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| Nathan |
Nathan, who is serving one year in Loei provincial jail after defrauding the extended family of Pitsamai "Maem'' Srikrabuth, a Bangkok teacher who until recently regarded herself as Nathan's adoptive mother, recently sent a prison emissary to beg for their forgiveness.
Every year, prisons hold a ceremony bringing together inmates and their victims, in the hope of forging bonds of forgiveness and unity. Nathan approached prison officials and said he would like to say sorry to the family he defrauded.
The prison sent an official to visit his victims, including Maem's aunt by marriage, Sithiporn "Mod'' Kortudomporn, whom he defrauded of 702,800 baht while he stayed with her family in the province's Chiang Khan district last year.
Mod, a market trader who is battling to make ends meet after Nathan left her with heavy debts, said she is willing to forgive, as long as Nathan repays her the money he owes.
She must work every day and could not afford time off to take part in the reconciliation ceremony, held on Wednesday.
Maem's mother, Maitree Srikrabuth, said she could not forgive Nathan, after he persuaded her to part with a stable of cherished cows to pay for a supposed tour company venture.
He also maligned the reputation of her husband, Tathongbai, whom he accused of being a madman who liked to break the necks of his pet birds with his bare hands.
Loei prison manager Pimbun Pansawasdeewong said Nathan approached prison officials asking if he could take part in the ceremony.
A prison official contacted the family on his behalf extending an invitation to take part in the ceremony, where Nathan would beg their forgiveness.
At his request, the official also asked Mod and her family if Nathan could go back to living with them when he is released from prison, where he has served five months, as he has nowhere to go when he gets out.
"The family was not willing to take part in the function. Nathan was unhappy - but not too sad,'' she said.
Ms Pimpun said former singer Nathan was a model prisoner, singing to inmates in their spare time, helping elderly inmates, and cleaning the prison toilets when called upon to do so.
"He looks much better than he did when he has admitted - his skin is much whiter,'' she said.
"He doesn't ask for any special privileges, but is happy to be treated just like any other inmate.''
She said while victims are under no obligation to meet offenders, a show of forgiveness can help avert disasters further down the track.
"We hold this programme to heal the wounds between inmates and their victims. If they are willing to apologise, but their families not willing to accept it, the inmates could re-enter the world upon their release and find they are all alone.
"The chances of them re-offending are very high,'' she said.
Nathan is eligible to seek parole in one month. -
2.
Former RS Promotion singer Howard Wang, found with a small stash of marijuana in his wardrobe, says he has no idea how the drugs turned up there.
Howard, 25, spent the night in jail on Wednesday after Drug Crime Suppression Police raided his Huai Khwang home after suspecting it was serving as a gathering place for illicit drug parties.
They found a bag of dried marijuana, weighing 5.5g, hidden in a wardrobe, and a marijuana pipe. Police say Howard initially admitted the drugs were his, but added he had long ago stopped taking drugs.
In subsequent questioning, he changed his mind and said the drugs belonged to a friend.
Howard, former lead singer of the band Giant, was last caught with drugs about 10 years ago. He faded from view temporarily, before relaunching his career with a new album, and more recently, a career in acting.
Police took him to Huai Khwang station for questioning. Howard took great care to camouflage his appearance, wearing a zip-up hooded tracksuit that reached to his nose, a cap and sunglasses. He wai-ed to the media but declined to give interviews.
Police took him to the station handcuffed to a young man wearing a green T-shirt, identified as a co-accused. He looked bemused by Howard's elaborate disguise, smiling at reporters while at the same time attempting to keep his head down.
Howard spent the night in the cells, and was released by the Criminal Court the next day on bail. Blood tests turned up negative for drugs.
His lawyer, Akart Wasikchat, said Howard denied charges of having the drugs in his possession.
"This is a minor offence - the drugs are old, and Howard has no idea how they ended up in his wardrobe - but we have to await the results of scientific tests to determine the age of the marijuana.
"We would ask the media not to jump to conclusions. His mother is upset, but he is unlikely to suffer any punishment as a result of his earlier drug conviction, as that was 10 years ago, and the law allows courts to go back only five years when adding to penalties for past offending,'' he said.
Howard, his mother and lawyer spoke to the media on Friday night. Howard, who had taken off his disguise, said the arrest made him feel low. He had lost work and wanted to apologise to his fans.
"My mother and I work all day. There's seldom anyone at home. Often I leave the door unlocked, because I forget my key,'' he said, when asked how the drugs might have found their way inside his wardrobe.
"I was involved in an assault case a few months ago, with the son of a businessman. Maybe someone is trying to set me up, though I don't know who,'' he said.
Police said Howard kept dogs at his home to ward off intruders, and give the occupants warning whenever strangers arrived. This was one factor which gave rise to their suspicions that he was up to no good.
However, journalists who gathered at his home on Friday to photograph the premises found not two fierce guard dogs, but two disabled dogs that Howard said he raises as an act of charity.
One dog has a broken leg, and the other, a poodle, is blind in one eye. "Friends of mine who didn't want to keep them gave them to me. I look after them because I feel sorry for them,'' he said. -
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| Howard and his mum |
Howard, 25, spent the night in jail on Wednesday after Drug Crime Suppression Police raided his Huai Khwang home after suspecting it was serving as a gathering place for illicit drug parties.
They found a bag of dried marijuana, weighing 5.5g, hidden in a wardrobe, and a marijuana pipe. Police say Howard initially admitted the drugs were his, but added he had long ago stopped taking drugs.
