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A 63-year-old Swedish man has died in hospital after being found with bruising and other unexplained injuries at a hotel in Cherng Talay, Phuket. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Hotel staff first found the man lying face-down at the property on September 17. He was conscious and able to speak, but employees noticed bruises on his body. Staff offered to arrange medical treatment, but the man declined and did not explain how he had sustained th

Phuket MP Somchat Techathaworncharoen has been summoned by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for a third time as a witness in an investigation into property allegedly held through Thai nominees on behalf of foreigners. Justice Minister Police Lieutenant General Ruttaphon Naowarat said on September 21 that the new summons is scheduled for September 28. The date was set at Somchat’s request, and the minister said he expected the MP to appear. The investigatio

A major fire destroyed Zodiac Bar & Clubhouse near Ao Yon Bay on the afternoon of September 18. The venue was closed at the time, and there were no staff members or customers inside, so no injuries were reported. Preliminary property damage has been estimated at more than 500,000 baht. The fire broke out at the venue at the foot of Khao Khad hill along the road leading to Ao Yon Bay. Police and emergency services were alerted at around 11:56am. By the time firefighters arrive

Phuket’s beloved bear mascot has returned to Phuket Old Town ahead of this year’s Vegetarian Festival, appearing in a new white outfit at the Chartered Intersection. The bear, affectionately known by locals as Nong Mee, was installed near the old police station as part of Phuket Town Municipality’s preparations for the upcoming festival. The mascot was created at the initiative of Phuket Town Municipality and quickly became popular with residents and visitors. It was later of

Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsom has disclosed preliminary findings from an ongoing investigation into Chabad House Patong, saying authorities have identified links to two related companies with combined assets of approximately 261.58 million baht. According to the governor, both companies belong to the same business network and maintain offices in Cherng Talay, Thalang. Investigators have also identified four additional branches operating elsewhere in Phuket, bringing the t

Police in Phuket have seized more than 1,500 weight-loss pens and related products during a raid on a condominium unit in Wichit, with the total value of the seized items estimated at around 5.5 million baht. The operation was carried out by investigators from Muang Phuket Police Station together with officials from the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office. Authorities began looking into the case after receiving complaints from customers who had purchased weight-loss pens o

Police in Phuket are investigating the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist on Thepkrasattri Road after the incident was initially mistaken for a road accident. The emergency call came at around 8:10pm on September 17, reporting that a motorcyclist had fallen near the tunnel and the turn-off toward Phuket Airport. Rescue workers arrived at the airport tunnel junction and began resuscitation efforts, initially treating the incident as a traffic accident. The situation changed when

Emergency services across Phuket have been placed on heightened alert as the province prepares for heavy rain, possible flash floods, landslides and dangerous sea conditions in the Andaman Sea. The Phuket provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued an urgent order to district authorities, municipalities and relevant agencies to prepare for deteriorating weather conditions. The document, marked “maximum urgency”, was dated September

Thailand is moving forward with the first phase of the Phuket Expressway, a major infrastructure project designed to improve the connection between Kathu and Patong and provide an alternative to the existing road. The Kathu–Patong route is expected to reduce travel time between the two areas from around 30 minutes to approximately five minutes. The project is also intended to ease congestion and improve access to key tourism and economic areas of Phuket. Deputy Government Spo

Authorities in Phuket have launched an urgent inquiry following allegations that officials operating a late-night drug-testing checkpoint in Thalang demanded money from detainees in exchange for their release. Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit instructed the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and Phuket authorities to establish what happened, identify those involved and examine evidence related to the allegations. Phuket Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom was

A fire broke out at an Arab restaurant in central Patong on the evening of September 14. No one was injured, while authorities continue to investigate what caused the incident. According to Patong Police, an emergency call was received at around 8:55pm. Fire crews from the local municipality were dispatched to Al Yemen Al Saeed restaurant on Soi Sansabai, across the road from Bangla Road. Firefighters brought the blaze under control before it could spread to other parts of th

Phuket is hosting the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival for the second consecutive year, bringing Hindu religious traditions, Indian cultural performances and Thai hospitality together in a celebration of the cultural links between Thailand and India. The festival officially opened on September 14, 2026, when the streets of Phuket Old Town became the setting for a colourful procession and cultural programme. The opening ceremony was presided over by Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom

A suspected burglar in Rawai, Phuket, was captured on CCTV after allegedly breaking into a home, searching through the property, taking valuables and behaving unusually before leaving the scene. The incident reportedly took place at around 3:04am on September 3. CCTV images were not published until September 15, when the Phuket Times Facebook page shared four still photographs in an apparent effort to warn local residents and help identify the man. According to the report, th

An Australian tourist has received a refund after a Phuket taxi driver reportedly charged him 3,500 baht for a journey that should have cost around 800 baht. The case has sparked criticism from Thai residents, who questioned whether returning the excess fare should be enough to resolve a possible legal violation. The incident was reported by several local news outlets over the weekend. The 26-year-old Australian was visiting Phuket for the first time and arrived through Phuke

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has rejected claims that a new regulation allows foreigners to operate hotels, restaurants and tour businesses without a licence, describing the reports circulating online as fake news. The regulation removes the licensing requirement under the Foreign Business Act of 1999 for eight specific services divided into three groups. Online posts had incorrectly claimed that the measure covered seven businesses closely linked to Thai livelihoods, includi

A female ride-hailing driver in Phuket was taken to hospital after suddenly developing dizziness, weakness and breathing difficulties while transporting four foreign passengers in Patong on September 12. The woman said she believed the group may have sprayed an unidentified substance on her and suspected an attempt to drug her. The incident was reported by the Phuket Times Facebook page on September 13. According to the report, it happened at around 9pm while the driver was t

Thai police have arrested a 52-year-old Chinese national wanted by authorities in China after he overstayed his permitted stay in Thailand by 2,823 days — nearly eight years. The suspect, identified as Mr. Yong, was apprehended at around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, near a residence on Chao Fah Road in Phuket Town. Officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and Phuket Provincial Police acted on information provided by the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok,

Provincial authorities in Phuket conducted a late-night inspection of the “Sod” entertainment venue in Talad Nuea, Muang District, following complaints about loud music and alleged drug use. The operation began at around 11:30 p.m. over the weekend and was led by Apichat Chantrawong, Chief of the Muang District Security Division. During the inspection, officials conducted narcotics tests on employees and randomly selected patrons. A total of 54 people were screened, and all t

Phuket is gradually approaching the high season. In about six weeks, airlines will switch to their winter schedules, and the current 220 flights through Phuket International Airport are expected to increase to more than 300. At the same time, Thailand’s approach to the new tourism season is already becoming clear. The country is moving away from its post-pandemic policy of attracting tourists by virtually every available means and placing greater emphasis on regulation, secur

Phuket Governor Chotnirin Kerdsom has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the operations of Chabad Patong, giving relevant agencies seven days to report their findings. The review will examine land ownership and use, building permits and construction approvals, as well as commercial licences connected to the organisation. Authorities will also examine shareholder records to determine whether there are links between Chabad Patong and a company involved in a proposed for