Drunk driver who killed two given suspended sentence

[webfact]

Drunk driver who killed two given suspended sentence

By Suriya Patathayo
The Nation

 

 

Wealthy Thai businessman Somchai Verojpipat, the Mercedes Benz owner who crashed into the car carrying the Crimes Suppression Division’s deputy police commander in April while drunk, killing the policeman and his wife and seriously injuring the couple’s younger daughter, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined Bt100,000 with the court suspending the jail term.

 

The Taling Chan Provincial Court's verdict originally sentenced the 56-year-old owner of a mechanical parts manufacturer to six years in jail and a Bt200,000 fine but halved both because he gave useful testimony, was remorseful and had never previously committed a crime. 

 

Concluding that Somchai’s sentence of Bt100,000 fine and a suspended jail term was a fair one, the court ordered him to report to Probation Department officials a total of eight times, perform 48 hours of community service per year and banned from drinking alcohol. The suspended jail term meants that if, over the next two years, he breached any of the probation’s rules, he would go to jail. 

 

Police initially brought five charges against Somchai, namely speeding, driving while drunk and reckless driving that caused death and serious injuries, homicide, and attempted murder, but the prosecutors decided to drop the charges related to homicide and attempted murder. Somchai pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of speeding, drunk driving and reckless driving.

 

Somchai was found to have a blood alcohol level of 260 mg/dL when he crashed head-on into the car of Pol Lt Colonel Jatuporn Ngarmsuwitchakul, 48, in Bangkok in April. The accident killed Jatuporn and his wife Nongnuch,44, and seriously injured the couple’s youngest daughter aged 12.

 

As Somchai was apparently remorseful over the deaths and paid Bt45 million to Jatuporn’s two daughters aged 16 and 12, reportedly the largest amount in compensation ever offered to a family of road-accident victims in Thailand, the family early in July informed the court of its decision not to pursue civil proceedings against Somchai.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30373960

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-07-31

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Thaiwrath]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Drunk driver who killed two given suspended sentence

 

<deleted> absolute disgrace !

 

Edited July 31, 2019 by Thaiwrath

[ezzra]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Wealthy Thai businessman Somchai Verojpipat

"Wealthy Thai businessman" self explanatory, no need for more words as to why he got out with a slap on the wrist...

[keith101]

All I can say is TIT and he is HI SO .

[rkidlad]

Words fail me. You need help, Thailand. 

[mercman24]

i wonder who that would be  *family*he wiped out the *family* ? oh, that would be Uncle Tom Cobbly and All,  45 milion, that will do very nicely thankyou and when these two little orphans grow to be adults, it will be *what money, we used that to bring you up, can see it now,  (remember that young girl Thai blogger she was 12 i think, her *family* bought a new BMW for her, ) be worth scrap time she gets to drive it legally that is.

[BobbyL]

Lucky Somchai. 

 

Disgraceful sentence. 

[DavisH]

Never previously committed a crime huh...so this is the first time he has ever been drunk behind the wheel at a reading of +0.2. I find that hard to believe. Money buys everything. 

[PatOngo]

Well done! This will certainly enhance the much protected "Image of Thailand" ????

[Orton Rd]

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. I don't think Eric Blair ever made it to Thailand but he did spend time in Burma so would not have been surprised by this sort of 'justice' which some might consider criminal in itself.

[PJPom]

Not really surprised, this is the verdict that I expected. In mitigation, if that is possible, he stayed at the scene and fully admitted his guilt, made substantial financial reparations and seemed to be genuinely sorry.

This is Thailand and of course we all expect the wealthy to walk away with none or minor punishment but in this case I think justice might have been satisfied.

[phkauf]

The victim was a Deputy Police Commander! How little the Thai Judicial System values their own. Had this occurred in any civilized country, Somchai would be spending the rest of his life in jail.

When are the Thais going to wake up to the carnage on their roads and it's mostly because of their irresponsible behavior. 

