Khunying Pornthip - Groovy Dr Death

[astral]

Groovy Dr Death

Her hair, with bursts of crimson highlights, is a wild mane of gelled artistry. Bangles, bracelets and charms, in sliver and red beads, adorn both arms. Her get up is Gothic, black top with fuschia sleeves, black pants with a wraparound skirt.

Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan is Thailand's most outspoken and famous forensic expert. Dr Death as she is popularly known, is mobbed wherever she goes. In the eyes of the public she is part teacher, part crusader, part rock star.

The Thai authorities, especially the police, regard her as a nuisance. Her findings in many murder cases often contradict theirs. In some cases she has proved their involvement!

Gangsters routinely intimidate her and the country's Muslim leaders have put a price on her head. She is probably the only forensic scientist in the world to travel with four bodyguards.

The eldest of four children of scientist parents, she first came under media attention nearly 5 years ago when one of her students was murdered. The police claimed the victim was killed by muggers. Dr Pornthip, however, examined the victim's skull and and proved the student was murdered by her rich boyfriend.

She was also instrumental in getting the murder case of Thai millionaire MP Hangthong Thammawattana reopened. The MP was discovered dead from a gunshot wound and police ruled that he had committed suicide. Her findings, however suggest that the police had concealed evidence. She says: “The position of the gun, the body and the blood stains -- I believe is was murder.” The case was re-opened in 2003 and still has not been resolved. Earlier last month, a man who claims to be an ex-convict, admitted to the crime.

She has received death threats over the case.

She is devout Buddhist, who was honoured by the Thai Medical Council in 1999 for instilling moral values in her students.

For her contributions to Thai society the King bestowed the title of Khunying, the highest honour given to a woman, on Dr Pornthip in 2003.

She single handedly set up a Central Institute for Forensic Science, an independent laboratory where she is now deputy director. She is ###### bent on setting up a Missing Persons Bureau, to help explain the 6,000 or more controversial deaths that occur each year in Thailand. These deaths are assessed by police forensic doctors, instead of independent coroners, who have full say over whether any charges will be pressed.

More recently the Thai government presented her with the Outstanding Defender of Human Rights Award for her work with victim's of last year's tsunami.

She was one of the first to arrive in Phang Nga with her team to identify the nearly 5000 people killed by the wave. However Thai police stirred up a controversy several weeks later by saying her victim identification procedures were not up to international Standards. They took over the operation.

She says calmly: “They say I did not do a a good job. It's true. Why? Because I did not have any help. For three weeks I worked with my team in Phang Nga whilst everyone else was in Phuket. I was the only trained forensic pathologist. The others were just doctors doing the best they could.” “Why didn't the authorities send a trained team to help us earlier?”

Dr Pornthip is so popular that a recent Thai poll revealed that she would be a clear choice if Thailand were to have a female prime minister.

She says, “Politicians don't like me, because I am more popular than them. I don't have political ambitions. I just want to work as normal doctor.”

The Sunday Times

Singapore

1st May 2005

[taxexile]

i agree , for a public official , she stands out for her honest approach to her work , her determination to find the truth and her refusal to be intimidated.

attitudes like that are rare in the slop filled trough that is thai politics , justice and civil procedures.

with more people like her to inspire the younger generation here there is hope for the future of politics and public service here.

[mbkudu]

Not to mention she's as sexy as h*ll. An older women I'd love to ###### mercilessly,

in a dark dungeon with lots of chains and whips at hand .

[chuchok]

I think she rocks! Thank goodness HRH gave her a title to help protect her.

[mr_lob]

i worked along side Khun Porntip at the Wat Yan Yao Morgue. Truely amazing woman....we were physically drained after 4-5 hours, but she was there day and night. Good effort!

[pedro01]

Not to mention she's as sexy as h*ll. An older women I'd love to ###### mercilessly,

in a dark dungeon with lots of chains and whips at hand .

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sexy ??? Must be some airbrushing going on somewhere.

I met her in Osaka airport - I would advise a closer inspection.

Nice girl though.

[taxexile]

in a dark dungeon

that should hide the wrinkles!

[johnh101]

Not to mention she's as sexy as h*ll. An older women I'd love to ###### mercilessly,

in a dark dungeon with lots of chains and whips at hand .

I am with you on that one......well not with you,...s**t you know what I mean !

[devildog683]

kudos to this woman, more thais should follow her example

[Artisi]

If only more of those in charge had her foresight and moral ethics.

[The_Eye_Of_Sauron]

Not to mention she's as sexy as h*ll. An older women I'd love to ###### mercilessly,

I've seen her from about 2 feet away and I don't agree at all.

