Conscript held in detention for checkpoint shooting in Mae Suai district

 

 

Chiang Rai police are holding in detention a conscript who allegedly shot dead Sornchai Sathitrakdamrong at a road checkpoint in Mae Suai district on the night of Jan 2.

 

Pol Lt-Gen Poonsap Prasertsak, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, said Friday (Jan 12) that Pvt Wanchai Jampa who is attached to the 17th Infantry Regiment based in Phayao was held on charges of murder, attempted murder, and shooting in public place.

 

He said that Pvt Wanchai had confessed to shooting at the car driven by Sornchai because the victim had failed to stop at the checkpoint to be checked by guards who included several assistant village headmen and himself.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/conscript-held-detention-checkpoint-shooting-mae-suai-district/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-01-13

Nobody has said who authorized this checkpoint. Why was it there, and was it legal?

What were Pvt Wanchai's orders and what training had he got related to checkpoint stops?

As a conscript private he is the lowest of the low in military ranks.

I suspect he was either unprepared for dealing with someone who failed to stop at the checkpoint and/or received incorrect or inadequate instructions with regard to use of force in such case.

There is no indication that a higher rank soldier was present.

It seems the assistant village headmen would have placed themselves in charge of the checkpoint (back to the question of who authorized the checkpoint) but they should have had no command over the private.

Maybe a cover up for someone higher up the food chain. Seems quite common here.