The factory owner who killed a senior police man and his wife and injured their daughter while driving his Mercedes Benz drunk has paid off the deceased’s family to the tune of 45 million baht.

The victim’s mother said she is satisfied and that’s an end to it. The drunk man was contrite and has paid all bills and even bought the family a new car.

He has turned away from drink, has stopped driving and now just drinks coffee, she said.

The accident left Lt Col Jatuporn Ngamsuwitchakun and his wife Nuchanat dead and their twelve year old daughter Piyapha in hospital.

Their Suzuki Swift was smashed into by Somchai Werotphiphat, 56, who had been drinking at a golf club. He was reportedly belligerent at the scene at at the hospital but has since calmed down.

Yesterday Somchai – the owner of a large factory and referred to as “Sia Somchai by Thai Rath” – and his lawyer Wirawut Bamrungjai met the families of Jatuporn and Nuchanat in the presence of Capt Phitak Phoonphuttha at Saladaeng police station.

They were there to finalize the financial terms of the settlement.

It was agreed that Somchai would pay Jatuporn’s mother 2.5 million and Nuchanat’s elders 2.5 million baht.

Jatuporn’s two children Suphapitcha, 15, and Piyapha, 12, will each get 15 million baht. As they are minors the money will be administered by the court until they are adults.

Piyapha has recovered from her injuries and is now back at school.

Jatuporn’s mother told Thai Rath that her son was a forgiving kind of person and he would have wanted an out of court settlement.

She said that in addition to the money terms agreed Somchai has paid Piyapha’s 1.5 million baht hospital bills, cleared family credit card debt to the tune of 5 million baht and even bought them a new red plate Toyota Fortuner.

It all came to about a 45 million baht settlement, she said.

She said that Somchai was sorry for what he had done and has stopped driving and has his own driver now who ferries him around. He has also given up alcohol and just drinks coffee, she said.

He has offered her grandchildren jobs at his company in the future. He knows how they feel as he has two daughters of his own, she said.

Now she wanted this settlement to be an end to it.

Capt Phitak said that the court is yet to consider five charges before it related to Somchai. In the light of the recovery of the couple’s daughter and the financial settlement it will be up to the court what to do in relation to the criminal charges.

Thaivisa notes that at the time of the accident some police were calling for charges of murder but these were subsequently believed to have been dropped.

Thaivisa further notes that financial settlements and criminal charges are separate but the courts often adjust their sentences bearing in mind what agreements are made between those concerned.

Source: Thai Rath

Police were called to a hotel in Sadao just across the border from Malaysia after reports that a tourist had died during a massage.

Pol Lt Thanatsak of the Sadao police found an 80 year old Malaysian man dead. He was face up in bed and clothed in a t-shirt and brown shorts.

Staff at the hotel said that he had checked in and ordered a massage in his room.

As soon as the masseuse got to work he went into shock and subsequently died.

Police found no suspicious circumstances and put the death down to old age and pre-existing medical issues.

However, an autopsy was ordered at Padang Besar Hospital to determine the exact cause of death.

Relatives have been informed.

Source: Thai Rath

A Thai man was in agony after he fell from a mango tree in southern Thailand and got pierced in a very delicate area.

Daily News reported that an iron rod under the tree had gone right through his testicles from right to left.

As Piyapong fought the extreme pain and friends tried to keep him in consciousness with smelling salts the rescue team from Tai Teck Tung cut the ends of the rod with a saw.

But the heat and vibration only increased his misery – he fainted three times.

He was taken to Hua Sai hospital in Nakorn Sri Thammarat.

It emerged that Piyapong had been collecting chilies then decided to get some mangoes by shinning up a tree.

Then he fell onto the rod that went right through his jeans – and right through his testicles.

Source: Daily News

So far, the north-east’s Udon Thani has recorded the highest number of fatalities

There has been 1,665 traffic accidents, with 174 deaths and 1,728 people injured in the first three days of the Songkran ‘seven days of danger’ (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). This equates to a significant drop from the 2018 road toll and lower even than Thailand’s average daily road deaths throughout the year.

According to the WHO an average 66 people die on Thailand’s roads each day.

The Road Safety Directing Centre’s numbers cover the period from April 11 to 13. The first three days show a drop of 17.1% in road deaths. Injuries are down 9.5%.

So far, the north-east’s Udon Thani has recorded the highest number of fatalities at 10. Nakhon Si Thammarat province has had the highest number of traffic accidents at 69, followed by Chiang Mai (58) and Sakon Nakhon (53).

Drink-driving remains the most common cause of accidents in the three-day period at 38.1%, then speeding at 27.5%. Motorcycles were involved in 79.7% of the accidents.

Police pulled over 2.62 million vehicles for breath tests and other checks at nationwide checkpoints, 15.1% more than during the same period last year.

thethaiger.com

The Songkran holiday period could be wet in more ways than one – the meteorological office has issued a severe storm warning for the entire upper area of the country from today until Tuesday.

The north, Isaan, eastern seaboard and central regions including Bangkok and surrounding areas could all be hit.

Met office director Phuwiang Prakhammin warned of rain storms, thunder and lightning, high winds and some areas affected by hail.

People were warned to avoid open spaces, not to stand under trees as it is a lightning strike hazard and be careful of unstable advertising hoardings.

Farmers were warned about protecting their livestock and crops.

These are the provinces that are affected:

Northeast: Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani

Northern region: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Lampang, Tak, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit and Phetchabun

Central: Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Bangkok.

East : Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat

Source: Daily News

Senior Thai policemen spoke to the press yesterday after a 26 year old German tourist was raped and murdered on a hillside in Koh Si Chang Chonburi.

Chilling CCTV pictures showed the victim out for a mid afternoon ride on a rented motorcycle.

Now it has emerged that she was still not dead after a frenzied attack by some stone steps leading up the hillside.

She was battered again after being dragged still alive for 50 meters in an effort to hide the crime.

An impromptu re-enactment with a stand-in was conducted at police HQ.

National deputy police chief Pol Gen Chalermkiat Srivorakan spoke at the press briefing along with the chief of the Region 2 police and the chief of the Chonburi force.

Chalermkiat announced the arrest of 23 year old Ronakorn of Tha Thewawong district who has admitted to rape and murder.

Chalermkiat said the crime happened about 3pm on Sunday afternoon. The body was found by a member of the public. A man was seen coming down from the hill with blood on his clothes.

He was found outside his house nearby and was seen to have wounds on his body. He allowed officers into his house. Behind the house bloodstained clothing was found and he readily admitted what he had done.

He said he had seen the victim riding a motorcycle while he was high on methamphetamine or “ice” and he felt the need for sex.

He approached her and offered sex but she did not say anything and drove off. He followed her to the hillside where he raped her. He then hit her repeatedly in the face and in the back of the head with a rock.

Bloodstains were found on a stone path leading up to the top of the hill.

She was still not dead and he dragged her 50 meters off the path where he continued to bludgeon her until she was dead. Then he covered her body with stones, rocks and bracken in an effort to conceal the crime.

He tested positive for drugs in a test at his house and this was confirmed with a further test at Koh Si Chang hospital.

Ronakorn has been charged with rape, murder and concealment of a corpse and was detained by the Koh Si Chang police.

Source: Sanook