Authorities offer help to family who allege lawyer stole court-ordered award

[rooster59]

Authorities offer help to family who allege lawyer stole court-ordered award

By The Nation

 

 

Authorities are rushing to help a family that was deeply hurt by a 2005 road accident and claims to have lost most of the Bt4 million compensation to a deceitful lawyer.

 

This lawyer looks set to face legal and ethical actions from agencies. 

 

Porntip Chantharat, 44, revealed on Thursday that a pro-bono lawyer had cheated the family out of Bt4 million in compensation money they received after a 2005 road accident left her 14-year-old daughter Pattarada “Beam” Kaewpong with serious spinal injuries.

 

Porntip’s husband was killed in the accident and “Beam” may never walk again and is confined to a wheelchair.

 

Yesterday, a team from the Rights and Liberties Protection Department contacted Porntip and her wheelchair-bound daughter. 

 

“We have now guided the family about their legal rights and where to seek help,” the department’s director general Pitikarn Sithidej said. “We are also prepared to write to relevant authorities to ensure they can receive medical assistance.”

 

In 2014, a court ordered the truck owner to pay Bt4 million compensation to her family. Porntip says that her lawyer persuaded her to sign papers assigning him to handle everything for her, because he said it would not be convenient for her to pick up monthly compensation payments herself. She agreed but ended up getting just a little over Bt200,000. 

 

“I lodged a complaint against him with the Bang Yi Khan Police Station in 2015,” Porntip said.

 

She said the lawyer then contacted her to negotiate and offered to pay her Bt1 million within three days if she withdrew the complaint. Porntip believed him, did what he requested, and has never received the money. 

 

“I hope some government agencies will be able to help me. I cannot work. Both my legs are always in pain because of that accident. I am dependent on painkillers. My daughter needs treatment. We need money,” she said.

 

Porntip said she and her wheelchair-bound daughter now make a living by selling goods at a temple in Nonthaburi province. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn said he had instructed Bang Yi Khan Police Station’s superintendent Attawoot Niwatsopon to determine how to pursue legal actions against the lawyer. 

 

Due to legal restrictions, those who have already withdrawn the complaint are unable to file a similar complaint based on the same alleged offence unless they have new evidence. 

 

“We will try to help even though she has already withdrawn the complaint against the lawyer,” Sanit said.

 

Sanit also asked relevant authorities to consider revoking the licence of the allegedly deceitful lawyer. 

 

Tareerat Yoambutr from the Justice Fund Office said her office would provide legal help as well as legal expenses related to court battles if Porntip sued the lawyer. 

 

“We will help in whatever way we can under the law,” she said. 

 

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has also |contacted Porntip, offering her help. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30319590

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-01

[Samui Bodoh]

"First, kill all the lawyers"

 

Bill Shakespeare

 

 

Edited July 1, 2017 by Samui Bodoh

[z42]

This guy is an utter scumbag.. The only way the authorities can compensate this girl is get all the money and interest asap, and ensure this filthy scrotum of a lawyer gets double digits in jail and has to wear a huge sign around his neck saying what he's in for every day he is inside.

I hope this brave young lady Beam can enjoy a better quality of life in future with the money she deserves. I seriously hope the authorities and society at large come good on this

[nausea]

It takes only one lawyer to change your lightbulb to his lightbulb.

[gamini]

It is not only in Thailand that lawyers are real scumbags. My grandfather on  my mothers side, a wealthly self made man left all his money to the familly lawyer.  He was senile and by the time the court sentenced him to jail, he had spent all the money. 

[Cadbury]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“We will help in whatever way we can under the law,” she said. 

Get PM Prayut to place the curse of Article 44 on him. That usually works.

There's not much left in Thailand that hasn't got an Article 44 sticker on it.

[ChrisY1]

Very low ethics among the Thai legal fraternity....a degree means jack....notoriety and professionalism also means jack....many are scum and protected amongst the Thai professional lot....

Should be named and shamed now!

When people recommend a good lawyer....it's time to look elsewhere.

Edited July 1, 2017 by ChrisY1

[Tilacme]

I cant say how much I would like to see this "lawyer" made an example of by good Thai justice. Lady Beam should be given everything he has.

[williamgeorgeallen]

pretty simple solution. get the lawyer. hope he is feeling the heat. seems lawyers are impossible to bring to justice, guess they know the system.

[mok199]

never let a sad story go to waste...im sure someone will jump all over this photo opp..

[Artisi]

19 minutes ago, mok199 said:

never let a sad story go to waste...im sure someone will jump all over this photo opp..

Sad story, it's a travesty of justice by the scum bag lawyer and the BIB for no real follow up. 

[Artisi]

What a load of crap, withdrew the complaint but the scumbag didn't fulfil his part of the agreement. 

[JAG]

You know why sharks never bite lawyers?

 

Professional courtesy...

 

I really hope she gets her money back.