A police sergeant has admitted to hi-lo gambling charges and returned funds to a brain-diseased young man, facing severe disciplinary action. The deputy national police commander will visit the area tomorrow to monitor progress.

The case involves Yupapon, 46, and Thanasak, 53, parents of a 20-year-old man identified as "A" (pseudonym) who suffers from a neurological condition, seeking assistance after their son was allegedly lured by a sergeant from the 9th Region Police to play illegal hi-lo gambling at a house in Muang District, Phatthalung Province, resulting in losses of over 130,000 baht. The incident occurred in the early morning of April 28, and a complaint was filed at Muang Phatthalung Police Station.

Subsequently, Pol. Col. Sompracha Kannakanan, commander of Muang Phatthalung Police Station, ordered officers to investigate all four gambling participants under gambling laws. Whether fraud charges will be pursued depends on further investigation into the actual circumstances to ensure fairness to both parties.

On May 1, 2569, investigators called the victim for additional questioning and summoned the sergeant and three companions to acknowledge charges of joint gambling. The sergeant admitted to playing hi-lo gambling and acknowledged the fraud allegation, returning all money to the victim in the presence of investigators with a record made. Meanwhile, the 9th Region Police established a fact-finding committee to investigate both the accused and the victim. Tomorrow, May 2, Deputy National Police Commander Trairongwit Phiwpan will visit to monitor progress and clarify facts again, amid scrutiny over disciplinary investigation results which could result in severe punishment up to dismissal from service.

On May 1, 2025, Orsitthisak Somphanrat, Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, addressed online social media reports alleging that a Territorial Defense Volunteer member in Chuang District demanded 300,000 baht in bribes for exam assistance, though the applicant was never actually a member. The complainant recovered only 230,000 baht and has pursued the remaining 70,000 baht for four years while facing threats.

The Permanent Secretary ordered the Nakhon Si Thammarat governor to immediately investigate the facts and address public concerns, as the allegations severely damage the government's reputation. Governor Somchai Seelaanoi reported that on April 30, the complainant filed a petition at the Provincial Ombudsman's Office regarding the extortion claim. The governor has directed responsible officials to verify the facts, protect involved parties, and question all Chuang District volunteer members about the incident.

Preliminary findings show no evidence of bribery by any Territorial Defense Volunteer member in Chuang District. Importantly, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province has not opened recruitment for volunteer membership positions since 2024. The Permanent Secretary stressed the urgency of this investigation, noting its significant impact on administrative credibility and the Interior Ministry's image. He emphasized that the province must rapidly complete all legal procedures while simultaneously conducting public relations efforts to inform the general public of the true facts.

KRABI — Phi Phi Islands National Park has dismissed viral social media claims that Phi Phi Island would develop its own international airport, labeling the information as false.

In a Facebook statement, park director Saengsuree Songthong addressed an Instagram post from April 1st that claimed "Phi Phi will have its very own international airport starting May 1st," complete with a convincing image. Songthong clarified that the image was artificially generated and does not represent an actual location.

The area in question is thought to be on Phi Phi Don Island, spanning Ton Sai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay. This privately-owned land measures approximately 140 meters wide by 1,490 meters long, and is already developed with hotels, restaurants, a hospital, and other commercial establishments—making it completely unsuitable for airport development.

Songthong further noted that the national park is predominantly covered in steep limestone mountains, which are naturally incompatible with airport construction or aircraft operations.

Authorities have urged residents and tourists to verify information through official channels and refrain from amplifying unconfirmed reports to combat misinformation and public confusion.

On May 1, 2025, Bang Saen beach in Saen Suk subdistrict, Muang district, Chon Buri province, was swarming with visitors from across the region during the Labor Day holiday. Traffic congestion choked the main road leading to the beach and the beachfront promenade, while families sprawled across sandy areas and under beach umbrellas for meals. Both children and adults happily waded into the refreshingly cool seawater to escape the intense heat.

