Phuket’s Kathu district chief transferred after raid on 2 pubs

STEMMING from a raid on two unlicensed pubs in Phuket’s Kathu district by the Department of Provincial Administration amid complaints that they are noisy and stay open past the 2 a.m. closing time the Interior Ministry today (June 2) transferred this district chief together with three others in the southern region, Matichon newspaper said.

Mr. Suthipong Julcharoen, Interior Ministry’s permanent secretary, signed an order transferring the following district chiefs effective June 9, 2023:

– Mr. Thitiwat Boonkit, Kathu district chief, Phuket, moved to head Chang Klang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province;

– Mr. Thiraphong Chuaychoo, Pak Phanang district chief, Nakhon Si Thammarat, shifted to head Kathu district;

– Mr. Somyot Na Nakhon, Chang Klang district chief, Nakhon Si Thammarat, now heads Krasae Sin district, Songkhla province;

– Mr. Ekachai Kaewratana, Krasae Sin district chief, Songkhla, moved to head Thepha district, Songkhla.

Yesterday Mr. Manrat Ratanasukhon, chief of the Provincial Administration Department, sent a team to raid Ratree Club and Mahanakhon Phuket pubs after getting complaints from residents of Kathu district that they stayed open till morning with loud music played and alcohol served for the merriment of hundreds of tourists.

At 2.30 a.m. two officials disguised as patrons visited the two pubs and found that they were still open and selling alcohol as usual even though the official closing time had passed.

They signalled their teams to come in and check during which the owners of both establishments were arrested.

Altogether 62 tourists were found at Ratree Club with the owner charged with operating a pub without a permit and selling alcohol during prohibited hours.

At Mahanakhon Phuket there were 87 tourists with ten of them youths below the 20 years legal drinking age being 17 to 19 years old. The owner was charged with running a pub without a permit, selling alcohol during prohibited hours including to underage youths and encouraging them to behave inappropriately.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Officials raiding one of two pubs in Kathu district, Phuket, that remained open after hours.

Insert: Mr. Thitiwat Boonkit, Kathu district chief, has been transferred to Nakhon Si Thammarat. Both photos: Matichon

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