Latest news with #RoyalThaiPolice
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Over 1,800 people arrested in crack down on Asia-based scam operations
Police Colonel of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau of Royal Thai Police Piboonsook Ratiwerotkun, Superintendent of the National Counter Scam Center of Korean National Police Agency Sanghyun Park, Wong, Yap and Head of the Anti-Fraud Co-ordination Centre of Macao Judiciary Police Cheong Un-hong attend a press conference on a joint arrest operation combating cross-border scams in Hong Kong, China, on June 3, 2025. — Reuters HONG KONG: More than 1,800 people have been arrested in a joint operation across Asia targeting scam networks, police in Hong Kong said on June 3. The crack down involving authorities in six other jurisdictions successfully intercepted fraudulent funds involving about US$20mil (RM84.90mil), Wong Chun-yue, chief superintendent of the city's police's commercial crime bureau, said. The scam networks were closed down during the operation jointly conducted by South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and neighboring Chinese gambling hub Macao, he said. The operation, which also involved authorities from Malaysia and the Maldives, targeted cases of online shopping and telephone scams, as well as investment and employment frauds. Nearly 33,000 accounts were frozen in the month to May 28, Wong said. Those arrested were aged between 14 and 81. In one case in March, a finance director in Singapore was scammed through deep-fake videos by someone who claimed to be the chief executive at a multinational corporation. The victim transferred US$499,000 (RM 2.11mil) to Hong Kong, said Aileen Yap, assistant director of Singapore police's anti-scam command. Through cross-border cooperation, the money was recovered, she said. The victims of scams and online fraud often include not only those defrauded but also the workers used by scamming operations, with staff facing threats, violence and poor working conditions. A United Nations report in April found transnational organised crime groups in East and South-East Asia are spreading their scam operations across the globe. For several years, scam compounds have proliferated in South-East Asia, especially in border areas of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, as well as in the Philippines, shifting operations from site to site to stay a step ahead of the police, according to the report issued by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. The scam centres in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are notorious for luring people to work in them under false pretences. Staff are often forced to financially exploit people around the world through false romances, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes. Many workers find themselves trapped in virtual slavery. – AP
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Straits Times
No more excuses: Thai bikers without helmets face up to $79 fine from June 1
The goal is to ensure strict compliance with road safety laws, especially the mandatory helmet use for motorcyclists and their passengers. PHOTO: AFP No more excuses: Thai bikers without helmets face up to $79 fine from June 1 BANGKOK - Starting June 1, both motorcycle riders and passengers must wear helmets or face a fine of up to 2,000 baht (S$79), announced the Royal Thai Police (RTP) on May 27. This is part of a broader initiative to improve road safety and enforce traffic discipline nationwide, said police lieutenant-general Nithithorn Chintakanon, Commander of the Traffic Police Bureau and Head of the RTP's Traffic Police Image Enhancement Taskforce. Lt-Gen Nithithorn explained that the initiative, under the 'Safe Roads Project', is being implemented across the country, focusing on high-traffic areas, roads with frequent violations, accident-prone zones, and locations near schools. The goal is to ensure strict compliance with road safety laws, especially the mandatory helmet use for motorcyclists and their passengers. He added that Section 122 of the Land Traffic Act requires both riders and passengers to wear helmets to prevent injuries. Violations carry fines of up to 2,000 baht, which double if a rider is found without a helmet while carrying a passenger who is also not wearing one. The Ministry of the Interior and the local authorities are working together to publicise the 'Safe Roads Project' and encourage public compliance. The campaign involves local governments, educational institutions, and public-private partnerships, all collaborating to enhance road safety. THE NATION/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Two police pilots told friend of possible helicopter crash night before tragedy
BANGKOK: Two police pilots warned a friend of possible crash risk with ageing Bell 212 helicopter night before fatal Royal Thai Police crash. A friend of the two Royal Thai Police pilots killed in a Bell 212 helicopter crash revealed that the pilots had discussed the high risk of a crash the night before the fatal incident. Police Captain Sithit Amthanom, 37, posted on Facebook that the two pilots had told him on Friday (May 23) night the Bell 212 helicopter was not fit for flying. The aircraft, part of the Royal Thai Police's Aviation Division since 1973, has served for nearly five decades but is now considered aged and unsafe. The tragic crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Saturday claimed the lives of three officers: Police Major Pratheung Chulert (pilot), Police Captain Songphol Boonchai (pilot), and Police Lieutenant Thinnakrit Suwannoi (mechanic). Sithit said he met the two pilots the night before the crash, and they admitted to risking their lives every time they flew the Bell 212 helicopter due to its poor condition—not due to pilot error. 'Less than 24 hours after they confided in me, both friends were gone because of the danger they always feared,' Sithit wrote. He expressed anger over the situation and praised their courage for flying despite the risks. Sithit criticised the RTP's policy of having new pilots train on old helicopters while experienced pilots flew newer aircraft. 'There is a joke among us that old pilots use new aircraft and new pilots use old ones,' he said. He also shared a message from Pratheung confirming the helicopter was old and not ready to fly, adding that police pilots allowed to use new helicopters did not have to endure the same risks. - The Nation/ANN