She is incredibly wizzened - with a sort of pre-cancerous look.

Apart from the barnet - she doesn't look good for her age.

[phuketsiam]

typical, this woman is amazing, maybe the most amazing woman in Thailand, and we reduced to her sex object in 6 posts, bet she was fit when she was younger tho

[taxexile]

She is incredibly wizzened - with a sort of pre-cancerous look.

not exactly a pre-cancerous look.

she was treated for breast (?) cancer a few years ago.

she doesn't look good for her age.

chemo has that effect on people.

Edited May 4, 2005 by taxexile

[Rhys]

Truly an Excellent role model for the fine female medical professionals in Thailand.. She can STick it to the " MEN" and they must bend over.. and take it. like.. the Muan Chon Son's of liberation.

She is a role model.. More shall follow her lead... unlike the Senator.

WORD UP

[bakachan]

according to a website i pulled up, she is being treated for thyroid and colon

cancer. sounds like an exceptional lady and is not half bad looking considering

what she's been through

[RDN]

[Jai Dee]

Update:

Defendant of Hangthong case taking legal actions against Khunying Porntip

The defendant in a controversial murder case of his brother and former Thai Citizen Party MP Hangthong Thammawattana, Mr. Noppadol Thammawattana, has filed a lawsuit against Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, the acting director of the Institute of Forensic Science, accusing her of giving false testimony. Mr. Noppadol also would like the government to help out the public members who have been mistreated by the state officials.

Mr. Noppadol also filed a lawsuit against Md. Thamrong Chirachariyavej, the physician who also performed Mr. Hangthong’s autopsy with Khunying Porntip. Mr. Noppadol also said he will also take a legal action against the two physicians for giving a false autopsy report of his brother at Nonthaburi Provincial Court. Following the criminal charges, he will file charges against them, demanding over one billion baht of damage. He said he believes his legal actions will act as a criterion for the government to protect people who have been treated badly by the state officials.

The court has accepted his case for consideration, and the plaintiffs will be summoned on May 14th at 9 AM.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 Febuary 2007

[hammered]

Update:

Defendant of Hangthong case taking legal actions against Khunying Porntip

The defendant in a controversial murder case of his brother and former Thai Citizen Party MP Hangthong Thammawattana, Mr. Noppadol Thammawattana, has filed a lawsuit against Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, the acting director of the Institute of Forensic Science, accusing her of giving false testimony. Mr. Noppadol also would like the government to help out the public members who have been mistreated by the state officials.

Mr. Noppadol also filed a lawsuit against Md. Thamrong Chirachariyavej, the physician who also performed Mr. Hangthong’s autopsy with Khunying Porntip. Mr. Noppadol also said he will also take a legal action against the two physicians for giving a false autopsy report of his brother at Nonthaburi Provincial Court. Following the criminal charges, he will file charges against them, demanding over one billion baht of damage. He said he believes his legal actions will act as a criterion for the government to protect people who have been treated badly by the state officials.

The court has accepted his case for consideration, and the plaintiffs will be summoned on May 14th at 9 AM.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 Febuary 2007

Oh not the famous Hangthong case that so many want to be labelled as suicide which kind of defies the evidence. The Thammawattana family of whom Hangthong was a memeber were right rich and also a political family linked to old Samak if I remember correctly.

If I remember correctly Dr. Pornthip assisted by others in a second autopsy identified the the case as one of murder. She also carefully explained why in terms of the evidence. This dispelled the first autopsy which had missed a lot of evidence and concluded suicide. A third autopsy was then held after the younger brother of Hangthong was looking in a spot of bother. The third autopsy concluded suicide and the ehad of the third one (Dr. Sawet?) made some comments about Dr. Pornthip being junior to those who carried out the third and some nationalistic comments. Dr. Pornthip responded by saying look at the evidence: autopsy, blood patterns etc etc. Outside observers generally stuck to the respected Dr. Pornthips theories. Of course accusations against let alone trials of wealthy influential politcal families are never things that seem to run smoothly in Thailand. Will this one run longer than the Sherry Ann Duncan case?

[Prudent_rabbit]

I atended the FCC when Khunying Porntip gave a fascinating insight into her career and problems, man one dedicated lady, the crap she has put up with, the passion she has for her job is only matched by her passion for the King, big kudos to her.

Her photos she brought (very very grusome) and the dialogue / stories that went along with it took the macabre / spookyness out of it (if you see what I mean) and made it a fascinating presentation.

[Tony Clifton]

Her career has been a constant struggle, tug of war with an extremely corrupt, mostly incompetent and useless police force. Too much of her time and efforts have been wasted because of it all.

Police refooooooorm!

