Cop who killed doctor on Bangkok zebra crossing jailed for a year - no suspended sentence

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The police lance corporal who drove a big bike into an ophthalmologist on a Phayathai zebra crossing in January, killing her, has been ordered jailed.

 

The case cause national soul searching and upgrades for many crossings in Thailand. 

 

Norawich Buadok, 21, was riding a Ducati Monster at a speed of 108-128 kmph in an 80 kmph zone. 

 

Waralak Suphawatjariyakul - better known as Dr Kratai who worked at Ratchathewee Hospital - was killed.

 

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Norawich was slapped with nine charges in February including negligent driving causing death. He was subsequent bailed in the sum of 50,000 baht as education and family reports were prepared.

 

This morning the Ratchadaphisek court announced its ruling in the case. 

 

It handed down a custodial sentence of 1 year and 15 days to the young policeman with no suspension of the term.

 

He was also fined a total of 4,000 baht, reported Thai Rath. 

 

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[webfact]

Cop who killed doctor on zebra crossing gets sentenced to just over one year

 

 

Thailand’s Criminal Court sentenced a non-commissioned police officer to one year and 15 days in prison and fined him 4,000 baht today (Monday) after finding him guilty of reckless driving causing the death of an eye doctor while she was using a zebra crossing in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district in January and other charges.

 

In a high-profile case that has raised questions about Thailand’s road safety and lack thereof, Dr. Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, aka “Doctor Kratai, an ophthalmologist of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, was run down by the officer on his motorcycle as she was crossing the road on a zebra crossing in front of the Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital in Phaya Thai district on January 21st.

 

The motorcyclist was identified as Pol Lance Corporal Norawit Buadok, a crowd control police officer attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cop-who-killed-doctor-on-zebra-crossing-gets-sentenced-to-just-over-one-year/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-25

 

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[nikmar]

he killed someone illegally and gets a year. Yet some who have just expressed a different opinion to that of the establishment are facing 15 years. Truly bizarre!

 

did anyone look into how a 21 yr old can afford to run a big bike on police wages?

[RafPinto]

Must be a very low ranked cop.

Let's see how long Ferrari Joe gets

[RafPinto]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

The motorcyclist was identified as Pol Lance Corporal Norawit Buadok, a crowd control police officer attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

A crowd control officer.

What's that?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 minutes ago, nikmar said:

did anyone look into how a 21 yr old can afford to run a big bike on police wages?

Yes, it was reported on many times, it was an older bike, priced at B80k and police officers, along with most Thais, can get finance.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, RafPinto said:

A crowd control officer.

What's that?

An officer attached to a crowd control unit.

[Liverpool Lou]

The "he'll never do a day's jail time" crowd must be seething!

[RandiRona]

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The "he'll never do a day's jail time" crowd must be seething!

And you think 1 year is a just for killing a doctor?? Different justice based on class , status and demographics?? 

Slap on the wrist. What a shame!!

[matchar]

So is he in jail now or is he still out on bail pending his chance to appeal the verdict?

[CharlieH]

To me, thats a "token" sentence because of the profile in the media. Had it NOT had that exposure he probably would have walked.

 

I feel a ONE year sentence which may actually be alot less in reality before his release, is shocking for the Death of a young woman. Once again, there is no or little consequences and therby little deterrent to others. 

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, RandiRona said:

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The "he'll never do a day's jail time" crowd must be seething!

And you think 1 year is a just for killing a doctor?? Different justice based on class , status and demographics?? 

Slap on the wrist. What a shame!!

Did I say that I thought that one year in jail for causing her death in an accident was just?   No, I didn't, you need to read what I actually said.  My comment was aimed at those Thai-bashing posters who, bizarrely, frequently announce "he'll never do a day in jail", which is usually wrong.

 

Don't forget that he and the RTP are still being sued by the family for B70m.

[SunnyinBangrak]

16 minutes ago, nikmar said:

he killed someone illegally and gets a year. Yet some who have just expressed a different opinion to that of the establishment are facing 15 years. Truly bizarre!

 

did anyone look into how a 21 yr old can afford to run a big bike on police wages?

and exactly who would be looking into how the 21 yr old policeman had more money than he should? Have you ever seen the carpark at police stations, or worse still, the land offices? Lot of luxury automobiles on display. 

[lopburi3]

10 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The "he'll never do a day's jail time" crowd must be seething!

Released on bail of 50K

https://www.facebook.com/536126593072944/posts/5423125291039692/

[Ohyesuare]

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

To me, thats a "token" sentence because of the profile in the media. Had it NOT had that exposure he probably would have walked.

