Latest news with #Pattaya
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Chilling similarities in bloody deaths of Aussie and Swedish tourists in the same Thai 'Sin City' apartment building just hours apart
An Australian and Swedish man who died in the same apartment complex in Thailand were both found in pools of blood next to overflowing bathtubs. Perth roof painter Michael Shane Caola, 54, was found dead on July 17 on the seventh floor of the Grand Shivalay apartment in Pattaya, a beachside city famous for its sex-for-sale wild nightlife. Pattaya City Police investigator Saijai Khamjulla said he received reports of the dead Australian about 4pm local time on Thursday. Upon entering the room, officers found a broken glass and scattered pill bottles, but there were no signs of struggle. Two hours earlier, Swedish national Mika Huotari, 38, was found dead in eerily similar circumstances after he was discovered naked near an overflowing bathtub with severe head wounds in his fifth-floor unit. Police are probing CCTV footage which depicted a short-haired woman dressed in black entering the unit the night before his body was discovered. Authorities currently do not believe the deaths are linked to each other. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mr Caola had been alone while his Thai-born wife of almost 10 years Phatsaya Caola celebrated her birthday without him two days earlier. Phatsaya celebrated with a Facebook birthday post, but just days later paid tribute to Mr Caola by posting 'R.I.P Michael Shane' with sad face emojis. The pair had regularly posted images of themselves at various resorts and exotic locations around Thailand, but their last social media post together was in January. Apartment manager Thanchanok Prajit said she discovered Mr Caola after receiving a call from his relatives claiming they had been unable to contact him for two days. Ms Prajit said the door had been locked from the inside and a foul odour was emanating from within, and she unlocked the door and contacting police. 'He was a regular customer, often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health,' she said. Mr Caola, who also earned money buying and selling used utes, married Phatsaya in December 2015, but it's understood the couple broke up after sometime after January. The couple had been frequent travellers between Perth and Thailand. Mr Huotari was found dead just two hours before Mr Caola's body was located. Ms Thanchanok told local investigators Mr Huotari had lived alone since May and was due to move out the day after he was found dead. Investigators are yet to identify the woman they allege remained inside Mr Huotari's apartment for about 20 minutes. It's alleged the woman was seen leaving the apartment carrying a bag and police consider her a person of interest. It's been reported Ms Thanchanok claimed Mr Huotari frequently brought different women to his apartment during his stay. Police have not confirmed whether Mr Huotari's death is being treated as a murder, but investigators have yet to rule out 'foul play'. Investigators probing Mr Caola's death identified no signs of struggle. Pattaya City Police Station Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Khamjulla said the cause of Mr Caola's death was still unknown and they were waiting for results of an autopsy. 'The case is currently under investigation and further details cannot be disclosed at this time,' he said. He acknowledged the coincidence of the two deaths, but said there was 'no established link' between them. 'Since they occurred in the same building within a short timeframe, we're not ruling out any possibilities and will continue to investigate,' he said. Mr Caola's social media is littered with photos taken across Thailand, stretching back a decade, including at markets and eateries in Pattaya. The mysterious deaths are the latest to blight the city on Thailand's eastern Gulf coast notoriously known as 'Sin City'. Despite recent efforts to remediate the city's image, local crime continues to make international headlines. Earlier this week, wheelchair-bound British tourist Chris John Glennon, 60, was robbed by a trio of sex workers at a local resort. Mr Glennon, from Northampton in England's East Midlands region, reportedly engaged the sex workers before bringing them back to his hotel room. There, he claimed, they stole his money and took off while he was showering. Investigations into the alleged robbery are ongoing.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Australian man found dead in Pattaya, Thailand
