MILESTONES

Won: In a playoff after the greatest final-9 collapse in women’s topflight golf history, the US Open by Ariya Jutanugarn. Leading by seven shots over Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim and with everyone packing for home, Ariya shot a triple bogey on Hole 10. She then bogeyed three more holes as Kim gained two shots. They finished in a tie, with Ariya winning the sudden-death playoff on the fourth hole. For that, she won US$900,000 (28.7m baht) — $360,000 more than Kim.

Died: At 82 after a long illness at the Camillian Hospital, US best-selling biographer and long-time Thailand resident Jerry Hopkins. He began with a book about Elvis in 1971, but it was his biography of Jim Morrison of The Doors, on best-sellers’ lists for two years, that launched his fame. That book also became a five-star movie. The book and movie title: No One Here Gets Out Alive.

Indicted: A smiling Banyin Tangpakorn, former deputy commerce minister under Lord Voldemort, for the murder of his billionaire “friend” in 2015. Mr Banyin, of Nakhon Sawan, allegedly stole 300 million baht from construction tycoon Chuwong Sae Tang. He then reported Chuwong died in an obviously staged SUV accident in Prawet district. He paid 2 million baht for bail.

Sentenced: To 10 years in prison by a California court for serial sex with boys in Thailand, paedophile Paul Alan Shapiro. US District Judge Dolly Gee said Shapiro, now 71, “exploited and targeted the most vulnerable” and ordered him to send $20,000 to Thailand as compensation to two identified victims. Shapiro was first jailed in Thailand in 2012 but pardoned so he could be deported and face the judge in California as well.

Abandoned: By the secretariat of the House, plans to upgrade information technology at the new parliament by 160%. The plan would have cost 8 billion baht instead of the currently budgeted 3 million.