Thai cop who drove on bridge killing girlfriend to face negligent driving charge

[webfact]

Thai cop who drove on bridge killing girlfriend to face negligent driving charge


Image: Daily News

BANGKOK:-- The Lat Prao police officer who drove illegally on the Bhumibol Bridge on Tuesday resulting in the death of his girlfriend is to face three charges.

But he is unlikely to be drummed out of the force, reports Daily News.

Officer Chaiyan Thongkhamchum drove his big bike on the bridge despite a ban. He lost control and his girlfriend on the back came off and was run over and killed by a lorry coming up behind.

It was reported earlier in the week that he then discharged his gun in the air before apparently trying to kill himself and being saved by friends also out with him.

The bike and the gun had been taken in as evidence while officer Chaiyan presented himself to investigators yesterday.

Acting police chief Sanit Mahathaworn revealed to reporters that Chaiyan would face a charge of negligent driving causing death. This can result in a prison term of up to ten years. He also said that he would be charged with illegally riding on the bridge and also face police disciplinary action. This could be imprisonment and or loss of pay and rank but would likely not result in his removal from the force.


Many angry Thai posters online said that he should be sacked from the force. Others asked why he was not facing charges for discharging his gun.

Source: Daily News


-- 2016-04-28

[daveAustin]

500 baht fine. Next.

[NongKhaiKid]

If he's a junior officer what rank can he lose ?

Discharging a firearm without reason isn't considered ?

IF, big if, he appears in court and is convicted he still won't be fired ?

[Bluespunk]

"Acting police chief Sanit Mahathaworn revealed to reporters that Chaiyan would face a charge of negligent driving causing death. This can result in a prison term of up to ten years."

Hands up those who think it will...

[thesetat2013]

Facing disciplinary actions hehee... What a joke! When a police officer breaks the laws he is supposed to be enforcing then he needs to be treated as the criminal he is. Especially when his actions directly result in the death of an innocent. By the RTP not treating him as such, they are condoning his actions and his flagrant violations of their own laws. Ohhh, but this is Thailand and his remorse will let him off the hook for getting his woman killed and for all the other laws he broke.

[NongKhaiKid]

"Acting police chief Sanit Mahathaworn revealed to reporters that Chaiyan would face a charge of negligent driving causing death. This can result in a prison term of up to ten years."

Hands up those who think it will...

I hear Max Bygraves ' You Need ' ainds '. Sorry can't type in Cockney, something to do with ' ainds

Edited April 28, 2016 by NongKhaiKid

[bangkokfrog]

For me the big unanswered question is: What were the results of his drug and alcohol tests? Surely they were collected as part of standard procedure? (I ask with a cheek full of tongue!!)

[doremifasol]

How difficult is to understand that, most police men are not afraid of being sacked,

they have nothing to lose so they just don't care.

Same principle applies to students not being afraid of failing .

[leeneeds]

Esteem of being a police officer is on a spiralling

course to the deepest depths of a low life form in society

here,

two lists on a piece of paper margined by

good / bad

+ -

+ -

-

-

-

-

when you see it in written form, it sure does not give a sense

of well being in a cohesive society.

[jaltsc]

Obviously there are different standards when it comes to enforcing laws. Nothing new here.

"The police are not here to create disorder, they're here to preserve disorder."

- Richard J. Daley

[little mary sunshine]

BIB. I can do anything I want...

[Strangebrew]

How can they honestly not fire for breaking laws that he was to enforce he can't say he didn't know it was wrong to do that. Bet lorry driver is charged with murder. After all he was the one who ran over his girlfriend with lorry thus killing her.

[craigt3365]

Incredible. You are suppose to uphold and abide by the laws of this nation. You break several, resulting in the death of somebody, and you're not fired? Unreal.

[Srikcir]

Chaiyan would face a charge of negligent driving causing death.

And yet no charge was made against Janepob Verraporn who recently caused the highway deaths of a couple after hitting their car at 240 kilometers (150 miles) per hour. Police said a charge of homocide against Janepob didn't apply because he didn't intentionally kill the couple.

