IN Brief : Subway worker murdered

IN Brief : Subway worker murdered.

CRIME :A male employee of the Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL) subway service was killed inside the company control room yesterday, Huay Kwang police said.

Vichai Thongbai, 29, was found dead inside the control room at around 7am. His throat was slit and his penis had been almost severed. He also had deep cuts on his head.

The attacker used the victim's blood to draw a mark on his chest. None of his belongings were stolen.

BMCL governor Prapat Chongsanguan said footage from closed-circuit cameras inside the room would help establish the killer's identity.

The room was not linked to subway operations, he added.

Police said a personal conflict may have been the motive for the killing, which appeared to have been an inside job as no outsiders had access to the room.

Parachutist injured in stunt

CHIANG MAI :A parachutist suffered critical injuries during a stunt at a Children's Day fun fair at a military compound in Doi Lo sub-district yesterday.

Sgt Kanisorn Sukkachit was rushed to a nearby hospital after he was blown off-course by strong winds.

He tried in vain to negotiate his way to safety, but in his final descent, crashed into heavy weapons on display.

The Children's Day fun fair was moved forward a day to yesterday for security reasons after the multiple bombings in Bangkok at the New Year.

Anti-piracy team attacked

CRIME :The Intellectual Property Department has requested tighter police protection after its anti-piracy team came under attack by sellers of pirate goods.

The request followed a raid last week by the piracy busters at a pirate CD store in a Nonthaburi market.

During the swoop, a motorcycle gang pelted the team with soft drink bottles, damaging its car and injuring some team members.

Department director Puangrat Asavapisit said she would ask for extra police protection in future raids.

The department has been cracking down on sellers of pirate goods in Bangkok and major tourist destinations.

The department is set to train over 200 police officers in Chiang Mai to fight intellectual property violations and aims to increase public awareness on the issue.

According to department figures, from January to November last year, the department sought the prosecution of 8,895 intellectual property violators and confiscated 2.6 million items of counterfeit and pirated goods, up from 7,689 cases and 2.2 million items in 2005.

Bangkok Post
Saturday January 13, 2007