‘SOM TUM’ GOES TO THE DOGS, TAI ON THEFT RAP, COPS NAB KEN
Som tum trader takes a hit
A popular som tum trader caught up in a social media spat which is now hurting his franchise business believes he has fallen victim to a gang of netizens trying to build their profile at hs own expense.
Thanakorn “Ter” Piyathamrong, 30, owner of the Ter Tum Yum Rabert franchise, was caught in a storm of media publicity after he criticised a customer at his Chiang Mai outlet in fun, and she fought back on Facebook.
Ter, whose selling point at his som tum eatery is his foul mouth (“mouth like a dog”), and who warns customers they are likely to wear a bit of good natured teasing when they order from him, tried out his routine on a customer from Bangkok on Dec 23 who turned up at his shop at the invitation of a friend.
Puk Bung, or Saowalak Chamkaeo, as she is known, said she was aware that Ter speaks brusquely to customers and once followed him on social media, but still took offence. A sign at his shop warns “beautiful world” types (preachy types inclined to see life in over-optimistic terms, and themselves as prim models of virtue) that they may not enjoy the experience.
“I underlined my order of som tum pla ra instead of circling it as we are supposed to do. He called me over and said, ‘Not only are you not pretty but you are stupid as well,’” she complained on FB. “I am not sure how he gauges such things, but he is hardly the world’s best looking male. I knew that his mouth-like-a-dog conduct was a selling point, but he went too far in disdaining me.
“I felt embarrassed, but went back to the table and carried on, as I was worried my friend would be upset,” she added.
Puk Bung, who resembles a net idol, said she merely intended to post about her experience at the shop rather than smear its good name. “He could find any number of selling points, such as the quality of the food. I think it’s an unsuitable place to take your family, especially children, as he sets an inappropriate example,” she said.
Her tale was widely shared and drew many supportive comments, including from other netizens who had dined there and left unimpressed with Ter’s conduct. The ups and downs of the saga propelled it to one of the top trending topics on Thai social media last week.
One woman claims Ter complained she was too slow and even with her parents present hounded her out of the shop. She went and dined at a moo kra ta place opposite, while “checking in” on social media. “He tracked me down on social media and abused me there too. He showed no sense of regret or ethics as a salesman. We were prepared to pay, we weren’t asking for a free meal,” she complained.
Ter shared Puk Bung’s post to his own FB site, no doubt so his supporters could defend him. However, Puk Bung, an online retailer, has 80,790 followers of her own, who also pitched in to the fight.
By mid-week Ter complained custom at his outlet was sagging, with diners staying away as a result of the fuss. After earlier posting an expletive-ridden tirade in a FB live session, telling customers unhappy with his “style” to go somewhere else, Ter had backed down, apologing to those whom he had upset.
Amarin TV, which visited him on the opening day of his new franchise in Nonthaburi, said trade was quieter than he would expect. Ter said he took the blame for the saga, though he denied singling out customers for contempt. “I didn’t go as far as she claims. When taking an order, I might say, ‘With a face like that, you sure you want ordinary som tam, and not pla ra? These days everyone has to look pretty and have a brain.’
“It’s just light-hearted banter. If it was true that I was bad-mouthing customers, I’d be dead because of my mouth by now. In fact, I have been in business six years with six franchise outlets, who are not involved in any of this and shouldn’t have to suffer,” he said.
“I suspect my critic is working as part of a gang to drum up publicity and draw attention to herself,” he complained. Fake FB sites had sprung up purporting to represent his shop, attacking his critics and inciting netizens against him. Some mischievous types also claimed he was letting customers dine free to make amends.
“She has picked up thousands of followers overnight, and I don’t think she would end up with that many as a result of her one post attacking me,” he said, adding that in future he would tease only those customers whom he knew enjoyed a laugh and wouldn’t take offence so easily. He was also weighing up taking legal action.
Puk Bung, meanwhile, admitted her followers had increased by 4,000 or so since she left her post but denied she was trying to make herself more popular at his expense.
Tai back to old ways
Former starlet Manatsanan “Tai” Pandee, who underwent psychiatric treatment early this year after being plucked from a rubbish dump where she turned to begging and petty theft, has been nabbed on an old theft charge dating back three years.
Police in Chon
Buri nabbed her last week on a warrant dating from December
2016 when she stole an iPhone from a local department store. CCTV cameras caught her in the act and she admitted the crime.
Officers say they were acting on an order from national headquarters that they clear up outstanding cases. They assured Tai, who still bears a head injury after being assaulted when she turned to life as a vagrant, and is taking medication for a psychiatric condition, that it was a “minor matter” and she should not be alarmed.
Media footage showed Tai, a former actress, singer and model, fidgeting nervously at Samet station as officers called in a nurse from a nearby hospital to put her through exercise routines to help ease her nerves.
The public was shocked to see images of Tai, shaven-headed, thin and wearing rags, living in a lean-to next to a rubbish dump in Sriracha, Chon Buri, where she and her mother beg for money and sell recycled goods, when images of her first emerged in March.
Crowds of sympathisers and officials gathered in the Wat Khao Taeng On community where she was found. Actress Pattaratida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong came forward to offer support, and Tai, who has a history of theft complaints, was later sent for psychiatric treatment and drug detox as her life appeared to take a turn for the better.
Her mother, Ausa Jankad, said Tai left the industry through lack of work. After her boyfriend, a wellknown singer, was killed in an accident, Tai, who has two young children, returned to Chon Buri where a friend introduced her to drugs.
She turned to life as a vagrant and fell into trouble with the law for stealing a few years ago. She had also been assaulted, leaving her with a head injury and permanently confused.
Reporters who caught up with Mrs Ausa last week said she was shocked her daughter had been arrested again, and blamed herself for not taking better care of her. She said she was not in regular contact with Tai as when they are together she has to nag her constantly. She said Tai still showed signs of being unwell.
A neighbour, Thanawut Sutharattanasin, said Tai had fallen back into old habits of the past, including petty theft and drugs. “She improved after entering treatment last time but once back into her old environment she regressed,” he said. Police have asked Tai’s mother to seek a doctor’s certificate attesting to Tai’s psychatric history for the court to consider by way of granting leniency.
Ken’s brush with the law
A model and national fencing champion is in trouble with the law after allegedly being found with ketamine in his blood following an early morning police chase last week.
Sunsern “Ken Porsche” Ngernrungruangroj, 27, has been charged with three counts after the incident in Thong Lor district when he breached a police checkpoint on soi Sukhumvit 28, hit a police motorcycle, and mounted the footpath before hitting a power pole in his Honda Civic about 4.30am on Dec 24.
Police, who held Ken over night and opposed bail when he appeared before the Bangkok South Municipal Court the next day, say they found no alcohol in his blood but did find traces of ketamine. They say the motorist started behaving strangely before approaching the checkpoint and refused to stop for a search.
He sped off, hitting a police motorcycle in soi Sukhumvit 26, and another one in soi 23 which police parked across the road to block his route. After again making off at speed in the direction of a local school, the motorist lost control of his vehicle close to Young Place Building in soi 23, hitting a power pole.
Police say the motorist, identified later as Ken, was injured slightly to his left leg. Ken told police he was alarmed to see the checkpoint so sped off. Pol Col Sampan Luangsujjakul, head of Thong Lor police, says the suspect admitting taking ketamine 4-5 days before. Police have charged him with resisting officers, damaging public property, and taking the drugs. In April last year he hit the news after failing to hose down speculation he was quietly seeing an actress whom he later admitted he had never met. Media reports emerged that he had come between actress Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund and her boyfriend, heartthrob actor Nadech Kugimiya.