Just the other day the story about the Thai tourist causing a horrible accident in Hokkaido, Japan - now they are bringing their horrible behavior to other countries. I can't wait for the Japanese to treat Thais in the same manner the Thais regard the Chinese as parasites and low class. The Thais are fully deserving of their disdain.

[thequietman]

Money talks and BS walks. ????

[CNXexpat]

I don´t know how rich he is but I guess he will feel the loss of 45 million Baht. For westeners it might sound strange but for the families they get money it´s a huge help. It doesn´t help the family if he would go to jail for many years but the kids lost their parents and the income what pays their school and life. Nothing can make the parents live again.  

[seajae]

as long as hi so's are untouchable by the law we will never see justice in Thailand, they have an open licence to kill and get away with it as we have seen time and again. This mongrel should be serving time for murder but because he has money they let him off, pathetic

[RotBenz8888]

Disgusting, just makes me sick.

[luk AJ]

I don´t know how rich he is but I guess he will feel the loss of 45 million Baht. For westeners it might sound strange but for the families they get money it´s a huge help. It doesn´t help the family if he would go to jail for many years but the kids lost their parents and the income what pays their school and life. Nothing can make the parents live again.  

Why not pay 45 million AND go to jail?


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[KhunKenAP]

Wonder what the sentence would be if his name was for example "John Smith"?

[rkidlad]

9 minutes ago, PJPom said:

Not really surprised, this is the verdict that I expected. In mitigation, if that is possible, he stayed at the scene and fully admitted his guilt, made substantial financial reparations and seemed to be genuinely sorry.

This is Thailand and of course we all expect the wealthy to walk away with none or minor punishment but in this case I think justice might have been satisfied.

I'd feel genuinely sorry too if I killed some kid's parents and left them orphaned. Not wanting to hurt or kill anyone is the number 1 reason I don't drink and drive. 

 

Justice hasn't been satisfied. You shouldn't be allowed to drink and drive, kill people and then just say sorry and pay money. This man should be in prison having many miserable years to reflect on his actions. It's also a good message to society that drink driving won't be tolerated. No one needs to be killed from this abhorrent behaviour. 

 

For many people, everything is fine until it happens to them. 

[Creasy]

Sad country

[4MyEgo]

They forgot to mention, it's not about the money, and he lived happily ever after, oi !

 

 

Edited July 31, 2019 by 4MyEgo

[RotBenz8888]

If the jail term wasn't suspended, he would have "escaped" abroad anyway, to join the other Thai Bravehearts.

[Cadbury]

Sounds like big money has changed hands at the top end of town. A golden opportunity taken advantage of by some wig to make a bundle. 

Thailand's appalling Corruption Perception Index ratings are preserved.

Edited July 31, 2019 by Cadbury

[Vacuum]

22 minutes ago, phkauf said:

The victim was a Deputy Police Commander! How little the Thai Judicial System values their own.

Well, "Bt45 million to Jatuporn’s two daughters" and how much was paid to the Judicical System we don't know.

[sammieuk1]

Off to the protected forest for a bit of hunting with the another fat law dodger no doubt thanking buddha he didn't kill himself and his money ????  

[CNXexpat]

23 minutes ago, luk AJ said:

Why not pay 45 million AND go to jail?


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

He paid by choice and very quick. The fine from the court was much smaller. Sure, the kid can go to court but I guess it will get not 45 mio. Baht and this in many years. Remember the victims of the other accident. They are waiting till 9 years.

[dcnx]

Absolutely shameful. 

 

Tourists spend more time locked up for arriving with too many tourist visas.

[dcnx]

34 minutes ago, KhunKenAP said:

Wonder what the sentence would be if his name was for example "John Smith"?

John Smith caught playing cards in Pattaya.... it’s over pal. 

[transam]

Amazing....????

[metisdead]

A troll post has been removed.