The CIB announced the arrests with a post online late yesterday (Feb 15).
The boat operators were caught during inspections on Klong Tha Jeen in Ratsada, on the east side of Phuket Town, while taking tourists out to nearby islands.
“The first boat was carrying more passengers than allowed. There were not enough life rafts for the number of passengers on board. Moreover, the boat license had expired,” the CIB announced in their post.
“As for the second boat, its boat license had also expired,” the CIB added.
In total, three people were taken to be charged for the offences, the CIB noted.
One person named only as “Mr Khomkrit” was charged for the offense of “using a boat whose boat license has expired, carrying more passengers than the law stipulates in the license”.
“Mr Jatras” was charged with “operating in a boat in a position for which the regulations require a certificate”, and “Mr Somyot” was charged with “using a boat whose license has expired, operating a boat with an expired certificate, using a boat in violation of the conditions or requirements of the boat license.”
The post was marked “Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) - Professional, neutral, side by side with the people”
The Phuket Marine Office has yet to recognise the arrests.
The arrests by the CIB follow officials, led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat, taking active steps to improve tour boat safety in Phuket, after a 5-year-old Russian girl was killed in a when tour boat struck rocks at Koh Maithon on Dec 31.
See also:
Phuket marine industry moves forward on safety