Former boxing champ seeks justice after wrongful imprisonment

By THE NATION

 

 

A former boxing champion pleaded for justice from the national police chief today (June 1) after suffering a knockout blow to his career when he was accused of drug trafficking before a fight two years ago.

 

Atchariya Virojsunobol, the former WBC Asia super-lightweight champion, together with his family and lawyer, submitted documents to police chief Chakthip Chaijinda as evidence he had been wrongfully imprisoned for 14 months.

 

Atchariya was arrested at Don Mueang airport in 2018 as he was about to board a flight for a boxing match in Japan. He was accused of involvement in smuggling 3.4 million amphetamine pills.

 

He was finally released last week on May 27, when the court decided to dismiss his case after evidence surfaced showing he was not linked to the drug dealers.

 

The ex-boxer complained the only evidence police had against him was that he was the ex-owner of a car used by the drug dealers. He said he had sold the car in 2015.

 

Among evidence presented by his lawyers was that Atchariya was not even in the same province (Ranong) as the drug dealers when they were caught by police. Moreover, the jailed dealers denied ever having been associated with Atchariya.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30388881

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-01

 

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I'm never selling my car.

I'm never taking up boxing

I'm never gonna be in a province with drug dealers.

Oh wait. Cops everywhere. Nevermind

I'm never  going to Thailand again if  i ever  leave

             This case really looks like very bad case of poor police work, or very poor judicial system, for jailing a man on such poor evidence, and how come this  evidence only recently came to light, when it should of been investigated at the very begining.

17 minutes ago, grumpy 4680 said:

             This case really looks like very bad case of poor police work, or very poor judicial system, for jailing a man on such poor evidence, and how come this  evidence only recently came to light, when it should of been investigated at the very begining.

If what he says is true about there being no evidence other than the car, the legal system should hold the cops financially accountable (including for lost income, reputational and psychological damage, plus deterrent costs), and the individual cops disciplined for incompetence.   Gonna take a stab in the dark here and say it won't.

     Generally speaking in Democratic countries, when a poor police action is suspected, internal affairs usually check previous cases to see if a pattern emerges of similar likeness, so your probably right, this matter may go no further.

I wonder if the car's documentation was signed over when it was sold. Apparently they sometimes don't bother.

3 hours ago, grumpy 4680 said:

             This case really looks like very bad case of poor police work, or very poor judicial system, for jailing a man on such poor evidence, and how come this  evidence only recently came to light, when it should of been investigated at the very begining.

I would say both and lack of funds!

Everyday is a payday with the BiB. Your innocents is always optional.