Thanapol, a beverage vendor at Bang Saen beach, noted that while today seemed busy, it was a far cry from last year's Labor Day. The beach still had empty spaces, whereas normally it would be completely packed. Business this year has been sluggish despite the tourist numbers because parents are cutting expenses to pay for school tuition and uniforms.

Anant, an inflatable tube rental operator, reported that while tourists appeared numerous, they were fewer than expected. Visitors are spending cautiously due to the upcoming school term and high fuel prices have deterred travel compared to previous years. His daily earnings have plummeted to nearly one-quarter of normal holiday revenue—dropping from 4,000-5,000 baht on typical holidays to just 400 baht on regular days and about 1,000 baht during festival days.

Yuttapoom, 31, who traveled from Min Buri with his family, said he chose Bang Saen for its pleasant atmosphere and proximity. Despite heavy crowds and traffic difficulties, he found the trip rewarding once he got his family into the water. He was impressed by the affordable yet delicious food and the beautiful, cool seawater that made an excellent summer escape.

Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, director of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), together with Prof. Pimol Srivirk, chair of the Thai Olympic Committee and advisor to the Pickleball Association, and Taya Teepsuwan, president of the Thai Pickleball Association, officially opened the 2026 Thailand Pickleball Championship (Thailand Pickleball Championship 2026 Presented by BRAGG) held May 1-3 at Pickleball Warehouse in Rangsit, Pathum Thani Province. A wheelchair pickleball competition was held separately on May 3 at the Benchamakitti Sports Center.

Dr. Kongsak noted that pickleball is a newly recognized sport that the Sports Authority and Thai Olympic Committee recently approved under Thai sports law. He praised the association for organizing both international and domestic competitions within a short timeframe, particularly for including wheelchair pickleball, which aligns with SAT's mission to promote sports participation across all segments of society. Looking ahead, SAT aims to work with the association to develop pickleball toward international excellence by securing its inclusion in national youth and national sports programs and establishing membership in the International Pickleball Federation, which must first be recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

Prof. Pimol Srivirk noted that pickleball is an emerging global sport gaining worldwide recognition due to its fun, ease of play, and accessibility to all ages. He commended the tournament organizers for their high-quality execution and expressed hope for more frequent competitions, ideally expanding to other provinces to grow the player base and develop Thailand's national team potential.

Taya Teepsuwan reported that pickleball has grown rapidly over the past 3-4 years, with Thailand seeing a 40 percent increase in players over the past year. He attributed this growth to the sport's accessibility across all ages and ease of learning, and announced plans to continue organizing competitions to develop more athletes who can eventually represent Thailand internationally.

On May 1, 2025, a prominent businesswoman authorized her lawyer to file charges with the Crime Suppression Division against a notorious amulet dealer and related parties for fraud and other related offenses. The case dates back to June 2022 when the businesswoman first met the amulet dealer, who befriended her and offered to purchase branded handbags at high prices, claiming he would resell them for profit. The dealer later presented mortgaged land for sale to the victim in multiple parcels, accepting payment by check rather than cash. Initial checks cleared, but subsequent checks bounced repeatedly. On April 2, 2024, the dealer requested a meeting to create a debt acknowledgment letter, proposing an 84-installment payment plan at 5.76 million baht per installment, with 152 amulets offered as collateral security. Problems with bounced checks persisted. On July 2, 2025, the dealer arranged a meeting at an amulet shop to execute a supplementary agreement. During this meeting, the dealer allegedly encouraged the businesswoman to consume alcohol until she lost consciousness before having her sign the disadvantageous document. In March 2025, when the victim had the amulets and land appraised, she discovered the properties were overvalued by nearly double their actual market value. Additionally, the branded goods were never sold as promised but were allegedly kept for personal use with no public sales announcement. The victim believes the defendant never intended to conduct legitimate business or repay debts from the outset, with total damages estimated at approximately 300 million baht. She has now formally filed charges, and investigators have accepted the case for prosecution recommendations.