Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Task Force Orders Overhaul of Thai Citizenship System, and More

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, Monday, September 14th to Sunday, September 20th.

They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

Deputy Interior Ministers Polpheep Suwannachawi and Worashit Liangprasert have directed a sweeping review of Thailand’s citizenship application process, citing concerns over loopholes exploited by foreign nationals through nominee arrangements.

Thailand Task Force Orders Overhaul of Thai Citizenship System

2. Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) said Friday, September 18th, that it has arrested 16 suspects in a nationwide crackdown codenamed Operation “BLACKLIST HUNT,” targeting a major narcotics network and people wanted on outstanding warrants.

CIB Arrests 16 Men Across Thailand in “Operation Blacklist Hunt” Sweep Against Major Drug Network

3. Police have arrested a 31-year-old Chinese national identified only as Mr. Yu, the suspected ringleader of the PAOFENG network accused of laundering funds for international online gambling operations involving nearly one billion baht.

Alleged Chinese Mastermind of Online Gambling Ring Arrested in Pattaya Area

4. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has issued summonses for 10 individual witnesses as part of its ongoing special investigation into the business activities of Israeli national “Maimon” in Chonburi province.

UPDATE: DSI Summons 10 Witnesses in Probe of Israeli Businessman’s Alleged Nominee Network in Chonburi

5. Three men riding a motorcycle together assaulted a Russian tourist and snatched his bag in a late-night robbery in Pattaya, police said, as investigators reviewed CCTV footage to track the suspects.

Three Men on Motorcycle Assault Russian Tourist, Snatch Bag in Pattaya

6. A 45-year-old British man was injured early Tuesday after two men on a motorcycle boxed him in, assaulted him and tried to steal his mobile phone near Soi Jomtien 15.

British Tourist Injured in Attempted Robbery in Jomtien, Third Mugging of Foreign Tourist This Week Locally

7. A 17-year-old Thai youth who stepped in to help an unidentified foreign man and a Thai woman search for a missing motorcycle key was punched in the face without warning early Wednesday in Pattaya, leaving him injured and baffled about what he had done wrong.

Foreign Man Arrested in Pattaya After Assaulting Thai Teen Who Tried to Help Him

8. Pattaya provincial prosecutors have formally indicted Australian national Simon Peter Carman over the death of 17-year-old Thanchanok Donhomla, whose body was found inside a suitcase dumped beside railway tracks in the resort city in June.

Simon Peter Carman, Australian, is Formally Indicted in Pattaya on Charges of Murdering a Minor and Stuffing Her in a Suitcase, Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges

9. Chonburi Governor Naris Niramaiwong and Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngamphichet on Friday welcomed a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee delegation for a study visit on the monitoring and inspection of foreigners’ business rights in Thailand.

Chonburi Officials Brief Parliament Committee on Foreign Business Practices and Potential Illegal Nominees and Land Holding in Pattaya and Chonburi, Over 14,000 Businesses Identified for Review

10. Embassy distributes advice to Israeli visitors as Thailand’s foreign minister warns all tourists must respect local rules.

Israeli Ambassador Urges Respect for Thai Customs Following Protests

11. Continuous heavy rainfall in Phanom district triggered rapid flash flooding in the Khao Sok area on September 19th, prompting urgent evacuations of tourists and residents as rising waters inundated riverside resorts and residential zones.

Flash Floods Hit Khao Sok in Surat Thani; Tourists and Locals Evacuated

That’s all for this week, as always thanks for your support.