Video of Police Slapping Murder-Rape Suspect Causes Stir

By Khaosod English

Wanchai Saengkhao, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) employee who police say confessed to raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl on a night train on 6 July. [July 8, 2014].

BANGKOK A video of a police officer smacking a rape and murder suspect during his interrogation has highlighted divisions in Thai society over how rape crimes should be punished.

In the four-second video, which first surfaced on social media on 9 July, a police officer can be seen assaulting Wanchai Saengkhao, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) employee who police say confessed to raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl on a night train on 6 July.

Many commentators on social media have applauded the action depicted in the video, arguing that Mr. Wanchai deserves much more than a smack or two for his alleged crime.

"I am so tired of these beautiful-world and human rights people who defend this animal from hell," one commentator wrote. "If the person who was raped were your relative, will you really do nothing? Even though I am not her relative, I want to stamp this [snip] monster to death under my feet."

Outrage over the rape and death of the 13-year-old girl has recently ignited an online campaign for punishing convicted rapists with the death penalty. Under current Thai laws, those convicted of rape can face 5-20 years in prison.

However, the video has also raised concerns among some that Mr. Wanchais confession may have obtained under duress; Thai police have a history of coercing suspects to confess during interrogation.

"We have to respect laws," wrote another commentator. "Don't use our affection or disaffection to judge. A police officer hurting a suspect [like this] could be considered a criminal case as well."

Mr. Wanchai is currently being detained at Prachuap Kiri Khan Provincial Prison. Prison officials said Mr. Wanchai will be under special watch to prevent him from committing suicide or being assaulted by other inmates after a rape suspect was beaten to death in prison yesterday.

Police have charged Mr. Wanchai with murder, sexual assault, theft, and drug abuse.

Meanwhile, the case also took a supernatural turn, with mother of the victim reportedly claiming that she was visited in her dreams by her dead daughter.

According to a report on Matichon, the victim's mother said her daughter has informed her that Mr. Wanchai wasn't the only suspect, and that "there were many people" who killed her.

The victim also claimed to continue to haunt the train where she was murdered, her mother said.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1405062365

-- Khaosod English 2014-07-11

Don't see any problem here!!

for me it looks more like beating on the head, than slapping.

slapping is with an open hand on a skin, this one is violently punching on the back head, so it moves.

surely, a case for an officer dismissal. Firstly, for beating a detainee, secondly for recording it on his mobile and publishing online. Breach of regulations.

defense lawyer might use it in the court case as intimidation

Attention getter..

defense lawyer might use it in the court case as intimidation ...

thai police can be total idiots...never thinking of what if, stupid thing to do

spot on

To every who wants lynch justice. Maybe you prefer interrogation style like around 200 years ago where it was kind of normally to be tortured and confessions were forced. Think about how many thousands or even millions of people in our history were killed in lynch justice.

I don't want to play down what this man did. But violence ends in violence... the police has no right to torture suspects and humans fought many decades or even centuries for this victory...

one way to get a confession

I'd have done worse. Maybe shoot him!

To every who wants lynch justice. Maybe you prefer interrogation style like around 200 years ago where it was kind of normally to be tortured and confessions were forced. Think about how many thousands or even millions of people in our history were killed in lynch justice.

I don't want to play down what this man did. But violence ends in violence... the police has no right to torture suspects and humans fought many decades or even centuries for this victory...

You are right of course they should stick to internationally recognized methods...like waterboarding.

Well this could certainly help the suspects defence , not a smart move to film it.

Nice to see how many people are out there and crying for democracy but raise their hand for lynch justice, I could probably get everyone to confess a murder with torture even if he or she hasn't committed the crime. Achievements in human rights are going down and society slowly falls back to cavemen style, what a wonderful future.

Don't see any problem here!!

Agree, and he can count himself lucky it was only a slap.

Attention getter..

Looked like he had gone to sleep.

Wake up you still haven't finished answering the questions.

Wonder at what point in the questioning the slap was delivered ?

If it was after he had told them how he had raped the girl and chucked her out the window then it would be quite understandable for the cop to be disgusted enough to give him a whack, particularly if the cop had girls of his own.

Don't look like it did the rapist any harm.

I see a big problem here,a police officer should never use violence if it is not justified.

If the officer was angry he should not have gone near the suspect,this video can do some damage in the court room.

The police are there to arrest and detain and even interrogate but it has to be strictly by the book.

The court will and should decide if some one is guilty or not.

All you tough guys will be the first to complain if you feel il treated.

Lets hope for Thailand this high profile case will be treated in a very professional manner.

People are watching.

That was a light slap too. Not as much force as I have seen some use on their own children when they are way out of line and this guy was way, way, way out of line and the cop was older too, looks like normal human behavior to me, could have been lots worse if somewhere else. Thais are such gentle people.

Put him in a cell with big bubba, let him enjoy the time together, then choke him and toss him out the wondow.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I would also say they should interrogate him again and find out if there is any reality to the message from beyond about there being others involved..

Attention getter..

Looked like he had gone to sleep.

Wake up you still haven't finished answering the questions.

Wonder at what point in the questioning the slap was delivered ?

If it was after he had told them how he had raped the girl and chucked her out the window then it would be quite understandable for the cop to be disgusted enough to give him a whack, particularly if the cop had girls of his own.

Don't look like it did the rapist any harm.

