Si Sa Ket: Officials transferred over inmate’s mysterious death

[webfact]

Officials transferred over inmate’s mysterious death

By Pongpat Traipipat 
The Nation

 

 

Several officials at the Si Sa Ket Prison, including its chief, have been transferred to inactive posts over the controversial death of an inmate.
 

Evidence suggests convicted drunk driver Prompanya Keshom, 40, might have been beaten up during his stay in a very crowded cell and finally succumbed to his injuries on April 18.

 

Prompanya was put behind bars because his family could not afford to pay the Bt6,000 fine for driving under the influence of alcohol. As per law, those convicted of drunk driving have to stay in jail one night for every Bt500 of the fine they are unable to pay. 

 

Prompanya’s mother, Surin Keshom, has been calling for justice after her son’s body was found with bruises all over, and her appeal prompted Corrections Department director-general Pol Colonel Narat Sawettanan to fly to Si Sa Ket province on Sunday night to look into the case.

 

A source said Narat believes that other inmates, stressed from overcrowding, might have attacked Prompanya. Apparently, as many as 236 men had been thrown into a room that was just 5 metres wide and 10 metres long. With such space constraints, not a single person could lie down, and though there were CCTV cameras in the cell, they did not cover every corner. 

 

“After Prompanya was allegedly attacked, the prison officials tried to cover up by reporting that he had been rushed to hospital because he had hurt himself from a fall in the toilet,” the source added. 

 

Hence, Narat decided to punish the prison’s chief Somboon Puttachart and other related officials by shifting them to inactive posts.  The Si Sa Ket Prison is now being overseen by the chief of the Ubon Ratchathani Prison. 

 

Narat has also ordered an investigation into the case.

 

Prompanya, who held a Bachelor’s degree, was the sole breadwinner of his family. He had gone out to join Songkran celebrations at his village, and when he returned to pick up his motorcycle – which was parked near a checkpoint – he was arrested. He was barely 100 metres away from his home, and Surin said he had not even climbed on his motorbike when he was arrested. 

 

“He told me that he planned to simply drag his motorbike home,” Surin said, adding that she plans to demand Bt1.5 million in compensation for her son’s death. 

 

“I also want to see his attackers punished,” she said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30368164

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-23

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Hence, Narat decided to punish the prison’s chief Somboon Puttachart and other related officials by shifting them to inactive posts.

The land of irresponsibility - where no official is held accountable, but given another position where they are still paid.

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

and though there were CCTV cameras in the cell, they did not cover every corner. 

Nice job, in such a small space... 

[jerojero]

Prison certainly should not be a comfortable place, but forcing hundreds of prisoners into a small room treated like animals is reprehensible. Is this the wonderful Thailand that PM espouses?

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Several officials at the Si Sa Ket Prison, including its chief, have been transferred to inactive posts over the controversial death of an inmate.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Apparently, as many as 236 men had been thrown into a room that was just 5 metres wide and 10 metres long.

Should have just put them straight into this same room.. befitting murderers!!!

[owenm]

You wouldn't put 236 dogs into an area of 5m x 10m, so how could they get away with 236 prisoners. An earlier report said 6000bht or 4 days in the lock-up. He was due to be released the day he succumbed to his injuries on day 4..

 

And how could a CCTV in that small space not give full coverage.. Maybe the CCTV was not working or being monitored.. Definitely a third world prison system where human rights and dignity mean absolutely nothing.. 

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Apparently, as many as 236 men had been thrown into a room that was just 5 metres wide and 10 metres long.

 

Civilised place, Thailand. Even animals in zoos are kept in better conditions. Still, no sympathy for the victim, who was prepared to risk killing others by driving drunk despite all the warnings not to do so.

[RickTik]

Just like in the USA, law enforcement officials get away with their crimes against humanity. They apologize, get transferred, or retire, and go about living their lives without being really punished for their abusive behavior and policies. 

[shady86]

Just wondering how many officials are in 'inactive posts' and what are they doing? Sitting on chairs watching youtube the whole day with taxpayers money? 

[Nip]

2 hours ago, shady86 said:

Just wondering how many officials are in 'inactive posts' and what are they doing? Sitting on chairs watching youtube the whole day with taxpayers money? 

Being moved to an inactive post in Thailand is just swapping chairs with the guy next to you. 

[RJRS1301]

Inhumane conditions irrespective of any crime committed

The old saying you can judge  “A civilization is measured by how it treats its weakest members"

Yes even criminals deserve to be treated with dignity. (oh I know indignant howls will begin now)

Crowding that many people into such a space is against all human rights.

 

[KneeDeep]

8 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Civilised place, Thailand. Even animals in zoos are kept in better conditions. Still, no sympathy for the victim, who was prepared to risk killing others by driving drunk despite all the warnings not to do so.

 

100 metres from his home? Was he even on the bike?

You seem a little bit too quick to judge.

[Bangkok Barry]

20 minutes ago, KneeDeep said:

 

100 metres from his home? Was he even on the bike?

You seem a little bit too quick to judge.

 

I think you're right.