PATTAYA– On April 16, 2025 a female street vendor in Pattaya attacked her ex-husband with a knife, leaving him with a severe injury to his ear. The incident took place at 2:36 AM in Soi Kor Pai, prompting a fast response from the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Center and Pattaya City Police, accompanied by the Pattaya […]

PATTAYA, Thailand – On April 15, 2025, at 7:36 p.m., the lively Songkran water festival in Pattaya took a turn as traffic police intervened to address safety hazards caused by water trucks obstructing roads. The vehicles, used for water fights and sometimes parked to sell water, were causing traffic jams and posing risks to both […]

PATTAYA, Thailand – A viral video showing a chaotic brawl between Thai locals and foreign tourists in Pattaya on Soi 6 prompted authorities to respond this evening by meeting with Thai nationals involved. On April 15, 2025, at 5:26 p.m., Pattaya City Police, led by Deputy Investigator Pol. Lt. Col. Arus Sapanon and Pol. Lt. […]

Pattaya- As Pattaya prepares for the Wan Lai Festival this weekend and is currently in the middle of Songkran, local law enforcement has issued a public advisory cautioning against the use of blue high-pressure PVC pipe style water guns. Authorities are urging residents and visitors to avoid using or collecting these makeshift devices and to […]

Controlling illegal working in Thailand requires a broad-brush approach. The Thai premier has called for a reduction in the two months’ visa exempt stamp which currently applies to over 90 percent of all tourist arrivals. She is concerned about the abuses which lead to foreigners defaulting on work permit regulations or indulging in nominee shareholding deals and allied iniquities. Adith Chairrattananon, honorary secretary general for Thai travel agents, has agreed that grey businesses require preventive measures such as reducing the visa-free stay for Chinese travellers because of exploitation of loopholes in the rules. He suggests “15-30 days” should be enough for bona fide Chinese vacationers. Other spokespersons have noted that foreigners, usually but not always Chinese, have been working as non-authorized tour agents and introducing clients to illegal practices such as renting condominium units on a short-term basis or the chance to make money by temporary working. Under current regulations, arrivals receiving 60 days visa-exempt can easily obtain an extra 30 days at local immigration. The problem for the Thai authorities is that restricting visa-exempt time scales isn’t straightforward. Would a revision apply to all nationalities, or only to some, or even only to the Chinese? Vacationers from China to Thailand are already in numerical decline and singling them out might prove to be counter-productive. Even if visa-exempt was reduced to 30 days, a further one month’s extension would presumably be available at local immigration. A lot of mischief can occur in two months. Moreover, much visa abuse is committed by foreigners on longer-stay visas such as Elite, Destination Thailand Visa or even retiree options. None of these allow work-related activity in Thailand but policing the system is proving to be beyond the resources of the immigration bureau or the investigators of the Labour department. Recent non-Chinese examples of malpractice have included a British man with an annual retirement visa who was running several nightclubs. Immigration lawyer Jessataporn Bunnag believes that the government, in addition to squeezing visa exempt, needs to review the procedure for applying for work permits. “The procedure can be very complex and can take up to two months or even more,” he said, “so some foreigners decide to take the risk.” Other experts say that Thailand must reform the alien labour legislation to permit foreigners having majority sharers in some companies and to reduce the number of occupations reserved for Thais only. “If Thailand is to address the very serious problems of visa abuse, she should examine all relevant legislation about employment and not just rely on restructuring the amount of time people can stay here,” concluded Mr Bunnag.

A tourist riding a Kawasaki 1000cc motorcycle crashed into a high-voltage power pole in Pattaya, resulting in serious injuries. PATTAYA, Thailand – A serious motorcycle accident occurred in the Chaloem Phrakiat 3 area of Pattaya, when a large Kawasaki 1000cc motorcycle lost control and collided with a high-voltage power pole at 5:16 AM on April 23. The rider, a tourist of likely Chinese descent aged between 30-40, sustained severe injuries from the crash and was left unconscious with shallow breathing. Rescue workers were quick to respond and provided immediate first aid, including CPR, before rushing the injured man to the hospital. The motorcycle was severely damaged, with debris scattered around the area and the full-face helmet broken from impact. In addition to the motorcycle wreckage, the accident caused damage to nearby restaurant furniture, including tables, chairs, and an awning. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the injured man ride through the alley twice before the accident, traveling at high speed. The rider reportedly lost control after hitting a speed bump and crashed into the power pole, causing a violent impact that threw both the rider and the motorcycle in different directions. There were no other vehicles involved in the accident. Surveillance footage confirmed the high speed of the motorcycle before the crash, and investigators are continuing their efforts to gather further details. Witnesses saw the rider speeding before losing control and crashing into the power pole, with no other vehicles involved. The crash also caused damage to nearby restaurant furniture and structures, including tables and awnings.

The suspect admitted to the robbery and apologized, stating that he used the stolen money for personal needs and regretted the crime. PATTAYA, Thailand – A Russian tourist recently fell victim to a robbery in the heart of Pattaya when a suspect, armed with a firearm, threatened the tourist and demanded money. Fearing for the safety of her 3-year-old daughter, the tourist handed over 3,000 Baht to the suspect. The incident took place in Soi Phra Tamnak 6, and the suspect fled the scene shortly after. After days of investigation, the Pattaya Police apprehended the suspect on April 22, at 3:36 PM. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Ukrit Mangkhung (also known as Mac Kolai), was arrested near the entrance of Soi Beach Road 13/4. Police recovered a homemade firearm from him. The arrest was made with the collaboration of local police, the Pattaya City Police Investigation Division, and Tourism Police. During questioning, Ukrit admitted to committing the robbery and explained that he used the stolen money to support his daily needs. He expressed regret and apologized, stating that he never intended for such an incident to occur. He also explained that he wore an orange motorcycle vest during the crime as a disguise. A Russian tourist was robbed of 3,000 Baht in Pattaya by a suspect wielding a firearm, while her young child was at risk. Ukrit’s criminal history revealed prior convictions for drug-related offenses and robbery. He had recently been released from prison before committing this latest crime. The police have now sent Ukrit and the recovered evidence, including the weapon and motorcycle used for the getaway, to the public prosecutor to face charges. Tourist Robbed at Gunpoint –Suspect Arrested – Ukrit Mangkhung, the 30-year-old suspect, was arrested by Pattaya police near Soi Liap Chai Beach, where he was found with a homemade firearm. Confession and Apology –Criminal History – Ukrit Mangkhung had a prior criminal record, including charges for drug-related offenses and robbery, and had only recently been released from prison.

The crash was triggered when a rider stopped suddenly after a bug flew into their eye, leading to a rear-end collision with the following motorcycle. PATTAYA, Thailand – A motorcycle collision on the Huay Kai Nao – Ban Dan Phajon Road in the Khao Mai Kaew sub-district, East Pattaya, left two people injured on the evening of April 22. The incident occurred around 9:00 PM, prompting emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Pattaya City Rescue Center to rush to the scene. Upon arrival, authorities found a blue Honda PCX motorcycle without a license plate lying in the middle of the road. The rider, identified as 45-year-old Nichakan Uthaiseang, sustained injuries to her wrist. Nearby, a blue and white Honda Click motorcycle was also involved in the crash. The rider, 43-year-old Thanyalak Budda, was lying face down on the road with a lower right leg injury and pain to her right side ribs. Rescue teams provided first aid to both individuals before transporting them to a nearby hospital. According to a witness riding as a passenger, the driver of the Honda Click motorcycle had suddenly stopped after a bug flew into their eye, causing them to lose control. The motorcycle following behind failed to brake in time and collided into the back of their vehicle.