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Former Mayor Pian Keesin: Patong home raided today

Former Patong Mayor's Home, Family Business Raided in Swoop by Task Force

Thursday, August 28, 2014
PHUKET: Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and his son Prab Keesin are among those for whom arrest warrants have been issued for today's swoop on scores of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers and ''mafia'' suspects on Phuket.

Region 8 Police Commander Major General Paya Mamen did not name the pair early today, only saying that a former Patong mayor and his son were involved.

By 7.50am, when police with armed soldiers in support entered Khun Pian's home and officials flashed warrants to enter the Pisona family business nearby, there was no doubt that the Keesins were on the long list.

For almost two decades, Pian Keesin has been the most powerful man in Patong, serving a long term as mayor until earlier this year when the Electoral Commission cast into doubt his latest triumph and Khun Pian, who once said ''the sky belongs to the birds, but the mayorship of Patong belongs to Pian Keesin'' lost the election rerun.

Prab Keesin's face has appeared on a couple of billboards recently, most notably in connection with promotion of a Phuket futsal team at the most prominent intersection on the main road leading into Patong.

Khun Pian's telephone continued to ring without answering today while Khun Prab's telephone was switched off.

The swoop on taxi and tuk-tuk drivers in Patong, with more than 80 arrests ordered, was welcomed today by envoys who said the task force strike could be the beginning of a ''new Phuket.''

Former Australian honorary consul Larry Cunningham spoke for many when he said: ''If what follows is the introduction of a low-cost bus around Patong, that will break the back of the taxi drivers and their excessive fares.''

Mr Cunningham, who retired as consul in September last year but still has business interests on Phuket, said that Patong was the place that kept him busy during his eight years as an envoy.

''The majority of Australian citizens who were assaulted, scammed and extorted were assaulted, scammed and extorted in Patong,'' Mr Cunningham said.

He welcomed today's symbolic raid and said: ''If the Army can take on the Patong mafia and beat them, it will send a message to the rest of Phuket and all of Thailand.''

Despite having to deal with the problems of tourists and expats, Mr Cunningham remains a strong advocate of tourism on Phuket and long ago at an honorary consuls' meeting urged the creation of ''a New Phuket, free of corruption, scams and rip-offs.''

Whether the new dawn for Phuket has arrived should become evident in coming days.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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Can Mr. Cunningham use his virtuous influences to find out why the Jet-ski's and Para-sailors are still controlling Patong and other beaches ?

Posted by Zig on August 28, 2014 08:46

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Take down the biggest and the dominoes will start to fall at break-neck speed.

Posted by ThaiMike on August 28, 2014 09:05

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What a great day

Posted by Phuket Saviour on August 28, 2014 09:12

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It would be very interesting to hear the former Mayor and his son explain how they became so wealthy.

Posted by Tim on August 28, 2014 09:21

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This is a great announcement from the task force. Leave no stone unturned. Everyone who has been implicated in this whole affair, causing misery to many lives I'm sure, must face the music.

Posted by reader on August 28, 2014 09:42

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Yay, lets hope Justice comes from the Arrests (as we haven't seen Justice arrive from Kata/Karon arrests yet).
As Mr Cunningham said, if you can clear the corruption, there is no reason why there can't be a 20/30 baht pickup/drop system running over Patong areas.
The town is set-up for such a system to exist.

Posted by Tbs on August 28, 2014 09:50

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Can it really be that some "untouchables" are actually being held to account after all this time.

Posted by hugh jarse on August 28, 2014 09:55

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Not before time- a lot of people have been looking forward to this day. Patong has been ruined by graft and the people behind it.

Posted by mister ree on August 28, 2014 10:10

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New Patrons in town. Thai "Democrat" Party massive years long patronage system in Phuket seems to be under attack. And they no longer seem to have the ability or capacity to provide protection for their "clients".

Posted by Arthur on August 28, 2014 10:24

Editor Comment:

We've never heard a particular political party connected to Patong corruption, Arthur. It's non-partisan.

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Long live the task force, get rid of all mafia here in Phuket, parhaps high quality tourists will return to Phuket.
And a big aplause to the new Major of Patong, a lady was needed to clean up the mess.

Posted by Norway Expat on August 28, 2014 11:33

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Fantastic .... maybe the Australian Government should talk to Mr Cunningham to check if the Coup they oppose is achieving a truer democracy than the previous corrupt system they apparently prefer.

Posted by benvenuto on August 28, 2014 11:37

Editor Comment:

Australia's government is too busy keeping in step behind the US to think for itself, benvenuto. ''All coups are bad, even good coups,'' is the instruction.

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So Ed, given some of the unedited comments on here, are you making an exception from your usual "innocent until etc etc" nonsense?

Posted by phonus on August 28, 2014 12:20

Editor Comment:

The problem is, as always, in your head, phonus. Everybody is innocent until found guilty. Perhaps you are reading the comments and making the wrong assumptions, as usual.

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well this is so great... one day we might only have the ping pong shows/ripoffs and the thouts coming with them left to handle to have a nice caretaking holiday island to enjoy fully... yea almost forgot.. dont forget the jet skis ....

Posted by frog on August 28, 2014 12:20

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Well, former mayor Pian Keesin may be innocent until proved guilty from the corruption angle, but is certainly guilty of poor dress sense. Judging from the photo above, he may have controlled the tuktuks, but he obviously has no control over his tailor.

Posted by phonus on August 28, 2014 13:11

Editor Comment:

The only problem I see is the shirt collar. Perhaps the shirt is one size too big. Apart from that, he looks great.

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Editor Comment:

The only problem I see is the shirt collar. Perhaps the shirt is one size too big. Apart from that, he looks great.

Hmm. Odd that you didn't print my innocuous comment about the Keesins, especially considering what is being printed elsewhere in Phuket and Bangkok, and yet you post stuff like the above. Anyone would think that he's a mate of yours.

Posted by Smithy on August 29, 2014 15:11

Editor Comment:

We don't have mates, Smithy. We have article subjects and we have readers. Most of the article subjects are more civil than a small number of readers who believe they know everything there is to know and tell us all so, too often. Trivia and pettiness are their only real specialties.


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