Australian writer gets a royal pardon

The Australian writer, Harry Nicolaides, who had been jailed for insulting the Thai royal family has been released and he reached the city of Melbourne this Saturday to a tearful reunion with his family.

Nicolaides was sentenced to three years jail after pleading guilty to lese majeste, or slandering the monarchy, in his 2005 novel titled “Verisimilitude”. The charge against him related to a passage in the novel, of which Nicolaides says only a handful of copies were sold.

41-year-old Nicolaides was released Friday evening after officials approved a royal pardon — the result of intense lobbying by Canberra.

“I was informed I had a royal pardon and asked to kneel before a portrait of the king — a royal audience of sorts,” Nicolaides told reporters on arrival at Melbourne airport.

Speaking at his son’s side, Nicolaides’ father Socrates said the ordeal had been a “living death” for the family.

Brother Forde Nicolaides said he was “ecstatic” at the outcome. “Our emphasis to the Thai government was … for them to consider Harry’s case compassionately and expeditiously,” he told adding, “I think everyone was on the same page, as they have been reasonably expeditious with the application. We are very grateful for that.”

Delivery of first Rolls-Royce car to Thailand

As Dr Nikorn Hongsrisook, a prominent Thai businessman based in Bangkok and the President of Gems Gallery International Manufacturer Ltd, received his Phantom Extended Wheelbase car from Rolls-Royce Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Colin Kelly, this was the first delivery from Rolls-Royce to Thailand. The delivery of the car was supported by AAS Auto Service Co., Ltd.

At the handover ceremony, Colin Kelly said, “It is a great pleasure to be able to deliver this first car into Thailand to such an appreciative customer and automotive enthusiast. We look forward to being able to deliver more Rolls-Royce cars to customers in Thailand, in a market where we believe there is growing demand for ultra-luxury motor cars.”

Dr Nikorn Hongsrisook who was undoubtedly beaming said, “As a person who is truly fascinated with super-luxury cars, Phantom is a very special car which I have always aspired to own. I feel very proud to have become the owner of the first Phantom in Thailand”.

Dr Nikorn specified that the bespoke features of his car should include a Diamond Black exterior and an interior finished with piano black wood and contrast stitching. Amongst other Bespoke features, the car comes with the award-winning starlight headlining, an optional feature that incorporates 800 fine fiber optics in the ceiling, creating the impression of a star-filled night sky. Dr Nikorn’s car was built at the state-of-the-art Rolls-Royce Motor Cars manufacturing facility in Goodwood, West Sussex, England.

BFIT Securities may merge with UOB Kay Hian Holdings Ltd.

BFIT Securities BSEC.BK, Thailand’s second-largest stockbroker in terms of market share, has received a merger proposal from a Thai unit of Singapore’s UOB Kay Hian Holdings Ltd. The merger is expected to be concluded by the end of June and this would help UOB become one of the top five brokers in the Thai market.

Chaipat Narkmontanakum, co-chief executive of UOB Kay Hian Securities (Thailand) said, “Despite the gloomy outlook at the moment, we expect the Thai market to recover in the long run and we have positioned ourself so that we will be among the top five after the merger.”

Chaipat also rvealed that UOB would make a tender offer to buy BFIT stock from minority shareholders after the merger and would then delist BFIT from the market. This year BFIT has market share of 6.2 percent, which ranks it second after the market leader Kim Eng Securities KEST.BK. Shares in BFIT have jumped nearly 80 percent in the past month on speculation about the merger.

UOB Kay Hian said in a statement that the merger would involve BFIT’s existing business, assets and employees, but exclude all licences relating to securities businesses.