Patt stands by her man, mew's brave face, no slave

Actress won't leave speed racer

Benz, Patt

Actress Napapa "Patt" Tantrakul, expecting her first child by troubled speed racer Akarakit "Benz" Worarojcharoendet, vows she will stick by him through his troubles with the law.

Patt’s manager denied reports the actress, who is expecting to give birth to their first child, Nong Racing, tomorrow, had threatened to leave the racer as a police drugs-money probe case against him appears to gather strength.

Reports that Patt had told the media she would leave Benz if he ended up in legal strife were wrong, said her manager, Jiratthanon "Keng" Chanyotha.

"She is worried about him because they are husband and wife and bound together by love," Keng said.

"If one day he gets involved in a legal case, they will still love each other. She has never thought of quitting, so don’t go speculating on her behalf. They must take care of each other in good times and bad."

Patt had never asked Benz about his income. All she knows is he has a private auto business. "They keep their work separate, but the saga has left them both stressed," he added.

The drama started on Feb 2 when police raided Benz’s car workshop in Din Daeng looking for a Lamborghini thought to be linked to Lao drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpha.

Earlier, arrested suspect Natthaphol "Boy" Nakkham, thought to be linked to the drugs network, named Benz as among celebrities allegedly hiding and laundering assets for the drugs ring.

Benz, who was questioned by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board in a marathon six-hour session the next day, says he bought the car from Boy. He borrowed 6 million baht from him to help pay it off.

Police have questioned why the loan was unsecured and also why Boy has been paying 300,000 baht a month into Benz’s business account, supposedly for doing up motorcycles, a shared interest.

Officers say they are likely to call Benz in for questioning again. On Thursday, tightening the noose further, they seized 12 assets held by Boy, including the Lamborghini.

Benz denies being involved in drugs and says he bought the Lamborghini as part of his auto trade business.

Should Patt have second thoughts about staying with Benz, she could always look back on an interview she gave two months ago when she talked about the possibility of being a single mum.

"I have never held out much hope for love. If we love each other today, OK. As for the future, never mind," she said.

"I am seven months pregnant but still think of leaving him. I think of being a single mum, so how can I hold out hope for the future? If I have to be a single mum, I can do that, it should be easy," she told the interviewer.

Earlier last week, celebrity businessman Pai "One Point" Lik approached police to deny any link to the drug kingpin’s network after his name also came up in the probe.

Due, One Point

Pai, son of Ruangwit Lik, a former member of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, is a well-known car racer. He said Boy contacted him for advice on where to buy a Lamborghini, and he recommended a dealer.

His long-time girlfriend, actress Arisara "Due" Tongborisud, has stayed mum since Pai’s police appearance, but in remarks shortly before said they were still together despite recent strains.

Last July Pai was in her bad books when a leaked chat emerged in which he appeared to be chatting up a Chiang Mai socialite’s girlfriend.

Pai said the clip was fake but apologised to Due and her family, saying he could not deny he was not involved.

Due said last week the pair are distant but still seeing each other.

"We haven’t yet split, and there’s no need for him to buy me things to appease me as I can afford them myself now," she said.

"I am not worried our love won’t make it as we have already had a good time. However, if I have to go through another saga involving a third hand, I don’t think I could cope.

"I am 27 and it’s time to start thinking about the future. If he is not the right one, I have to get a move on. I am not serious about love, but I do need to know this much."

Due said the pair "unfollowed" each other on social media, but claimed that was nothing unusual as both are more focused on work anyway. -

2. Mew says marriage is over

Kong, Mew and family

Actress Lalita "Mew" Panyopas is putting a brave face on the end of her 16-year marriage to policeman Pol Lt Col Narabadi "Kong" Sasiprapha.

Mew confirmed last week the marriage had failed after media reports said the pair, accompanied by their two teenage children, had signed divorce papers at Don Muang district office last month.

The reports said the pair disagreed over the direction of their marriage. Mew wanted to throw herself back into her career as their children, Plankton, 15, and Eton, 13, were now growing up. The kids will spend weekdays with her in Bangkok and the weekends with Kong.

Neither has commented in detail on the end of their marriage. However, Mew’s friend, singer Phunkorn "Dunk" Boonyachinda, says he brought the veteran actress to tears when he played her his new song, Love, which he performs with the band Boys to Men.

He also filmed a brief clip, uploaded to his Facebook, in which Mew thanks Dunk for the song. "It reminded me of my first love, which gave me happiness," she said.

Talking to the press later, Dunk said the song was not about romance as such but the beauty of love.

"No matter what form it comes in, or how it ends, it gives us happiness for the time it lasts. We should thank love for giving us that pleasure. Mew cried when it finished. I said I was giving her strength.

"She knew I was placating her, but we didn’t say much. I could see from her face that she wasn’t doing too well."

Mew’s fan club has left many messages of support since the news broke. -

3. DJ laughs off claims

Petjah, Newclear

Millionaire celebrity DJ Wichian "Petjah" Kusolmanomai is laughing off claims he has turned into a slave to his new wife, actress Hansa "Newclear" Jungviwattanawong.

Netizens coined the nickname "wife slave" for him after reports emerged he had cheerfully given away his entire fortune to the actress. The two were married in a glitzy ice-castle-themed wedding last month.

Last week he posted a picture of the marital bed in which Newclear, who is asleep, appears to have taken up almost all the space herself.

"Look at the space on the left ... what’s it for, playing football? Whenever I put down the pillow on my side, all the space is gone," he joked.

Speaking to the media, Newclear agreed Petjah was lavishing care on her as they prepare to start a family. 

"Petch was not game to go all the way caring for me until we were married. Now we are hitched, he is prepared to do anything. If my shoe falls off, he will bend down and put it back on for me," she said.

In a clip uploaded to social media, he is also seen wiping make-up off her face before bed.

"I am getting him into shape as a slave before I have my baby," she joked.

Newclear has put off work in soap operas this year so that she can prepare for being a mum.