"Drunk" politician "left scene of accident with police friend" - police chief promises justice

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported on a shocking case of a provincial councillor who was allowed to leave the scene of an accident in which he allegedly drove drunk into an old lady's roadside house nearly killing her and her bedridden son.

 

The chief of police in Phatthalung, southern Thailand, has promised that the case will be dealt with fairly. The driver has already been charged with negligence and will face DUI charges if that proves to be the case.

 

Late on Saturday night police were called to a house on the Khuandinsor to Huay Sai Road in Sri Banphot district where a red Ford Tierra had been driven through the wall of a roadside one story dwelling.

 

Huan, 83, was taken to hospital with a broken wrist and fractured hip.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Her bedriden son, Narongchai, 49, was lucky not to be run over in the house that was a complete mess.

 

The old lady's daughter-in-law Sirima, 50, arrived on the scene and demanded that police test the driver who appeared drunk.

 

They said they didn't have a breathalyzer handy.

 

She demanded the name of the man who just said "I'm Rot".

 

He admitted to having been to a housewarming.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

He called a policeman friend who came and picked him up and whisked him away to the astonishment of all who were present. She wasn't sure if it was a car or a pick-up that they left in.

 

Sirima said the police action at the scene was deplorable.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

On Sunday Pol Maj-gen Tanit Ramdit said that the driver was Santi Saengthong, a provincial councillor in Khuan Khanun district Area 1.

 

He was taken to Sri Banphot hospital at 2 am - several hours after the accident - for an alcohol check on his blood but they didn't have a testing facility there so a sample was taken for future testing.

 

In the meantime he said that the suspect had been charged with negligent driving and causing damage.

 

DUI charges will follow if that proves to be the case.

 

The suspect told the police that he had had "one or two glasses of wine" at the party.

 

Asked by reporters if the old lady could expect justice as the man was a politician, the chief said in standard rhetoric that the full force of the law would be applied justly.

 

The suspect has promised full compensation to the old lady.

 

 

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[kotsak]

This story sums up what is going on in this country pretty well. 

[sammieuk1]

They must be first in the world at nearly killing people in their own homes from out of control vehicles surely and another RTP corruption job for BJ by the look of it ????  

[ezzra]

Now let's all make a very "surprising look" faces hearing the news.

[worgeordie]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

She demanded the name of the man who just said "I'm Rot".

How true ,       DUI charges will follow if that proves to be the case. .. bit too late he will

have sobered up by the time that happens.

regards Worgeordie

[anchadian]

'the case will be dealt with fairly'

 

Will this also apply to the Bentley driver who was on drugs?

 

Nothing more heard of this and probably never will.

[NanLaew]

So the "phone-a-friend" cop drove this drunken grub around for at least two hours before going to a hospital they probably knew couldn't do any blood alcohol testing.

 

What's the betting on the blood sample turning up missing?

[actonion]

So this is the start, and the end of this story,     I'm sure we will hear no more..

 

Breathalyser  not available,   what a load of B.S........All these stories last year of   penalty points for  this, jail terms for that, ...;.Thai law is a joke 

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He called a policeman friend who came and picked him up and whisked him away to the astonishment of all who were present.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They said they didn't have a breathalyzer handy.

So getting one sent out was not  an option?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The suspect told the police that he had had "one or two glasses of wine" at the party.

Couldn't even remember how much he drank, Yeshh offisher only two glasses of wine Hic + a bottle of whisky??

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The suspect has promised full compensation to the old lady.

Ah but what will his fine be, and the cop friend should be investigated/charged with aiding a suspect to leave the scene of a crime. As if.

[proton]

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

How true ,       DUI charges will follow if that proves to be the case. .. bit too late he will

have sobered up by the time that happens.

regards Worgeordie

They can retrospectively calculate the amount of booze in his blood at the time, they never seem to though