The Sun
26-05-2025
- The Sun
Three Royal Thai police officers perish in devastating helicopter crash
THE Royal Thai Police is in mourning following a devastating helicopter accident that claimed the lives of three dedicated officers on Saturday afternoon. According to Thai news website Khaosod, the tragic incident unfolded in the skies above Prachuap Khiri Khan province, casting a shadow over the law enforcement community. The Bell 212 helicopter, operated by the Kanchanaburi Police Aviation Unit, was returning from a routine police operation at Surat Thani airport when disaster struck around 1pm. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft engulfed in flames before it plummeted to the ground near a local airbase in Mueang district. The victims have been identified as three devoted members of the Royal Thai Police who died serving their country: Police Lieutenant Colonel Pratueng Chulert, who served as the aircraft's pilot, Police Sub-Lieutenant Songpol Boonchai, the co-pilot, and Police Sub-Lieutenant Thinkrit Suwannanoi, the onboard mechanic. All three officers were pronounced dead at the scene, their lives cut tragically short while carrying out their professional duties. In what authorities describe as a remarkable turn of events amid the catastrophe, one officer aboard the helicopter managed to deploy his parachute and escape the doomed aircraft. Emergency responders are working to determine his current condition, though details remain limited as rescue operations continue. The swift response of emergency services and firefighters to the crash site underscored the gravity of the situation, though their efforts could not save the three officers who remained trapped in the burning wreckage. National Police Chief Police General Kitrat Panphet has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. The probe will examine all possible factors that may have contributed to the aircraft's mechanical failure and subsequent destruction. 'We have lost three brave officers who dedicated their lives to protecting and serving our nation,' the police chief reportedly stated in his official response. 'Our hearts go out to their families during this incredibly difficult time, and we are committed to uncovering the truth behind this tragedy.' The investigation will focus on determining what caused the in-flight emergency that led to the helicopter's catastrophic failure, with experts examining both mechanical and operational factors. This latest tragedy adds to the risks faced daily by members of the Royal Thai Police's aviation units, who regularly undertake dangerous missions across the country's diverse terrain. The loss of these three officers serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement personnel in the line of duty. The police force has pledged to provide full support to the families of the deceased officers as they navigate this profound loss, while the broader law enforcement community honors the memory of their fallen colleagues.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- The Sun
Royal Thai Police Helicopter Crash Kills 3 Officers
THE Royal Thai Police is in mourning following a devastating helicopter accident that claimed the lives of three dedicated officers on Saturday afternoon. According to Thai news website Khaosod, the tragic incident unfolded in the skies above Prachuap Khiri Khan province, casting a shadow over the law enforcement community. The Bell 212 helicopter, operated by the Kanchanaburi Police Aviation Unit, was returning from a routine police operation at Surat Thani airport when disaster struck around 1pm. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft engulfed in flames before it plummeted to the ground near a local airbase in Mueang district. The victims have been identified as three devoted members of the Royal Thai Police who died serving their country: Police Lieutenant Colonel Pratueng Chulert, who served as the aircraft's pilot, Police Sub-Lieutenant Songpol Boonchai, the co-pilot, and Police Sub-Lieutenant Thinkrit Suwannanoi, the onboard mechanic. All three officers were pronounced dead at the scene, their lives cut tragically short while carrying out their professional duties. In what authorities describe as a remarkable turn of events amid the catastrophe, one officer aboard the helicopter managed to deploy his parachute and escape the doomed aircraft. Emergency responders are working to determine his current condition, though details remain limited as rescue operations continue. The swift response of emergency services and firefighters to the crash site underscored the gravity of the situation, though their efforts could not save the three officers who remained trapped in the burning wreckage. National Police Chief Police General Kitrat Panphet has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. The probe will examine all possible factors that may have contributed to the aircraft's mechanical failure and subsequent destruction. 'We have lost three brave officers who dedicated their lives to protecting and serving our nation,' the police chief reportedly stated in his official response. 'Our hearts go out to their families during this incredibly difficult time, and we are committed to uncovering the truth behind this tragedy.' The investigation will focus on determining what caused the in-flight emergency that led to the helicopter's catastrophic failure, with experts examining both mechanical and operational factors. This latest tragedy adds to the risks faced daily by members of the Royal Thai Police's aviation units, who regularly undertake dangerous missions across the country's diverse terrain. The loss of these three officers serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement personnel in the line of duty. The police force has pledged to provide full support to the families of the deceased officers as they navigate this profound loss, while the broader law enforcement community honors the memory of their fallen colleagues.