The difference between Chaiyan and Janepob? The latter is from a wealthy and well-connected family.

The commonality between the two? Inconsistent and biased law enforcement.

[landslide]

For me the big unanswered question is: What were the results of his drug and alcohol tests? Surely they were collected as part of standard procedure? (I ask with a cheek full of tongue!!)

Unfortunately, it is not just in Thailand that police look out for their own (though it is much more prevalent). Here in the states, in Oregon to be precise, this week a sheriff's officer driving a government vehicle off duty, was in a high speed accident, with the vehicle ending up on its roof. Witnesses stated that the officer appearred drunk, and was driving erratically. Responding officers did not arrest him after his being checked out at the hospital. He was given a citation and driven home. A civilian in the same situation would have been immediately breathelized, and then following a medical exam, would have spent the night in the drunk tank. The sheriff's department is now on the defensive for its handling of the case.

[Baerboxer]

"Acting police chief Sanit Mahathaworn revealed to reporters that Chaiyan would face a charge of negligent driving causing death. This can result in a prison term of up to ten years."

Hands up those who think it will...

And no mention of discharging his firearm. Well, they do have to buy their own bullets you know, so they're his property anyway really.

Interesting though, he's being charged with negligent driving causing death. Seems reasonable given the circumstances.

Has the Mr. Rich luxury car business owner who killed two innocents in a much bigger example of causing death through negligent driving been charged appropriately?

Ah, but he's only a junior officer.

[Baerboxer]

How difficult is to understand that, most police men are not afraid of being sacked,

they have nothing to lose so they just don't care.

Same principle applies to students not being afraid of failing .

Students fail......?

Yep. They certainly do. I know several who have.

[JeremyBowskill]

so IF he got that magic 10 stretch, does he still keep his job?

[kimamey]

How can they honestly not fire for breaking laws that he was to enforce he can't say he didn't know it was wrong to do that. Bet lorry driver is charged with murder. After all he was the one who ran over his girlfriend with lorry thus killing her.

I expect the lorry driver will suffer emotionally for a very long time. It may stop him working for many years as well.

[Rykbanlor]

For me the big unanswered question is: What were the results of his drug and alcohol tests? Surely they were collected as part of standard procedure? (I ask with a cheek full of tongue!!)

Unfortunately, it is not just in Thailand that police look out for their own (though it is much more prevalent). Here in the states, in Oregon to be precise, this week a sheriff's officer driving a government vehicle off duty, was in a high speed accident, with the vehicle ending up on its roof. Witnesses stated that the officer appearred drunk, and was driving erratically. Responding officers did not arrest him after his being checked out at the hospital. He was given a citation and driven home. A civilian in the same situation would have been immediately breathelized, and then following a medical exam, would have spent the night in the drunk tank. The sheriff's department is now on the defensive for its handling of the case.

They only look out for their own when it suits them. The cop that was killed by the Red Bull heir was pretty much dumped on, no justice for him, his buddies were soon placated by monetary gain. I guess his relatives were as well though, so....hmmm.

[Rykbanlor]

so IF he got that magic 10 stretch, does he still keep his job?

That seems to be the suggestion made by Acting police chief Sanit: May be fined and jailed, but it's unlikely this will result in ejection from the force!

Realllllly? It's fascinating how difficult it is to get kicked out of the police here.

[macksview]

so sad for the young lady, her family, the truck driver.

hopefully this policeman will feel real guilt.

[Nobb]

another disgrace to the Thai police force for not charging this Thai cop with all the charges he should be charged with. Gun and killing but still allowed to be on police force. Must be another nephew of the PM. No law and order in Thailand!~ Did they test him for drugs or alcohol. Sorry they only do that to tourist on the street or in Discos!

Edited April 28, 2016 by Nobb

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

driving on the bridge is a stupid ban anyway.

However they should charge him with D​UI and involuntary manslaughter as he was likely drunk off his ass.