I've seen worse by Thai teachers, in Thai classrooms.. this is nothing.

Edit: A video of them cropping off his tosser would well be worth distribution.

Attention getter..

Looked like he had gone to sleep.

Wake up you still haven't finished answering the questions.

Wonder at what point in the questioning the slap was delivered ?

If it was after he had told them how he had raped the girl and chucked her out the window then it would be quite understandable for the cop to be disgusted enough to give him a whack, particularly if the cop had girls of his own.

Don't look like it did the rapist any harm.

I've seen worse by Thai teachers, in Thai classrooms.. this is nothing.

Edit: A video of them cropping off his tosser would well be worth distribution.

i understand the feelings of the police officer and the cyber lynch mob, but in many court systems in the western world such treatment and a video to prove it on the internet could lead to this guy walking.

I have heard all sorts of stories about Thai police using electric cattle prods on the testicles...

Does this police station not have an electric cattle prod?

If not can we get one sent up there.

Don't see any problem here!!

Except that the guy is just a suspect!

If he's done what they think he's done, he deserves more than a slap or a 25 years behind the bars, but there hasn't been a conviction yet.

Don't see any problem here!!

Except that the guy is just a suspect!

If he's done what they think he's done, he deserves more than a slap or a 25 years behind the bars, but there hasn't been a conviction yet.

He confessed.

Nice to see how many people are out there and crying for democracy but raise their hand for lynch justice, I could probably get everyone to confess a murder with torture even if he or she hasn't committed the crime. Achievements in human rights are going down and society slowly falls back to cavemen style, what a wonderful future.

Calling for lynch justice is an occurrence in every country developed, undeveloped, etc... When a nation is horrified by a revolting crime. Not sure about who's shouting for democracy. And as for us all going back to some Mad Max Apocalyptic cave-man existence. Mate you need a beer. Cheer up yeh miserable old sod.

I would much rather they used an iron bar but then I am prejadiced, these animals deserve whatever they get, the worse the better as far as I am concerened, These do gooders have no idea of the pain when your daughter is raped and murdered by scum like this, lets see how forgiving they are when they find their daughter in the same way.

Don't see any problem here!!

Except that the guy is just a suspect!

If he's done what they think he's done, he deserves more than a slap or a 25 years behind the bars, but there hasn't been a conviction yet.

What you really mean is "If he has done what he has confessed to have done and if the DNA test at present being done are positive......"

This so called suspect has already told the police he did it, he has told them how he did I, he has shown them how he did it, he told a friend he did it, he showed the friend the girls phone which he took when he killed her, he sold the phone which was then traced to the buyer who told the police who he bought it from.

With the pending DNA evidence, should it be positive, that would seem very compelling evidence.

I somehow doubt a slap on the head could mitigate that amount of evidence

His defense so far appears to be that he had been drinking and taking drugs.

.

Another reason why these idiotic re-enactments don't need to occur.

The guy is lower than scum. Do what you like to him, just don't do it in public. Get him to court, death sentence and off you go. Bear in mind, aside from the rape. He murdered someone. Murder in Thailand often carries the death penalty. For a country with such a huge sex and prostiutiton industry to be debating the death penalty for rape is a little odd. I think there are far greater social issues to be solved than executing rapists.

one way to get a confession

Regardless of innocence or guilt.

Though in this case it does seem he is guilty.

However.....

Another reason why these idiotic re-enactments don't need to occur.

The guy is lower than scum. Do what you like to him, just don't do it in public. Get him to court, death sentence and off you go. Bear in mind, aside from the rape. He murdered someone. Murder in Thailand often carries the death penalty. For a country with such a huge sex and prostiutiton industry to be debating the death penalty for rape is a little odd. I think there are far greater social issues to be solved than executing rapists.

No social issues need discussing at all. He's a scumbag who admitted raping a 13-yr old girl. Deserves a bullet or a rope immediately. End of story.

I see a big problem here,a police officer should never use violence if it is not justified.

If the officer was angry he should not have gone near the suspect,this video can do some damage in the court room.

The police are there to arrest and detain and even interrogate but it has to be strictly by the book.

The court will and should decide if some one is guilty or not.

All you tough guys will be the first to complain if you feel il treated.

Lets hope for Thailand this high profile case will be treated in a very professional manner.

People are watching.

No problems with this. We have a Thai court, so the verdict has already been arrived at. This guy is no Moo Hamm or "Little rich girl"

Attention getter..

Looked like he had gone to sleep.

Wake up you still haven't finished answering the questions.

Wonder at what point in the questioning the slap was delivered ?

If it was after he had told them how he had raped the girl and chucked her out the window then it would be quite understandable for the cop to be disgusted enough to give him a whack, particularly if the cop had girls of his own.

Don't look like it did the rapist any harm.

I've seen worse by Thai teachers, in Thai classrooms.. this is nothing.

Edit: A video of them cropping off his tosser would well be worth distribution.

i understand the feelings of the police officer and the cyber lynch mob, but in many court systems in the western world such treatment and a video to prove it on the internet could lead to this guy walking.

Yep in Australia a good, well a $10 lawyer would have this guy out on bail now and the chance of conviction is totally blown. Confession under duress. Handcuffed behind his back and slapped/beaten.

What is wrong with the BIB and their want to have the media present at everything. Pack of morons.