Rich drunk driving Benz businessman buys off family for 45 million baht in death of cop and wife

[webfact]

Rich drunk driving Benz businessman buys off family for 45 million baht in death of cop and wife

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The factory owner who killed a senior police man and his wife and injured their daughter while driving his Mercedes Benz drunk has paid off the deceased's family to the tune of 45 million baht. 

 

The victim's mother said she is satisfied and that's an end to it. The drunk man was contrite and has paid all bills and even bought the family a new car.

 

He has turned away from drink, has stopped driving and now just drinks coffee, she said. 

 

The accident left Lt Col Jatuporn Ngamsuwitchakun and his wife Nuchanat dead and their twelve year old daughter Piyapha in hospital.

 

Their Suzuki Swift was smashed into by Somchai Werotphiphat, 56, who had been drinking at a golf club. He was reportedly belligerent at the scene at at the hospital but has since calmed down. 

 

Yesterday Somchai - the owner of a large factory and referred to as "Sia Somchai by Thai Rath" - and his lawyer Wirawut Bamrungjai met the families of Jatuporn and Nuchanat in the presence of Capt Phitak Phoonphuttha at Saladaeng police station. 

 

They were there to finalize the financial terms of the settlement. 

 

It was agreed that Somchai would pay Jatuporn's mother 2.5 million and Nuchanat's elders 2.5 million baht. 

 

Jatuporn's two children Suphapitcha, 15, and Piyapha, 12, will each get 15 million baht. As they are minors the money will be administered by the court until they are adults. 

 

Piyapha has recovered from her injuries and is now back at school. 

 

Jatuporn's mother told Thai Rath that her son was a forgiving kind of person and he would have wanted an out of court settlement.

 

She said that in addition to the money terms agreed Somchai has paid Piyapha's 1.5 million baht hospital bills, cleared family credit card debt to the tune of 5 million baht and even bought them a new red plate Toyota Fortuner. 

 

It all came to about a 45 million baht settlement, she said. 

 

She said that Somchai was sorry for what he had done and has stopped driving and has his own driver now who ferries him around. He has also given up alcohol and just drinks coffee, she said. 

 

He has offered her grandchildren jobs at his company in the future. He knows how they feel as he has two daughters of his own, she said.

 

Now she wanted this settlement to be an end to it. 

 

Capt Phitak said that the court is yet to consider five charges before it related to Somchai. In the light of the recovery of the couple's daughter and the financial settlement it will be up to the court what to do in relation to the criminal charges. 

 

Thaivisa notes that at the time of the accident some police were calling for charges of murder but these were subsequently believed to have been dropped. 

 

Thaivisa further notes that financial settlements and criminal charges are separate but the courts often adjust their sentences bearing in mind what agreements are made between those concerned. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-05-24

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[RotBenz8888]

Oh, no it has to be 45 million to the family AND a jail sentence for the killer!

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Oh, no it has to be 45 million to the family AND a jail sentence for the killer!

Agreed however i worry there will be no jail for this guy and 45 million is nothing for someone like him.

[RotBenz8888]

10 minutes ago, robblok said:

Agreed however i worry there will be no jail for this guy and 45 million is nothing for someone like him.

You're probably right, or he would already escaped to London just as the other cop killer.

Edited May 24, 2019 by RotBenz8888

[seajae]

greed is more important than family, the mother is only concerned that she is now wealthy and has totally ignored the fact this arse wipe killed her son and his wife, shows how pathetic some thais think, money comes before everything else. As for the police/law. he should be automatically charged and jailed but again money is more important

[darksidedog]

I have mixed feelings about this. I am happy that Somchai has put his hand deep in his pocket and ensured the kids are financially set. I am very unhappy that he seems set to escape jail time. Sure, he has shown contrition, but two people are dead because of him. If he is allowed to stay out of jail, it will send a message to every other rich person that you can drive as drunk as you like, wipe out as many people as you like and walk free by lobbing out a few dollars. I hope the court recognises this and ensures he does see time behind bars.

[bdenner]

30 Million to be administered by the court - now that's scary! Wonder how much will be left when the kids come of age? Is that why the drunk offered them a job?

[bobbin]

They were there to finalize the financial terms of the settlement. 

  

It was agreed that Somchai would pay Jatuporn's mother 2.5 million and Nuchanat's elders 2.5 million baht. 

 

Jatuporn's two children Suphapitcha, 15, and Piyapha, 12, will each get 15 million baht. As they are minors the money will be administered by the court until they are adults. 

 

Piyapha has recovered from her injuries and is now back at school. 

 

Jatuporn's mother told Thai Rath that her son was a forgiving kind of person and he would have wanted an out of court settlement.

 

She said that in addition to the money terms agreed Somchai has paid Piyapha's 1.5 million baht hospital bills, cleared family credit card debt to the tune of 5 million baht and even bought them a new red plate Toyota Fortuner. 

 

It all came to about a 45 million baht settlement, she said. 

 

She said that Somchai was sorry for what he had done and has stopped driving and has his own driver now who ferries him around. He has also given up alcohol and just drinks coffee, she said. 

 

He has offered her grandchildren jobs at his company in the future. He knows how they feel as he has two daughters of his own, she said.

 

Now she wanted this settlement to be an end to it. 

 

People have been driving under the influence of alcohol since automobiles were invented. It's dangerous to themselves and others and Thailand is just in the last few years coming around to less tolerance of the problem. But these drivers don't set out to be killers...

 

This settlement seems to be a reasonable attempt to make amends. He now has a driver. He has wiped all of the family debt and paid all medical bills. He has paid the majority of the money to the children and offered employment to them in the future. This is called accepting responsibility.

