Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Appeal Court has upheld prison sentences for six police officers over the deaths of two cadets during a parachute training exercise, handing a senior police colonel six years in prison without suspension and sentencing others to more than three years.

 

The case stems from a 2014 training accident at the Royal Police Cadet Academy’s parachute course in Phetchaburi province, where two police cadets, Chayakorn Phutthachaiyong, known as “YoYo”, and Natthawut Tirasuwan, known as “Few”, died after their parachutes failed to deploy.

 

Originally, the Samut Songkhram Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sentenced defendants identified only as No. 2 to 9 to four years’ imprisonment each for negligence causing death, but acquitted them of malfeasance under Section 157 of the Penal Code. All appealed, though two defendants, 5 & 7, died during the appeals process.

 

At 09.00 on 25 August, the Appeal Court delivered its ruling:

 

• Pol Col Anothai Satsanga (Defendant 6) was sentenced to six years in prison, with no suspension.

 

• Defendants 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 were sentenced under multiple laws but, after reductions for cooperation, each received three years and four months.

 

• Defendant 1, Capt Kanop Yusuk, was acquitted.

 

The court determined that the defendants’ actions amounted to negligence causing death under Section 291 of the Penal Code, as well as offences under laws covering state officials’ misconduct.

 

The ruling follows years of legal proceedings initiated by Mr Sathorn Phutthachaiyong, father of one of the deceased cadets, who joined the prosecution as a co-plaintiff.

 

The case has drawn attention to serious lapses in safety standardsduring police training and has been seen as a test of accountability within the force.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-08-26

 

 

 

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