Unlicensed Cemetery in Chachoengsao

Four Bodies Removed from an Unlicensed Cemetery in Chachoengsao

In full consultation with senior members of the Jewish community, the remains of four people were respectfully removed from an unlicensed cemetery in Chachoengsao yesterday and reinterred at a properly registered cemetery in Chonburi province. Authorities have now provided more detail about why the original cemetery was deemed unsuitable, and it appears there were problems with the site virtually from the beginning.

Historical maps reportedly show that when the cemetery opened in 2021, it was only around 180 m from a waterway. Regulations require a minimum distance of 400 m, largely to reduce the risk of contamination. There was another problem, too. The cemetery was adjacent to a rural road, which existed at the time but apparently was not properly reflected in the original registration information.

Those issues ultimately resulted in the site being refused the necessary licence, with provincial authorities ordering that burials should not take place there. Despite that, burials subsequently did. The four sets of remains have now been transferred with the appropriate religious guidance to a licensed cemetery in Chonburi.

Chachoengsao authorities have also ordered the operators of the original site to remove buildings associated with the cemetery no later than Wednesday this week. The case has prompted something considerably bigger nationally. Authorities have reportedly been instructed to compile a list of cemeteries and cremation facilities across Thailand within three days, after which checks can be made to establish whether they are all operating with valid licences.

It is important to stress again that there has been no suggestion that the families of those buried at the site knowingly did anything wrong. This is about the operation and licensing of the cemetery itself.

Chinese Fugitive Arrested After Three Decades in Thailand

Thai police arrested a Chinese national in the Pattaya area who was wanted on an Interpol Red Notice for murder, ending more than three decades of evasion. The suspect had also reportedly purchased Thai citizenship illegally decades ago.

He is accused of an intentional assault in China that evidently led to murder, dating back to January 19, 1990.

The suspect’s name is Mr. Zhou, although he went by his Thai name, Suchart, after obtaining his illegal Thai citizenship. He had lived in the local area for many years.

Illegal Thai Citizenship and a Thai National ID Card

Investigators revealed that Zhou obtained his Thai citizenship illegally. During questioning, he admitted to paying about 50,000 Thai Baht at the time to secure a Thai national ID card in Thailand.

Authorities are now probing whether officials or intermediaries facilitated this fraudulent process and whether similar schemes were extended to other foreign nationals, although it happened decades ago.

17 Land Plots and 100 Million Baht in Assets

After assuming his Thai identity, Zhou lived openly in Thailand, working as a tour guide and later expanding into tourism-related businesses. He eventually settled in Pattaya, married a Chinese woman, and raised two children.

Authorities discovered that he controlled multiple companies and amassed significant assets, including 17 land plots in Bang Lamung worth over 100 million Thai Baht, along with several vehicles. Investigators are now tracing the origins of these holdings to determine their legality, especially since they have stated that his Thai citizenship was gained illegally.

Extradition Under the Interpol Red Notice

This arrest followed close coordination between Thai police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Chinese authorities, who requested extradition under the Interpol notice.

He has been handed over to Bang Lamung Police Station for further legal proceedings and is expected, after that is finished, to be sent back to China after three decades.

Nan Province School Closed After Landslides and Ground Movement

In Nan Province, continuing storms have caused landslides and serious ground movement in several areas, including at a mountainside school. The school has now been closed after substantial cracks appeared in buildings and in the ground nearby, with sections of surrounding land also washed away.

Thankfully, the danger appears to have been identified before anyone was seriously hurt, but the consequences are substantial for the 389 children who attended the school. Provincial authorities appear to have concluded that the existing location is no longer sufficiently safe, meaning a replacement school facility will have to be found on more stable ground for the children, teachers, and their families. That is obviously a major disruption.

Thailand Fuel Prices Rise as Diesel Subsidies Face Pressure

Meanwhile, despite Thailand increasing subsidies to cushion motorists from soaring global oil prices, fuel prices at the pumps are set to rise. The fuel fund management committee has approved an increase in retail fuel prices of around 85 satang per litre as international energy markets continue to put considerable pressure on domestic prices.

The government has substantially increased its support for regular diesel in an effort to prevent the full international increase reaching Thai motorists. Regular diesel is expected to retail at around 40 Baht 69 satang per litre, while B20 biodiesel is around 35 Baht 69 satang. Gasohol 95 is expected to be around 39 Baht 94 satang, with other gasohol grades also seeing revised prices and E20 at approximately 34 Baht 94 satang per litre.

Thailand relies heavily on road transport to move food, consumer goods, and virtually everything else around the country. When diesel prices rise significantly, those additional transport costs eventually have a habit of finding their way onto supermarket shelves and market stalls. So, the government is attempting to absorb part of that increase rather than allowing motorists and businesses to face the full impact in one go.

American Fugitive in Phuket Faces Extradition to the United States

Elsewhere, an American man who reportedly managed to remain under the radar in Thailand for several years is now facing extradition to the United States. The 48-year-old Texan was reportedly convicted around four years ago in connection with a serious domestic abuse case involving strangulation before leaving the United States and eventually making his way to Thailand.

He apparently managed to live here without attracting too much official attention until information supplied by the US embassy led Thai authorities to locate him on Phuket. US authorities have since revoked his passport.

Drunk Driver Arrested After Early Morning Pattaya Crash

Here in Pattaya, 6:00 in the morning is not normally the time you would expect police to encounter somebody described as completely drunk behind the wheel. But apparently nobody had explained that to one driver yesterday. Two Mitsubishi vehicles collided in the early morning, leaving both cars badly damaged. Thankfully, despite the state of the vehicles, there were no reports of serious injuries.

Police say one driver appeared sober. The other, a woman, very definitely did not. Officers reportedly found her heavily intoxicated, with open bottles of beer and spirits inside the vehicle. Police photographed and documented the scene before both cars were towed to Pattaya City Police Station as the investigation continued.