In subsequent questioning, he changed his mind and said the drugs belonged to a friend.
Howard, former lead singer of the band Giant, was last caught with drugs about 10 years ago. He faded from view temporarily, before relaunching his career with a new album, and more recently, a career in acting.
Police took him to Huai Khwang station for questioning. Howard took great care to camouflage his appearance, wearing a zip-up hooded tracksuit that reached to his nose, a cap and sunglasses. He wai-ed to the media but declined to give interviews.
Police took him to the station handcuffed to a young man wearing a green T-shirt, identified as a co-accused. He looked bemused by Howard's elaborate disguise, smiling at reporters while at the same time attempting to keep his head down.
Howard spent the night in the cells, and was released by the Criminal Court the next day on bail. Blood tests turned up negative for drugs.
His lawyer, Akart Wasikchat, said Howard denied charges of having the drugs in his possession.
"This is a minor offence - the drugs are old, and Howard has no idea how they ended up in his wardrobe - but we have to await the results of scientific tests to determine the age of the marijuana.
"We would ask the media not to jump to conclusions. His mother is upset, but he is unlikely to suffer any punishment as a result of his earlier drug conviction, as that was 10 years ago, and the law allows courts to go back only five years when adding to penalties for past offending,'' he said.
Howard, his mother and lawyer spoke to the media on Friday night. Howard, who had taken off his disguise, said the arrest made him feel low. He had lost work and wanted to apologise to his fans.
"My mother and I work all day. There's seldom anyone at home. Often I leave the door unlocked, because I forget my key,'' he said, when asked how the drugs might have found their way inside his wardrobe.
"I was involved in an assault case a few months ago, with the son of a businessman. Maybe someone is trying to set me up, though I don't know who,'' he said.
Police said Howard kept dogs at his home to ward off intruders, and give the occupants warning whenever strangers arrived. This was one factor which gave rise to their suspicions that he was up to no good.
However, journalists who gathered at his home on Friday to photograph the premises found not two fierce guard dogs, but two disabled dogs that Howard said he raises as an act of charity.
One dog has a broken leg, and the other, a poodle, is blind in one eye. "Friends of mine who didn't want to keep them gave them to me. I look after them because I feel sorry for them,'' he said. -
3.
Gem dealer Chuchai Chairitthilert is preparing a six-figure diamond pendant gift for actor Thanawat "Pope'' Wattanapoom, to say sorry after he was linked with him as a possible gay dinner date.
Chuchai, who likes to shower diamond gifts on young stars he admires, is taken with Pope, whom he met at a recent birthday function where guests donated blood as an act of merit.
News emerged soon after that Chuchai would like to invite Pope for a meal, and was preparing a diamond gift for him.
"I put on a dinner function at my home - Open House, Open Mike - for my customers. They commented on that news story and asked why I didn't invite Pope,' said Chuchai.
"He is wildly popular - even senators in their senior years have heard of him,'' he said.
"I contacted his manager and asked if he would like to attend another one of my dinners. However, Pope was too busy to come,'' said Chuchai.
The millionaire gem dealer said he had prepared a pendant in the shape of a "P'' for Pope, as consolation for the fact that he had been linked with him in news reports which he might have perceived as damaging.
"I have a heart of gold and would never do anything wrong, so anyone linked with me in the press usually emerges happy,'' said Chuchai. "However, I have not yet had the chance to present him with the pendant.
"If he doesn't accept, I can always wear it myself, as the name of my shop also starts with the letter P,'' he said.
Chuchai denied preparing the diamond gift to coax Pope to have a dinner with him.
"That would be too embarrassing, and leave him without honour. I'd rather get to know each other as brothers,'' he said.
Pope said recently he was delighted to hear Chuchai admired his work. "He does not need to give me gifts, as they are unimportant. I am not worried about the gay rumour, because I am straight. I am more worried about him ... that he will be viewed as man who keeps young admirers in stock,'' he said.
He could accept the pendant only as a form of payment for his labours, not as a gift, he said.
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| Pope, Chuchai (inset) |
Chuchai, who likes to shower diamond gifts on young stars he admires, is taken with Pope, whom he met at a recent birthday function where guests donated blood as an act of merit.
News emerged soon after that Chuchai would like to invite Pope for a meal, and was preparing a diamond gift for him.
"I put on a dinner function at my home - Open House, Open Mike - for my customers. They commented on that news story and asked why I didn't invite Pope,' said Chuchai.
"He is wildly popular - even senators in their senior years have heard of him,'' he said.
"I contacted his manager and asked if he would like to attend another one of my dinners. However, Pope was too busy to come,'' said Chuchai.
The millionaire gem dealer said he had prepared a pendant in the shape of a "P'' for Pope, as consolation for the fact that he had been linked with him in news reports which he might have perceived as damaging.
"I have a heart of gold and would never do anything wrong, so anyone linked with me in the press usually emerges happy,'' said Chuchai. "However, I have not yet had the chance to present him with the pendant.
"If he doesn't accept, I can always wear it myself, as the name of my shop also starts with the letter P,'' he said.
Chuchai denied preparing the diamond gift to coax Pope to have a dinner with him.
"That would be too embarrassing, and leave him without honour. I'd rather get to know each other as brothers,'' he said.
Pope said recently he was delighted to hear Chuchai admired his work. "He does not need to give me gifts, as they are unimportant. I am not worried about the gay rumour, because I am straight. I am more worried about him ... that he will be viewed as man who keeps young admirers in stock,'' he said.
He could accept the pendant only as a form of payment for his labours, not as a gift, he said.
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