Phuket manager arrested after ‘years of bullying and cheating’ | Bangkok Post: news

PHUKET: The developer and manager of a condominium in Wichit has been arrested on a variety of charges after tenants complained about a reign of fear he conducted against them as he allegedly pocketed money that should have been used to pay bills or for repairs.

Pol Lt Col Sakon Trainara of Wichit Police Station said the manager was arrested on Tuesday evening (January 15) in an apartment at the condominium. He noted that the manager was living in the apartment without permission from the owner. It is understood that the owner had tried to get him out, but without success. He was charged with a variety of offences including criminal trespass, fraud, uttering threats, and physical violence. His arrest came soon after tenants met with Vice-Governor Sommai Preechasilpa to ask for her help after power to the apartment block was cut off eight days ago for non-payment of a power bill of B200,000. The tenants complained that they had paid the manager for power, but the money had apparently not been used to pay the bill. Water supplies had also been cut off, they told V/Gov Sommai. Police had to smuggle the nervous-looking manager into the police station through the kitchen after angry tenants and owners, having heard about his imminent arrest, gathered outside. Col Sakon told The Phuket News that the manager appeared in court on Wednesday morning (January 16) for a preliminary hearing, and admitted that he had hit a woman living in one of the apartments in the condo. However, he denied the other charges. The court ordered him confined in Phuket Prison until his case is heard. Col Sakon added, “Someone came to the police station last night to bail him out, but I did not allow that.” Asked who that person was, he said, “I cannot tell you.” Resident owners and tenants say they have put up with the bullying of the manager for years but things finally came to a head when power to the whole condo was cut on January 8. Checking with the electricity company they found that this was because of an unpaid power bill of B200,000. Several of them went to Phuket Provincial Hall to complain. When they came back one of them found a window of his car had been smashed and acid had been poured on the seats. Several other cars and motorbikes of people who had gone to the hall were also damaged. All believed the manager had done it to cow them into silence. An Englishman, who asked not to be named, said that he bought a unit in the building six years ago and has lived there since. “He has cheated many people who live in the building. Everyone has had the same problems with him for many years,” he told The Phuket...