, for 1.4 billion baht. 

Thai authorities have asked their counterparts in Cambodia to help tackle the smuggling of cable signals from Thailand, especially from the smuggling hotspot of Rong Kluea border market in Sa Kaew province.

According to digitalhub.fifa.com, nine of the 10 Asean countries have bought World Cup broadcasting rights, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Only Laos is not included in the list.

Related stories:

• Beautiful camels eclipse beautiful game at Qatar World Cup
• Blinken: No particular geopolitical aspects to Iran-US World Cup match
• AIS Playbox operator appeals against court injunction on its broadcast of World Cup matches

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022633

Tono’s Mekong charity swim to get Nakhon Phanom heart centre pumping with THB50m

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022

Nakhon Phanom Hospital (NPH) will request a donation of 50 million baht from actor/singer Phakin “Tono” Khamwilaisak, whose Mekong charity swim raised 87 million baht for NPH and a Laos hospital on the other side of the river.

NPH said the donation will enable its heart disease centre to open three years faster than if it waited for government budget.

Phakin’s daring “One Man and the River” charity swim across the Mekong River to Laos and back on October 22 also raised funds for Khammouane Hospital in Laos.

NPH director Dr Thanasit Praipong said on Wednesday that the hospital had already received 370 million baht from the Public Health Ministry to build a 12-storey heart disease centre.

“The building is complete, but the centre still needs medical equipment to start treating about 200 patients per year with cardiovascular disease,” he said.

“Nakhon Phanom needs this centre as the mortality rate from heart disease in the province is about 15%. The centre will eliminate the need to transfer patients to better-equipped hospitals in other provinces.”

Thanasit said the budget for medical equipment had been earmarked in the provincial development plan, but it would take at least three years to disburse the amount required to get the heart disease centre running.

Meanwhile, Dr Khamla Ratchawong, deputy director of Khammouane Hospital in Laos, said it needed to replace about 25 pieces of ageing medical equipment including its X-ray and ultrasound machines.

He added that Khammouane and Nakhon Phanom hospitals have signed an agreement to jointly treat patients, so the money for NPH’s heart disease centre will benefit patients in Laos as well.

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