An Australian man has been found dead in an apartment in Pattaya, Thailand. Perth man Michael Shane Caola, 54, was discovered on Thursday in a room at the Grand Shivalay apartment complex in the Thai city nicknamed 'sin city'. Police were called after Mr Caola's relatives in Australia alerted staff that he had not answered his phone for two days. Officers found no sign of a struggle and an investigation is now underway. Police Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Kamjulla of the Pattaya City Police Station said: 'The cause of the Australian man's death is still unknown and the results of the autopsy are pending. 'The case is currently under investigation, and further details cannot be disclosed at this time.' Apartment manager Thanchanok Prajit called authorities after finding Mr Caola's door locked. 'His family in Australia called the reception, saying they had been unable to contact him,' she said. 'He was a regular customer often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health.' A Swedish tourist was found dead in the same apartment complex two hours earlier, however police do not suspect the deaths are related. Mika Huotari, 38, was found in the bathtub with a wound to his head two floors below Mr Caola's room. Local media reports a woman was seen on CCTV leaving Mr Huotari's room.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie tourist found facedown in a pool of blood in apartment in Thailand
An Australian man has been found dead in an apartment in Thailand, hours after a Swedish man died floors below. Michael Shane Caola, 54, from Perth, was found face down in a pool of blood in a room on the seventh floor of the Grand Shivalay apartment in Pattaya, south-east of Bangkok, on Thursday afternoon. Pattaya City Police investigator Saijai Khamjulla said he received reports of the dead Australian about 4pm. Upon entering the room, officers found a broken glass nearby along with scattered pill bottles, but there were no signs of struggle. Apartment manager Thanchanok Prajit said she discovered Mr Caola after receiving a call from his relatives claiming they had been unable to contact him for two days. Ms Prajit claimed the door had been locked from the inside with a foul odour emanating from within before unlocking the door and contacting police. 'He was a regular customer, often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health,' she said. Two hours earlier police discovered the body of a 38-year-old Swedish national in a separate room two floors below in the same building. Mr Caola was found face down in a pool of blood in the Pattaya apartment building He was found naked near an overflowing bathtub with a one-inch laceration to his forehead and right eyebrow, local media outlet Khaosod reported. Police again said they identified no signs of struggle but are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of both men. Police are searching for a woman captured on CCTV within the building as part of their investigations into the death of the Swedish national. Mr Khamjulla, the investigator, said the cause of Mr Caola's death was still unknown and they were waiting for results of an autopsy. 'His case does not involve any woman, unlike the previous case involving a Swedish national who died in the same apartment on the same day,' he said. 'The case is currently under investigation and further details cannot be disclosed at this time.' He acknowledged the coincidence of the two deaths but said there was 'no established link' between them. 'Since they occurred in the same building within a short time frame, we're not ruling out any possibilities and will continue to investigate,' he said. Investigations into the deaths of the foreign nationals are ongoing Mr Caola's social media is littered with photos taken across Thailand, stretching back a decade, including at markets and eateries in Pattaya. The mysterious deaths are the latest to blight the city on Thailand's eastern Gulf coast. Despite recent efforts to remediate the city's image, local crime continues to make international headlines. Earlier this week, wheelchair-bound British tourist Chris John Glennon, 60, was robbed by a trio of sex workers at a local resort. Mr Glennon, from Northampton in England's East Midlands region, reportedly engaged the sex workers before bringing them back to his hotel room. There, he claimed, they stole his money and took off while he was showering. Investigations into the alleged robbery are ongoing. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
Save Earth Mission Launches Thailand's Largest Community-Led Plantation Drive from the Heart of Pattaya
"Mr. Junaid, Global Climate Ambassador and PR Strategist of Save Earth Mission, pictured with local influencers and passionate volunteers during the plantation drive in Pattaya, Thailand." 100,000 Trees to Be Planted Across Thailand in 12 Months, Backed by Local Vendors, Volunteers, and Environmental Advocates PATTAYA, THAILAND - In a groundbreaking step toward restoring ecological balance and combatting climate change, Save Earth Mission Thailand kicked off a historic plantation drive in Pattaya on July 15, marking the beginning of a year-long movement to plant over 100,000 trees across the country. The plantation drive brought together a powerful coalition of local plant vendors, environmental volunteers, social media influencers, and climate-conscious citizens, all united under Save Earth Mission's core philosophy: grassroots action for global impact. This initiative aligns with Save Earth Mission's overarching goal of planting 30 billion trees by 2040, and serves as the first major step in Thailand ahead of the upcoming 60+ country global plantation campaign, set to begin in August 2025. 