THAI POLICE RAID AUSSIE'S DRUG AND SEX PARTY

An Australian arrested in a Thai police raid in the beachside resort
of Pattaya was hosting a sex and drugs party at his luxurious seaside
villa, police said today.

Michael Suttie, 45, a long time resident of Thailand, was arrested
Sunday along with nine other foreigners and 12 Thai women at his
Pattaya residence, 150km south east of Bangkok, court sources said.

Suttie, described as a wealthy Australian with a property company in
Pattaya, was held overnight at the local police lock up, together
with the others arrested.

Thai police said they were expected to seek an arraignment of all
those arrested - five Britons, one New Zealander, one Dane, one
Dutchman and one German - in Chon Buri provincial court.

Thai Tourist Police Inspector Major Naradej Klomthuksing, who led the
raid, said the arrests followed a two-month investigation.

He alleged the group regularly held the drug parties at rotating venues.

"The purpose of the party was for sex," Maj Naradej told local reporters.

"When we entered the house we saw some couples kissing and hugging.
They looked intoxicated. They didn't seem to care about us."

Reports said police seized one gram of cocaine, an unspecified amount
of marijuana mixed with tobacco, ecstasy pills and 19 packets of the
tranquilliser ketamine.

Police sources said if the group was found guilty they could face
fines and a jail term of one year, and for the foreigners the threat
of deportation.

Thai Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun called for tougher
measures to be taken against foreigners involved in drug parties in
Thailand.

"We don't need addicts from developed countries causing problems in
Thailand," Mr Purachai said.

Mr Purachai has been overseeing a campaign to crackdown on Thailand's
lively entertainment industry, enforcing closing hours at bars and
trying to stop underage drinking.