January 2015

SCOT FREE! Lumsden The Supreme Court has overruled an Appeal Court Judgment in favour of British journalist Andrew Drummond, which was described as ‘demonstrating a fundamental respect for investigative journalism in Thailand’. In reversing the decision the Supreme Court stated the Drummond under Section 328 of the criminal code had libeled James Lumsden a former […]

THAILAND’S MILITARY HONOUR GUARD FOR PATTAYA BLACKMAILERS A sign above a supermarket till in Pattaya harks back to happier times for would-be newspaper magnate Drew Walter Noyes. Even though the Pattaya Times is no more. here is a reminder of a newspaper so unique in its structure and content that it should at least be […]

BANGKOK AIRPORT! COMING SOON ON BBC – WITH THE OBLIGATORY LADYBOY It had to happen, There’s been a documentary by British television of the major airports in Britain. Then there have been documentary series on places like Dubai and more…. How does this translate in Thailand?   Just wait. As the military asks citizens to […]

  THERE WILL BE BLOOD IN BANGKOK! What happens when you put a Bangkok financial adviser together with the foreign managing director of a typical foreign controlled local law firm in Thailand and put them into the Thai property business? Graham Macdonald MBE and Greg Pitt Well almost certainly it seems there will be a […]

POLICE ACCUSED OF COVERING UP ANOTHER MURDER OF FOREIGNER Thai Police have been accused of the cover up in the murder of another foreigner – this one shot three times with two guns in the north eastern Thai province of Chaiyaphum. Local police have closed the file on the murder of Jawad Rasheed Khan,  who […]

The question over the use of child soldiers in the conflict of Southern Thailand has raised its head again – this time in a 17 page report by Child Soldiers International. The report today is linked below. Child soldiers have existed for decades if not hundreds of years in this region from kids, some very […]

Flying Sporran’s Weekend Diary  ARE YOU KIDDING GENERAL SOMYOT? The author  confronts foreign financial scammers in Bangkok and their Thai fixer who was charged with conspiracy to murder New Zealander Ian Travis The Flying Sporran was gobsmacked to read in the Bangkok Post this week from the head of the Royal Thai Police General Pumpanmuang […]

A story scheduled to appear in the spot has been held over due to yesterday’s attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’ in Paris. Satire is a vital and essential tool in a journalist’s very limited armoury. Yesterday’s attack reminds us all that there are some societies which tolerate freedom of speech but sometimes journalists pay the penalties […]

COURT CROWDED WITH LAWYERS – AS RICH KIDS JET IN FOR ADJOURNMENT Thai Justice – Judge Admits Simple Case Could Take Years Jack on his own  Bangkok Airways bus Lawyers for two American Chinese rich kids, who allegedly made a severe and unprovoked attack on a graduating pupil from the New International School of Thailand […]

‘BANG, BANG, BANG’, KILLER ON RIVER KWAI MOVES BACK TO HOME TOWN (From the Flying Sporran in Kanchanaburi) Just ten years after being sentenced to death, later reduced to 50 years, and later again reduced to 32 years, Police Sergeant Somchai Wisetsingh, who brutally murdered Britons Adam Lloyd, 24, and Vanessa Arscott,23, in Kanchanburi, has […]