Killer cops face execution: 3 get death penalty for 'war on drugs' murder

[Khun Don]

Killer cops face execution
3 get death penalty for 'war on drugs' murder

Published: 31/07/2012 at 02:21 AM
Newspaper section: News

Three police officers were sentenced to death yesterday for the 2004 murder of a 17-year-old during the Thaksin Shinawatra government's war on drugs.

Kiattisak Thitboonkrong, of Kalasin province, was arrested in July 2004 for alleged motorcycle theft, but he was found hanged from the ceiling of a hut in Roi Et's Chang Han district days after being released from Muang Kalasin police station.

His relatives suspected the teenager was a victim of extra-judicial killing, which was widespread during the war on drugs campaign between 2003 and 2005.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) accepted the case and pressed charges of premeditated murder against six police officers attached to Muang Kalasin police station.

The Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok read out the verdict on the case yesterday, sentencing three of the police officers to death, one to life imprisonment and another to a seven-year prison sentence. The sixth defendant was acquitted.

Angkhan Khammoonna, Sutthinan Nonthing, and Phansin Uppanan _ all holding the rank of senior sergeant major _ were sentenced to death for premeditated murder and hiding a corpse.

Pol Lt Col Sumit Nunsathit was sentenced to life imprisonment for premeditated murder, while Pol Col Montri Boonlue was sentenced to seven years in jail for abuse of authority to help protect his subordinates from prosecution.

The only defendant who was acquitted was Pol Snr Sgt Maj Samphao Indee.

Pol Snr Sgt Maj Samphao made a telephone call to arrange Kiattisak's release on bail on the day he was freed. The court ruled that the policeman merely performed his duty and did not believe he was involved in the murder.

Kiattisak's aunt Pikul Prohmchan, grandmother Sa Thitboonkhrong and other family members showed up at the court room to listen to the verdict.

Thaksin launched the controversial war on drugs in 2003 under his policy to rid the country of narcotics during his tenure as prime minister. The campaign, however, resulted in extra-judicial killings of more than 2,500 suspects.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), led by then-commissioner Wasant Panich, conducted an inquiry into Kiattisak's death and reported its findings in 2006.

One of the NHRC's recommendations was for the government to provide some remedial measures to Kiattisak's family as he had died at the hands of police officers.

In 2005, the DSI accepted Kiattisak's death as a special case and, on Sept 9, 2009, the public prosecutor decided to charge the six suspects.

Ms Pikul said she was happy justice had been served but expressed disappointment that one of the defendants was set free.

"Pol Snr Sgt Maj Samphao Indee was overseeing Muang Kalasin police station because his boss, Pol Col Montri Boonlue, was not on duty the day Kiattisak was released," Ms Pikul said.

"Pol Snr Sgt Maj Samphao contacted an insurer to guarantee Kiatttisak's release despite our family's plan to do so in the next few days.

"If he hadn't been so hurriedly released, my nephew would not have disappeared and been killed by the police. But this defendant was set free."

Solicitor Ratsada Manooratsada said Kiattisak's relatives would appeal against Pol Snr Sgt Maj Samphao's acquittal.

Ms Pikul said she would call on the Yingluck Shinawatra administration to comply with the NHRC recommendations on remedial measures.

"The red shirts [killed or injured in protest crackdowns in 2010] have been given compensation; the victims of southern violence have also been paid. This case was also caused by state authorities. Therefore, the government is required to pay for the loss in our family too," she said.

Ms Pikul was one of three key witnesses in the case who had been under witness protection provided by the DSI.

However, the witness protection for the three expired with the conclusion of the case.

The three witnesses will now have to return home or move elsewhere.

"Mother Sa, myself, and another prime witness are now on our own," Ms Pikul said.

"[The third witness] had to run away and change names and houses several times because he feels he has been followed around."

Ms Pikul is a representative of Kalasin Relatives of Deceased and Disappeared Persons due to the Actions of State Officers in the War on Drugs.

BANGKOK POST

[kfchugo]

A timely reminder that Police are paid to protect citizens and uphold the laws of the land. They are not above the law themselves and cannot mete out their version of justice just because they "feel" someone is guilty or deserves punishment.

[KhaoNiaw]

Incredibly, despite receiving the death penalty and life sentences, these guys are now out on bail. There are actually about 20 murders and disappearances that local people attribute to this police station. Let's hope that the witnesses brave enough to testify in this case don't end up on the rough end of police 'justice'.