Former national parks chief Chaiwat dismissed for corruption

13 Sept 22:08 Key points summarised by AI

Former National Parks Office director Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn was officially dismissed from government service, effective September 30th, 2024, after being found guilty of corruption by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
The NACC ruled Chaiwat committed gross disciplinary violations by colluding in a 3.5 million baht construction bidding project for a park ranger office building, allegedly receiving one million baht.
Chaiwat's controversial career includes leading the forceful eviction of ethnic Karen settlers in 2011 and being implicated in the 2014 disappearance and suspected murder of Karen conservationist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, for which he received a suspended sentence for malfeasance.
Despite his dismissal, Chaiwat also gained notoriety for orchestrating a 2022 sting operation that led to the dismissal of another high-ranking official, Ratchada Suriyakul Na Ayudhya, for bribery.

Application for ‘Nene Royal’ trademark withdrawn

Today 18:24 Key points summarised by AI

A third-party application for "NENE" and "NENE ROYAL" trademarks was officially withdrawn, resolving a high-profile dispute over the Thai pop artist's name.
Black Lotus Global LLC, managing Nene Royal's rights, has legitimate trademark applications for various categories under fast-track processing, with final approval anticipated by February 2027.
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) monitors international trademark filings to protect Thai creators and advises early registration to prevent unauthorized third-party claims, noting a "NENE" trademark already registered in South Korea.