'This was more than a plantation drive—it was a movement. Pattaya's community has stepped up not only to plant trees but to plant the future,' said a spokesperson for Save Earth Mission Thailand. The launch date held emotional and symbolic importance, as it coincided with the birthday of Mr. Sandeep Choudhary, President of Save Earth Mission's India Chapter and a global sector leader. Instead of personal celebrations, Mr. Choudhary made a heartfelt request to all chapters: 'If you want to wish me, plant a tree in your mother's name. Let us lead the planet into a greener tomorrow—one tree, one mother, one nation at a time.' Responding to his call, the Thailand chapter immediately planted 100 trees in honor of mothers and pledged to scale up efforts with a full-fledged national drive, targeting 100,000 trees over the next 12 months through collaborative partnerships and sustained local engagement. This year-long initiative will include: With Pattaya setting the tone, communities across Thailand are now gearing up to join this national green revolution—making it one of Southeast Asia's most ambitious, community-powered environmental campaigns. About Save Earth Mission Save Earth Mission is a global climate action platform on a mission to plant 30 billion trees by 2040. Active in over 60 countries, the movement empowers communities to fight climate change through real-world action, innovative tracking tools, and cross-border collaboration. For Press Inquiries and Collaborations contact below.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Wheelchair-bound British tourist, 60, is robbed by 'three Thai prostitutes' after he took trio back to his hotel room
A wheelchair-bound British tourist was reportedly robbed by three Thai prostitutes after he took the trio back to his hotel room. Chris John Glennon, 60, was left devastated after taking two Thai women and a ladyboy back to his hotel - only for them to steal his money and leave while he was taking a shower. The disabled man from Northampton picked up the sex workers from the bustling beachfront road in notorious Pattaya before taking them back to his room at the Basaya Beach Hotel and Resort. The holidaymaker got unchanged while the three prostitutes, aged around 25 to 30-years-old, lounged in the room. He left to take a shower but was horrified when he returned to find the room bare. Still shirtless, the guest wheeled himself to the reception desk to report the alleged theft to the stunned staff. They helped him file a complaint at the Pattaya City Police Station at 12:16am today. Footage shows the Brit tapping on his phone to communicate with investigators via the Google Translate app. The officers quickly understood that the sex workers had taken off with 6,000 Baht (£140), that Chris had intended to pay the girls with. They had also nabbed £150 in British notes, that the tourist was yet to exchange at a booth. Police said two suspects were identified as Thai woman Chantakarn Donlueam and transgender prostitute Ekkarat Marknok after leaving their IDs at check-in. The third suspect, who did not show her ID to reception staff, is still being identified. Police Captain Anirut Jehrah of the Pattaya City Police Station said: 'We have recorded the information on the daily log as evidence and dispatched investigators to collect footage from security cameras. 'We obtained crucial evidence of ID card photocopies, which the suspects gave to the hotel staff before going to the victim's room. We are now pursuing them for prosecution.' A staff member at the Basaya Beach Hotel and Resort, where rooms cost 1,000 Baht (£23) a night, said Chris was a regular visitor who had previously stayed at the hotel four or five times. Because he had a speech disability, he had to use his phone to communicate with the employees. She said: 'Since checking in, he's been staying with us for an extended period. He made the booking himself online on June 24 and has been staying alone the entire time. In the past, he has taken women to his room, but no incidents occurred. 'During his stay, he has been a normal guest, causing no disturbances. We regularly deliver food to his room and everything is normal. 'According to the security camera footage we reviewed, there were three people involved in the incident, possibly ladyboys or women. 'After the incident, he informed the hotel staff. The hotel then called the police, and we have now prepared the CCTV footage for them. We are currently waiting for the police to collect it.' Another employee added: 'Mr Chris reported to staff that a transgender woman stole his money while he was showering. From the security camera footage, all three appeared feminine and they were aged around 25 to 30 years old. 'The security cameras showed all three running downstairs, fleeing into the street outside. I'm not sure if the staff there noticed anything suspicious. 'Only two of them left their ID cards at reception. The third didn't provide one at all.' Police said they were hunting the trio and urged anyone with relevant information to call authorities immediately. The case is the latest to blight the reputation of the notorious coastal town, which attracts millions of tourists each year. Despite some success in cleaning up the town's image, alcohol and sex remain its biggest draws, often leading to a high rate of crime and accidents.
