Court Frees Couple From Police Cells

[bmw]

The Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday released a couple unfairly detained at Lumpini police station for 102 days without a charge.

The young wife reportedly delivered her baby in her cell and was simply ignored by police.

Lawyer Pradol Inthathamma heard the couple's story at the station on Thursday and managed to seek their immediate release yesterday.

The court heard that Chol Narapinit, 28, and his 17-year-old wife, Siri-on Changluadlai, then pregnant, were arrested at the Ploenchit skytrain station on July 27 allegedly for theft.

Pol Maj Kriangsak Tipjoi, who handled their case, sought the court's approval to detain them for 84 days, the longest period a suspect can be detained, without pressing a charge.

Police did not send Mrs Siri-on to a youth observation and protection centre even though she is 17 years old.

When the court was about to release both suspects on Oct 19, Pol Maj Kriangsak re-arrested them right away for receiving stolen items. The couple were detained for 18 more days but the officer did not seek a court order to detain them.

Mrs Siri-on delivered her baby in her cell and police did not arrange medical treatment. Her relatives took the baby out of the cell five days later when they heard of the delivery.

The couple said police beat them and robbed them of a gold necklace. Police also took Mrs Siri-on's ID card and recorded her age as 19 instead of 17. As a youth of 17, she would be entitled to different treatment.

Pol Maj Kriangsak told the court the couple were arrested for stealing computers but he could not conclude the investigation in time.

He insisted Mrs Siri-on had no ID card on her and they had not argued over her age. However, he admitted he was wrong for failing to conclude the case in time, allowing the statute of limitations to lapse, and in not seeking court approval for the last 18 days of detention. Mr Pradol, the lawyer, said another male suspect had been treated similarly and he was looking for ways to get him released.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/06Nov2004_news06.php

[stumonster]

would not expect anything less from a highly trained , non corrupt ( october 30th has passed ) police force.

wonder how many other poor souls are locked up under similar circumstances across the country.

[tuky]

disgusting

[English Noodles]

Yes this treatment is unaceptaple and should not be allowed to go unpunished, nore should stealing laptop computers from a small shop.

[Ajarn]

The Major was fired and is facing criminal and civil charges. What a terrible story, especially about having to birth the baby in her cell with no medical aid during or after...

[bodypaul]

And this is what they do to their own people!!

What chance do Farangs have?

[sbk]

I am not surprised, my husband's cousin was arrested for murder and "confessed" after some serious "encouragement" from the police, shall we say. When it came time for court he retracted his confession saying it had been coerced. They then proceeded to hold him for nearly 6 months more (after having already been in jail for over a year). During this space of time his father died of cancer and he wasn't allowed out to visit or to go to the funeral. He wrote us asking for help, he needed toothpaste and a toothbrush and some shoes (since his father was ill and dying the family hadn't been able to get anything to him on the mainland). Eventually, after nearly 2 years in jail, they dropped the charges. Absolutely amazing. Certainly scares the heck out of me!

Good to hear the Major is up on criminal charges, lets hope they stick, HA! There is some optimistic thinking on my part

[Phil Conners]

Another incident worth reporting to Amnesty International.