FALLING OFF THE WAGON, MUCH MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

Yui

Former supermodel Rojjana "Yui'' Phetkanha is a victim not only of her own bipolar disorder and drinking habit but also the unscrupulous people around her, family members say.

Police admitted Yui, 37, to Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry for treatment last week after finding her on Phetkasem Road, carting about a large bag of old clothes and food.

She was sighted there for several days and had started annoying shopkeepers in the area, police say.

Life on the street

Family members say Yui had left her step-mother's home in Maha Sarakham province a week before, after relapsing into her drinking habit.

She was heading for Bangkok, where she hoped to stay with her elder brother. Family on her father's side, who have come forward to discuss her plight, say Yui did not get there, and wound up on the streets instead.

It's not the first time that Yui, a former professional model in Milan, Paris and New York, has wound up living the life of a vagrant.

Ex-manager Saroj "Joe'' na Nakorn said Yui was admitted to psychiatric care in July after an aunt dumped her by a city flyover. Joe said Yui has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and can be difficult to manage when she stops taking her medication.

The former supermodel, who at the height of her career pulled in 50 million baht a year, has struggled to recover from an alcohol and drug addiction she picked up while working overseas during her twenties. 

...In better days

However, she goes through periods when she can appear lucid and functional. Thai Rath newspaper yesterday published images from an advertising spread she did for a jewellery brand in Khon Kaen, shortly before her bad turn in July, which looked as polished and professional as the days of old.

"Back in July, someone had found her wandering on the street, just as they did this time,'' Joe said.

"We were arranging a course for her to teach modelling after she left hospital, and found a relative who was prepared to look after her in Sakon Nakhon. Then she just disappeared,'' he said.

Thai Rath quoted the jewellery importer as saying Yui turned up with an "aunt'', who pocketed the modelling fee he paid her. He said he was suspicious of the aunt's behaviour, but did not want to interfere. Yui had only just left the monkhood as a nun and he wanted to help her get back on her feet.

Meanwhile, her step-brother Petchubol says Yui has also fallen under the negative influence of friends from the modelling world.

"Two Thais turned up from overseas at mum's place in Maha Sarakham. As soon as they arrived, Yui went back to drinking and smoking. They gave her 3,000 baht, and she blew the lot on booze, he said.

Ex-manager Joe said Yui's condition can vary depending on who she is staying with.

"When I was looking after her more than a year ago, she had quit alcohol. Later, however, she moved in with various people, and was being shunted from place to place.

"Yui told me she was living on the streets for two or three months after her aunt dumped her. She had no money, and her medication had run out.''

Yui's father, Yotpetch Petchkanha, 63, a mechanic in Bangkok, said he gave his daughter a place to stay after she was discharged in July.

The pair were reunited two years ago after spending decades apart. Mr Yotpetch divorced Yui's mother when Yui was still a child. Yui went to live with her mother, who like her daughter, recently entered the monkhood as a nun.

"I took her back to Maha Sarakham, where she lived with my new wife,'' Mr Yotpetch said. "At first she was willing to take her pills. Later, however, her condition started to deteriorate.

"She hit my wife, and damaged our things. She left to stay with her elder brother in Bangkok, but couldn't find him. The next I heard, she was found on the street,'' he said.

He knew nothing of reports that Yui had found a husband and now had a family.

Mr Yotpetch said he could not say if he would care for Yui again upon her release. "I'm not sure if my wife is willing to take her back,'' he said.

"I think it might be better if she stayed with her brother.

"I'm told she has a 30-baht health card, and that the Paveena Hongsakula Foundation is willing to look after her.''

Yui moved in with her birth mother at the age of four. Yui's birth mother also took her in when her career as a supermodel dissolved.

Mr Yotpetch said he had not heard from his former wife. -

2.

Namwan

Socialite Warrapan "Namwan'' Pankongchuen has barely set foot in a skin care clinic since she bought a 20% share for three million baht in July, its founders say.

The socialite, renowned for her affair with the businessman husband of an actress early this year, is back in the news after a falling out between her family and the original shareholders of the Skin Buffet clinic in Lumpini.

The other four shareholders have laid a police complaint alleging Namwan's father, Chiang Mai pub and hotel owner Worachat Petnunthawong, threatened them in a dispute over his daughter's shares.

Mr Worachat earlier asked the clinic to sell his daughter's shares, after the family had second thoughts about the investment. The clinic told him he would have to sell the shares himself.

Police were on hand at the clinic last week as the founding shareholders discussed the row with journalists. They presented a copy of a police complaint and a recording of a phone conversation said to involve Mr Worachat, who has denied threatening anyone.

Managing director Jettsada Niramitwijit said Namwan and her mother approached the clinic in May asking if they could buy into the business, which had recently opened.

In early July, she joined fellow shareholders at the clinic to announce she had bought into the business.

The unhappy shareholders

Namwan also took advantage of that opportunity to apologise for her romantic liason with the husband of actress and model Panita "Ning'' Tumwattana shortly before.

"If you think I've done anything inappropriate, I apologise,'' Namwan told reporters.

"However, I would now like the saga to end. I am still a youngster. I would like an opportunity to work and make my parents proud,'' she said, adding she didn't want the saga to overshadow her involvement in the clinic.

Mr Jettsada said that was the last time Namwan set foot in the place.

"We don't have much capital, and soon after opening had to stump up 20 million baht to fit out the clinic. Each shareholder was called on to contribute four million baht,'' Mr Jettsada said.

 "We asked Namwan to contribute her share, but didn't hear back. This placed pressure on the other shareholders. All she has put in to date is one picture on the wall, and a lamp.''

Later, Mr Worachat, acting on Namwan's behalf, contacted the clinic saying she wanted to sell her share. He claimed the clinic had yet to obtain an operating licence.

Mr Jettsada said the clinic was only just getting started at the time, and authorities had not carried out the necessary inspections.

"He called to say that I should hand over her shareholding certificate, or I might not live to see tomorrow,'' he said.

"I'm happy to make the shareholding changes, but he must be prepared to sell the shares himself.''

Mr Worachat says the money involved was too trivial to justify his threatening Mr Jettsada as alleged.

Namwan's family is no stranger to legal disputes.

Her elder brother, businessman Jirat "Champ'' Petnunthawong, is counter-suing promoter Anandadvip "Chai'' Jayankura na Ayuthaya for 100 million baht.

Champ hired Chai to promote the Sydictive Element New Year party on Patong beach.

Chai, who runs a public relations company, laid a complaint with Crime Suppression Division police in March for breach of contract against Champ.

News of Namwan's affair with Ning's husband, businessman Jin Tumwattana, broke shortly before the concert drama came to light.

Jin went before the media to apologise, and his wife forgave him. However, tensions remain between Ning and Namwan.

Seizing on negative publicity of Namwan's falling out with the clinic, Ning last week wrote a joking message to her husband on Instagram, asking him to clean the car seat of his luxury car, as an "evil person'' had sat on it.