 

I feel a ONE year sentence which may actually be alot less in reality before his release, is shocking for the Death of a young woman. Once again, there is no or little consequences and therby little deterrent to others. 

I agree, one year for killing an innocent person who was crossing legally where you're supposed to is ridiculous. I can easily see him being let out early or pardoned once people forget the story and move on to other ones and probably be welcomed back to his police job.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

15 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The "he'll never do a day's jail time" crowd must be seething!

Released on bail of 50K

https://www.facebook.com/536126593072944/posts/5423125291039692/

That's all part of the justice process and doesn't mean that he'll not be jailed after the appeal.   His entitlement to an appeal doesn't mean that the sentence is quashed.

[CharlieH]

8 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

I agree, one year for killing an innocent person who was crossing legally where you're supposed to is ridiculous. I can easily see him being let out early or pardoned once people forget the story and move on to other ones and probably be welcomed back to his police job.

Just by way of comparison, vehicular manslaughter carries a 14 yr - LIFE sentence in the UK.

Now that or near that, would have been more appropriate and send the right message to others. (IMHO)

[Ohyesuare]

6 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Just by way of comparison, vehicular manslaughter carries a 14 yr sentence in the UK.

Now that or near that, would have been more appropriate and send the right message to others. (IMHO)

I don't recall if this Thai cop was drunk or even tested but unfortunately you have stories in Canada/US of drunk drivers killing whole families and being let off on full parole after 5-6 years because they're considered low risk to reoffend. I think it should be treated the same as manslaughter everywhere at least. People should be terrified of the consequences of intentionally driving under the influence.

[internationalism]

1 hour ago, nikmar said:

he killed someone illegally and gets a year. Yet some who have just expressed a different opinion to that of the establishment are facing 15 years. Truly bizarre!

 

did anyone look into how a 21 yr old can afford to run a big bike on police wages?

he stole this bike from a police station. This bike wasn't registered, no road insurance. 

He didn't have to pay anything to get it for his daily use.

 

here you can read all details of this case

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2022/01/30/opinion-life-is-cheap-in-thailand-and-even-cheaper-on-thai-roads/

[internationalism]

35 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

A crowd control officer.

What's that?

that are guys who shoot rubber bullets, gas canisters directly at head level of protesters and spray strong chemicals from 30mln water cannons. They do often so without warning and without reason - just because they can according to emergency law

[trainman34014]

Five years would have been more realistic.   Sentences as lenient as this do nothing to improve the situation on Thailands appaling roads full of appalling Drivers and Riders !

[ezzra]

Not sure what went there and why such laughable sentence for a man slaughter charges, a travesty of justice for sure, but if these are the Thailand's sentences guidelines they have to be change and not a moment too soon...

[Dmaxdan]

4000 baht fine! Saying that life is cheap here is one hell of an understatement!

 

I'm guessing he won't even loose his job once he's "sentence" is completed. 

[worgeordie]

So a Doctor is worth 1 year 15 days in jail and 4K fine.

I suppose a garbage picker ,would only be a fine .....????

regards Worgeordie

[blackshadow]

47 minutes ago, matchar said:

So is he in jail now or is he still out on bail pending his chance to appeal the verdict?

WHO knows !!!!

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The "he'll never do a day's jail time" crowd must be seething!

But you're apparent defence of him is OK?  I think you're getting a little carried away in your "all other foreigners are bad, I'm the only good one, I'm more Thai than you" shenanigans.

[mtls2005]

Hold up three fingers, off to jail, held without bail or trial for a year or more.

 

Ducati DeathRace 2022, light sentence, out on bail (50,000 baht). Why out on bail?

 

Shades of Orachorn “Praewa” Thephasadin Na Ayudhya (her death toll was nine!!!), who got 138 hours of community service, which she is reported to have skipped.

 

 

Dr. Waraluck Supawatjariyakul's family must be even more distraught at this travesty of justice.

 

 

 

[billd766]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Who cares ?

Many people on the forum and many thousands of Thai's care.

 

That is who.

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, Ohyesuare said:

I think it should be treated the same as manslaughter everywhere at least. People should be terrified of the consequences of intentionally driving under the influence.

100% agree....but don't expect too many on here to support that point of view.

[BangkokReady]

One big problem is, although it's obviously a somewhat positive outcome in this one instance, what about the fact that so many thousands (millions maybe?) Of people do this exact same thing every day.

 

The reason he has been charged is that he was doing something extremely dangerous that led to this woman's death, but that same dangerous things is being done countless times every day.

 

It seems bizarre that they can sentence this one person, but not take the actions he carried out a lot more seriously across across board.