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Hit And Run – Is The Proof In The Photo?

By admin on June 24, 2011 in Thailand / no comments / 431 views

Yesterday I posted that the case involving Thailand Colonel Saksit Phuklan was getting stranger and stranger. Is he a patsy covering up for someone of higher rank? It seems that no one, including the Thai Police, believe his story.

Thailand The Nation Photo Belligerent Mood

Yesterday, after turning himself in three days ago (and being released with no bail), Thailand Colonel Saksit Phuklan produced the above photo showing Major (Doctor) Hathaiporn Imwittaya in a “Belligerent Mood”. The Colonel insists that this proves he was at the restaurant, got into the argument, and when Major (Doctor) Hathaiporn Imwittaya jumped on his car, he reversed and she fell and injured herself.

So, why did it take three days to produce the photo? Did it take that long for someone to teach the Thailand Colonel how to transfer a photo from one phone to another? Doesn’t he have bluetooth? Does he really think that this picture is going to save his ass?

The Thailand Police, according to an article in The Nation, are warning the Colonel to tell the truth.

The colonel who confessed to having caused serious injuries to a female doctor will face perjury charges if he is found to be protecting the real culprit, Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander MajGeneral Wichai Sangprapai said yesterday.

Why? Because they don’t friggin’ believe him!

“At this point, we don’t believe his statement,” the senior police officer said.

OK, The Thailand Police BIG BOSS Major General doesn’t believe this guy. Neither does anyone on Planet Earth. Well, maybe his wife and kid do.

Speaking of the Thailand Colonel’s wife, the Thailand Police finally got around to questioning her yesterday.

Meanwhile, Saksit’s wife, Sapawan, showed up at the police station yesterday to provide more information on the case. Wichai said she looked very worried, but stood by her husband’s version of the story.

Ah, the good Thailand wife – stand by your man – right or wrong. And, don’t speak to the press.

But, the Thailand Police are moving at a snail’s pace questioning everyone.

“We will summon her daughter and her daughter’s friend to provide statements soon,” he added, suggesting that police officers would most probably interrogate them in the next couple of days. Both girls were present when Hathaiporn was allegedly run over.

Now, since the Thailand Colonel has been free during all of this, without having to post any bail since he turned himself in, I am sure that he has gone over this cockamamie story with the kiddies over and over and over to make sure that they get it right.

And, we now have our first reporting by the Thailand Bangkok Post that the mom of the Doctor was actually at the scene.

Korsalang Wannarospak, a cousin of Dr Hathaiporn, yesterday quoted Dr Pannakorn, the injured doctor’s mother, as saying that she left the scene of the argument when the confrontation started to escalate.

The car driver lowered his window and Dr Pannakorn saw his face, which was not Col Saksit’s, Mr Korsalang said.

The Thailand Bangkok Post also reported on the photo:

Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangprapai, chief of Metropolitan Police Division 1, said the picture from Col Saksit’s phone was an important piece of evidence.

Police asked Col Saksit to show his credit card slip to prove that his family had dined near Dr Hathaiporn’s house.

Hopefully someone from Thailand Police Forensics can determine when the photo, the “important piece of evidence”, was added to the phone and if the photo was actually taken with the Colonel’s phone. A credit card slip was asked for so I am guessing that the Thailand Colonel said he used plastic to pay for his bill – but – not having the slip proves nothing as it could have just been tossed in the trash.

I haven’t seen any mention of the Thailand Police confronting the Colonel on the camera surveillance footage – which totally proves the Thailand Colonel is not telling the truth.

Now, let’s see. The accident happened on June 11th, the story was all over the Thailand newspapers and Thailand TV early morning of June 21st, and the Colonel “Surrendered” the same day. Three days later and the Thai Police haven’t gotten around to questioning two of the witnesses that were supposedly in the car when all this happened.

But – everything is well in Thai Policeland:

However, their investigation has made “good” progress as they have eyewitnesses, forensic evidence, and recordings from security cameras.

Since the Thai Police have all of this, why is Colonel Saksit Phuklan still free to walk around? If he is guilty, arrest him. If he is covering up, arrest the real driver of the vehicle.

And, The Nation, still reports that, if charged, the Thailand Colonel will go to a military court – which makes absolutely no sense. Hit and Run or perjury should still be in Civilian Court. If he broke some code of military justice, like Conduct Unbecoming Of An Officer, then yes, he should go to a military court – but only for that infraction.