D S I Probes Alleged Police Execution In Phuket

[webfact]

DSI probes alleged police execution in Phuket
Nattha Thepbamrung


Col Yannapon Yangyeun of the DSI (right) with forensics officers at the location of the shooting.

PHUKET: -- Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers yesterday (April 25) visited Suan Luang Park on Chao Fa Rd in Phuket Town, the site of an alleged extrajudicial killing by police four years ago.

The DSI investigation into the death of Ong-At Rodpradit, 32, comes after it received a complaint from the dead man’s father, Wichit, saying that he felt there were many suspicious aspects to the case, leading him to believe that his son was executed by police.

Pol Lt Col Yannapon Yangyeun, Deputy Director of the DSI went to the scene with a team from the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) to check the surroundings and assess possible bullet ranges and trajectories.

Ong-At was sought on charges of stealing a Buddha amulet while armed, and using a vehicle (both of which make the robbery more serious in Thai law). He was arrested when he and a friend tried to sell the amulet to a shop near the park.

Mr Wichit said he had received a call from a police officer telling him that his son had been arrested. At that time, he said, he understood the situation and thought that his son was probably guilty and deserved to be arrested.

But later the same day his daughter called him to say that Ong-At had been shot dead while resisting arrest. He felt there was something wrong about this.

When he, his wife and their daughter arrived at the scene of the shooting, he noticed that his son’s shirt and the SIM card from his phone were missing. Police said the shirt was being kept as evidence and that they had not found the SIM card.

Mr Wichit said his son’s body was covered in bruises; it looked as though he had been beaten up. He had been shot in the chest.

Lying on the ground, his son had his arms raised as if in surrender and the gun, in his right hand, was pointing at his own head. These points, Mr Wichit said, led him to the conclusion that his son did not resist arrest.

He added that the police did not seem to want to help him. He asked for a copy of the autopsy report but had still not received it, four years later.

Col Yannapon said after the visit to the park that the CIFS team will take all the evidence and information back to analysis in Bangkok and DSI officers will question anyone with links to the incident.

He also appealed for witnesses to the shooting to come forward, promising them that the DSI has an effective witness protection programme.

He added, however, that the DSI will be fair to both Mr Wichit and the police.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/dsi-probes-alleged-police-execution-in-phuket-38988.php


-- Phuket News 2013-04-26

[JetsetBkk]

He also appealed for witnesses to the shooting to come forward, promising them that the DSI has an effective witness protection programme.

Anyone brave enough to go against the police? I don't think so, witness protection or not.

[seajae]

hate to tell his dad but bruises dont show up that quick and when you fall over(especially after being shot) you arms fall into a different position to when you are standing up, more than likely he was beaten up by someone else the day/night before. Maybe the robbery was so he could pay back money he owed others, doesnt really matter though, anyone stupid enough to use a gun to rob people deserves what they get.

[mufcsamui]

hate to tell his dad but bruises dont show up that quick and when you fall over(especially after being shot) you arms fall into a different position to when you are standing up, more than likely he was beaten up by someone else the day/night before. Maybe the robbery was so he could pay back money he owed others, doesnt really matter though, anyone stupid enough to use a gun to rob people deserves what they get.

Who made you Judge and Jury

[Locationthailand]

Any evidence against police would be bad for your health.

[bendywire]

Any evidence should be posted onto the new police Facebook page in Phuket and it will be disposed of in the correct manner.

[deesamui]

Any evidence should be posted onto the new police Facebook page in Phuket and it will be disposed of in the correct manner.

correct manner? you wanna go skydiving without parachute!

[timewilltell]

Do the DSI every actually get to the end of anything? I never seem to hear of the end result of any investigation. Come to that pretty much any investigation by central bodies seems to be either abandoned before conclusion once they uncover some high ranking involvement or just fizzle away. Maybe I am just cynical or maybe these things are a complete waste of time. Mind you if this is the same guy who was taking advice from the Tuk Tuk mafia complaining of foreigners picking up friends and family at the airport and the restaurant owner miffed he could not take a defamation action against a foreigner who marked his tourist restaurant down in a review then I guess there is little more to say really.

[Arkady]

Do the DSI every actually get to the end of anything? I never seem to hear of the end result of any investigation. Come to that pretty much any investigation by central bodies seems to be either abandoned before conclusion once they uncover some high ranking involvement or just fizzle away. Maybe I am just cynical or maybe these things are a complete waste of time. Mind you if this is the same guy who was taking advice from the Tuk Tuk mafia complaining of foreigners picking up friends and family at the airport and the restaurant owner miffed he could not take a defamation action against a foreigner who marked his tourist restaurant down in a review then I guess there is little more to say really.

The DSI is quite effective at recommending that foreigners should write good reviews of restaurants, even if they have no way to communicate with the waiters who can't speak their language, as long as they are sure the restaurants are wholly owned and operated by Thai citizens.

[seajae]

hate to tell his dad but bruises dont show up that quick and when you fall over(especially after being shot) you arms fall into a different position to when you are standing up, more than likely he was beaten up by someone else the day/night before. Maybe the robbery was so he could pay back money he owed others, doesnt really matter though, anyone stupid enough to use a gun to rob people deserves what they get.

Who made you Judge and Jury

The last part is a what if but the first part is correct, I am not saying this is whay happened but you cannot go on the bruising and position of his arms as evidence, thats just a fact.

[belg]

the father, same as half of TV posters seem to be all medical examinators

[Phronesis]

Murder's here are seldom investigated successfully when the evidence is only hours old.

Any hope to resolve a case after 4 years is delusional..