CSD reopens probe into ‘suicide’ of young Myanmar maid

By The Nation

 

 

Two teams of Crime Suppression Division officers are re-investigating the “closed case” of a young Myanmar maid who Ratchaburi police said turned a gun on herself.

Pol Colonel Phumin Pumphanmuang, commander of the CSD Sub-division 5, said the case was being reopened at the request of the maid’s mother and older sister.

 

Pala, 47, and her daughter, Lukwa, 22, filed a complaint with the CSD on Tuesday, saying they doubted the report of the Ratchaburi police that Paopiew, 17, shot herself to death in a house in Ban Pong district in Ratchaburi.

 

The young Myanmar maid was found dead on August 7 in the house in Ban Pong where she worked. She died of a gunshot wound to the right temple inflicted by a 9mm pistol.

 

Ratchaburi police concluded that the girl stole the gun from her boss and turned it on herself.

 

But the conclusion was questioned by a lawyer whose advice was sought by the Myanmar Embassy. The lawyer, Ronnarong Kaewphet, said there were several questionable points in the case.

 

First, the lawyer said, the girl was left-handed person but the gun was found in her right hand. Second, the lawyer doubted whether the young girl knew how to unlock the safety catch of the pistol.

 

Third, he said the authorities in Ratchaburi had failed to perform a thorough autopsy on the body.

 

Ronnarong also said that Myanmar Embassy officials and the maid’s mother did not receive full support from Ratchaburi police.

 

Phumin said he dispatched the first team of CSD officers to reinspect the scene, check CCTV footage and try to gather more evidence.

 

He said the second team would review the investigative report from Ban Pong police station, check reports from forensic science officers and check whether the girl had gunpowder traces on her hand.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30330576

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-01

Good on the lawyer for speaking up. Let's hope the truth is uncovered.

I hope the investigation will also look at the conclusions of the first investigation, especially if they find evidence that disputes the initial findings. There is much about this case that suggests the possibility of a back hander influencing the original conclusion.

The gun was in a safe. But the maid knew the combination of the safe?
The gun had a trigger guard lock on it.  But the maid knew how to bypass that? 

The maid was left handed.  But she shot herself with her right hand?
There were 2 shell casings found.  But only one bullet to the head?

 

Yeah, I'd say this case needs to be re-opened.  

 

Waiting for the proverbial "the owner of the house is the brother of the official in the army that is married to the police captain that headed the investigation.