[Briggsy]

Her career has been a constant struggle, tug of war with an extremely corrupt, mostly incompetent and useless police force. Too much of her time and efforts have been wasted because of it all.

Police refooooooorm!

I'll second that.

[Scott]

I think there is a deeper and more pertinent point to be seen in this lady's life. It has to do with something woefully lacking in the country and that is competence. When people are competent and good at their jobs, it's easy to stay focused and motivated.

When the basis is a good education, leading to a professional career and people who have been taught ethics about their careers, the outcome is people like this.

She is probably an outstanding lady in her own right and would probably have done well no matter what, but without those basics the outcome would have been different.

When I see a lot of the professionals in Thailand who have had these haphazard educations (police spring to mind, but there are some seriously lacking teachers, engineers and doctors as well), you can see why the country has trouble.

[kmart]

i agree , for a public official , she stands out for her honest approach to her work , her determination to find the truth and her refusal to be intimidated.

attitudes like that are rare in the slop filled trough that is thai politics , justice and civil procedures.

with more people like her to inspire the younger generation here there is hope for the future of politics and public service here.

Agreed wholeheartedly. She has ethics; education; dedication; and principles. I really admire this woman. If Thailand could produce more like her, it might climb out of the sludge one day. Here's hoping.

[bulmercke]

I have been following this case for years and to their credit - The Nation and The Post between them have managed to cover adequately the various twists and turns of this case.

Khunying Porntip is a true heroine - both conscientious and absolutely professional about her work. And undeniably truthful and sincere.

Noppadol Thammawattana is a pathological liar - the main rat in this incestuous saga of family greed and ruthlessness.

How dare he admonish and slur the character and reputation of khunying Porntip and the very qualified and dedicated professionals who supported her findings - forensic findings that were incontrovertible and proved conclusively that Noppadol was the murderer.

Why, again, has due process failed?

OUTRAGED BULMERCKE

[fruittbatt]

It is hard to add anything new to the great tributes to this brilliant woman. I'd like to salute her gutsiness, tireless work post-tsunami, for caring for her workers through that time, for never shirking dangerous or confronting situations with powerful authorities (police, puu yai eg.), and her punk/goth femininity with "attitude".

Khunying Pornthip's persona and courage remind me of the fictional character "Anil", forensic anthropologist in Michael Ondaatje's "Anil's Ghost". I wonder if the Khunying was a model for "Anil"?

[Jai Dee]

Update:

Noppadol calls on Medical Council to take action against Porntip

Noppadol Thammawattana Friday called on the Medical Council to take action against Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan for alleged breach of medical ethic related to the case of Hangthong Thammawattana.

Noppadol made the call after the Criminal Court acquitted him in the charge in which he was accused of masterminding the murder of his brother, Hangthong.

He was filed the charge against after Porntip, acting director of the Forensic Science Institute, performed an autopsy on Hangthong and concluded that Hangthong was murdered.

But the court Friday ruled that evidences pointed out that Hangthong committed suicide.

Noppadol said Porntip breached the medical ethic to help then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to have a reason to push for the enactment of Special Investigation Department bill.

Source: The Nation - 28 September 2007

[hammered]

Not much more can be said apart from an interesting decision by the court who seem to have been more influenced by the testement of lesser experts witnesses over far more renowned ones (at least in international circles) if they have said that the death was suicide. It will be interesting to read the full court decision on how they came to this conclusion.

[TAWP]

"the country's Muslim leaders have put a price on her head" - what is the story behind this?

[ratcatcher]

[attach

With the greatest respect, these are 4 women, that come to mind, with "Balls". If they were in charge of things here, most of the rats would sooner or later be cleared out of politics and other related areas.

There are gutless but powerful men who are scared of these women for what they stand for.

One is imprisoned by the cowardly Burmese junta, one is being hassled by Thai politicians and lawyers, one is pursuing a crooked Thai politician's 'assets', and one is running Germany.

Too bad they aren't all in Thailand.

Edited September 28, 2007 by ratcatcher

[Aussietraveller]

Khunying Pornthip is a role model for all thai's.

She does her job with great integrity, without fear of the police or others.

It is unfortunate that she is pursued by those with other agendas.

There was a documentary about her on Australian TV some time ago.

It featured the work she had done in the aftermath of the Tsunami, and the political criticism that was leveled at her.

It also looked at the forensic evidence in the Thammawattana case, and showed the problems that it caused her personally in making public her findings.

Her findings in the case were backed up by all qualified foreign experts who looked at the evidence presented.

The corruption and incompetence in the police force in Thailand was also highlighted.

I do not imagine that this program would be aired in Thailand.