 

Yes, he is wealthy enough to be able to do this but he has done it without delay.

 

And he has given up alcohol.

[Power of life yoga]

I mean,  I myself would accept 45 million Baht! money makes the world go round and we can't live without it. Nothing can bring the family back and it is very sad. Everyone makes mistakes and his one cost him a large sum of money.  I realize many wouldn't agree with my opinion. but each to their own. ???? sabai sabai 

[Sticky Wicket]

I suppose it's slightly better than being hit by a drunk pauper who hasn't got a thimble to piss in

[BestB]

15 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I have mixed feelings about this. I am happy that Somchai has put his hand deep in his pocket and ensured the kids are financially set. I am very unhappy that he seems set to escape jail time. Sure, he has shown contrition, but two people are dead because of him. If he is allowed to stay out of jail, it will send a message to every other rich person that you can drive as drunk as you like, wipe out as many people as you like and walk free by lobbing out a few dollars. I hope the court recognises this and ensures he does see time behind bars.

I think it’s a moral dilemma which is right or wrong from western values and point of you.

 

how would you feel if he paid nothing but was jailed ? 

 

How would the family feel if he was jailed and they got nothing ?

 

how is putting him in jail helps the family or achieves anything ?

 

He has paid out a lot of money , what it is to him I feel is irrelevant but for the family , it is huge money. 

 

Not saying what is morally right or wrong but perhaps having him pay for family and kids is a better option than to jail him.

[XenZen]

I've decided my life here is worth about 500 baht, and maybe some trolling comments on the internet.

 

Not my country, and I know how it works.....and it doesn't work in my favor.   But I'm here, so my life is about 500 baht if some drunk person drives into my house, runs me over, backs up, runs me over again, and drags my lifeless body 10000 kms through the jungles.

 

sad.  but not surprised at all.  

[shady86]

The family accepted it so its money above dignity. This is how things are, cash is king!

 

Stop drinking alcohol and switch to coffee. I bet that would last for a month the most.

 

I wonder if the deceased's daughters would want to work with someone who had killed their parents.

 

[Jane Dough]

At the time he was reported to have had four bottles of beer. Ten million each bottle....

 

It will be extremely interesting to see what the court's judgment is in this case. If the judge is listening to Thai society he will hand down a custodial sentence, and he should. 

 

Rooster

 

 

[PJPom]

If we are honest the fact that the victims have been compensated in a fitting manner does count as a good result.

We tend to think of a long jail sentence in the West but this is a revenge emotion.

The person goes to jail, has his business destroyed, costs money to keep in jail and meanwhile victims family are left in financial peril while courts battle out their compensation with Lawyers getting the most.

I am really not certain that the Western alternative is the best result, maybe I am being affected by local attitudes, T I T

[rkidlad]

16 minutes ago, Power of life yoga said:

I mean,  I myself would accept 45 million Baht! money makes the world go round and we can't live without it. Nothing can bring the family back and it is very sad. Everyone makes mistakes and his one cost him a large sum of money.  I realize many wouldn't agree with my opinion. but each to their own. ???? sabai sabai 

To be as spiritually enlightened as you. Wow!

[KMartinHandyman]

I was taken by 5 million in credit cards debt by a policeman’s family

[AGareth2]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thaivisa further notes that financial settlements and criminal charges are separate but the courts often adjust their sentences bearing in mind what agreements are made between those concerned. 

 

suspended probably

[RotBenz8888]

If the court, unexpectedly, sentence him to a jail term, will he be entitled to "a refund"? Like 44.9 million?

Edited May 24, 2019 by RotBenz8888

[ezzra]

How nice is when you can, In a third world "democracies" like Thailand buy your freedom and all is forgotten, the irony being that many Thai would hope that if their loved one ever get killed, let it be by a factory owner millioner like this guy is...

[Denim]

Is there a government department somewhere where you can take family members to have their

' worth ' assessed in case of accidents caused by third parties ?

 

 Reading news like this you would think so. 

[aqua4]

Quote

Thaivisa further notes that financial settlements and criminal charges are separate but the courts often adjust their sentences bearing in mind what agreements are made between those concerned. 

 

Usually it goes away or they give a token sentence. Thailand is not unique in this type of settlements. 

 

[Misterwhisper]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He has turned away from drink, has stopped driving and now just drinks coffee, she said.

Yeah... probably Irish coffee.

[Psimbo]

No one mentioned 'Red Bull Boy' yet- absolutely disgraceful!

 

I don't know why people on here get their knickers in a twist over 'blood money'- it's quite common in a lot of societies around the world. Distasteful to some but get over it is is an accepted practice HERE. Why apply the mores of YOUR country to life here- its a complete waste of time.

[moe666]

2 hours ago, robblok said:

Agreed however i worry there will be no jail for this guy and 45 million is nothing for someone like him.

But it is a lot to a family who lost their main bread winner. 

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

in the presence of Capt Phitak Phoonphuttha at Saladaeng police station.

I wonder what his fixer fee was?

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, moe666 said:

But it is a lot to a family who lost their main bread winner. 

True but it should not be a get out of jail free ticket. 

[Pib]

Criminal justice in Thailand can be made to easily look the other way when a civil settlement is reached.  Money talks...money allows the rich to walk.

[ChipButty]

Give the guy some credit at least he didn't do a runner like some people we know

[worgeordie]

Surely he will go to jail for killing two people,payment

should not negate ,him facing charges, Oops ! then I realised

I was not in the real World.

 

regards Worgeordie