Bangkok Post .......DOCTOR JUMPED ON MOVING CAR
The army colonel accused of a hitand-run incident which left a female doctor in a coma has told police that she injured herself by jumping on to his car as he drove away.
Col Saksit Phuklam, director of the administrative office of the Royal Thai Armed Forces€™ Comptroller General Department, attended Phaya Thai police station to give a preliminary statement about the incident, accompanied by officers from the Judge Advocate General€™s Department. In his statement, Col Saksit denied driving into 34-year-old Maj Hathaiporn Imwitthaya, a doctor at Phra Mongkut Hospital in Ratchathewi.
Maj Hathaiporn sustained severe head injuries when she was reportedly struck by a Nissan car outside her home on Set Siri Road in Phaya Thai district on June 11.
But Col Saksit, 51, said the doctor was hurt after she jumped on to his car as he drove away following an argument over a parking space. The colonel claimed that he and Maj Hathaiporn had argued over parking as his daughter had written €˜€˜bad-mannered parking€™€™ in dust on the windscreen of the doctor€™s car. Col Saksit said when he again went to drive away, the doctor climbed on to the car€™s bonnet and pulled a windscreen wiper off. He said he abruptly drove backward, causing Maj Hathaiporn to fall down.
However, Maj Hathaiporn€™s mother, Pannakorn Imwitthaya, insisted that the incident was a deliberate hit-and-run attack and said her daughter had not argued with Col Saksit.
After questioning, the colonel was released without charge. Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau, and Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangprapai, chief of Metropolitan Police Division 1, joined the questioning.
Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay said no charge was filed against Col Saksit as investigators have to examine additional evidence and interview witnesses to establish whether a crime had been committed. He rejected accusations that the police were trying to stall under pressure from the army, saying they are instead trying to build a solid case.
But Pol Maj Gen Wichai said the colonel€™s statement is not consistent with preliminary evidence.
Army Commander Prayuth Chanocha yesterday promised to ensure justice for the doctor. He also said the army has launched an investigation into the incident.
Maj Hathaiporn remains under close medical supervision at Phra Mongkut Hospital and has shown signs of improvement. Dr Boonchote Kiangkittiwan, a Phra Mongkut Hospital neurologist, said the swelling on her brain had eased and there are no complications.
The army colonel accused of a hitand-run incident which left a female doctor in a coma has told police that she injured herself by jumping on to his car as he drove away.
Col Saksit Phuklam, director of the administrative office of the Royal Thai Armed Forces€™ Comptroller General Department, attended Phaya Thai police station to give a preliminary statement about the incident, accompanied by officers from the Judge Advocate General€™s Department. In his statement, Col Saksit denied driving into 34-year-old Maj Hathaiporn Imwitthaya, a doctor at Phra Mongkut Hospital in Ratchathewi.
Maj Hathaiporn sustained severe head injuries when she was reportedly struck by a Nissan car outside her home on Set Siri Road in Phaya Thai district on June 11.
But Col Saksit, 51, said the doctor was hurt after she jumped on to his car as he drove away following an argument over a parking space. The colonel claimed that he and Maj Hathaiporn had argued over parking as his daughter had written €˜€˜bad-mannered parking€™€™ in dust on the windscreen of the doctor€™s car. Col Saksit said when he again went to drive away, the doctor climbed on to the car€™s bonnet and pulled a windscreen wiper off. He said he abruptly drove backward, causing Maj Hathaiporn to fall down.
However, Maj Hathaiporn€™s mother, Pannakorn Imwitthaya, insisted that the incident was a deliberate hit-and-run attack and said her daughter had not argued with Col Saksit.
After questioning, the colonel was released without charge. Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau, and Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangprapai, chief of Metropolitan Police Division 1, joined the questioning.
Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay said no charge was filed against Col Saksit as investigators have to examine additional evidence and interview witnesses to establish whether a crime had been committed. He rejected accusations that the police were trying to stall under pressure from the army, saying they are instead trying to build a solid case.
But Pol Maj Gen Wichai said the colonel€™s statement is not consistent with preliminary evidence.
Army Commander Prayuth Chanocha yesterday promised to ensure justice for the doctor. He also said the army has launched an investigation into the incident.
Maj Hathaiporn remains under close medical supervision at Phra Mongkut Hospital and has shown signs of improvement. Dr Boonchote Kiangkittiwan, a Phra Mongkut Hospital neurologist, said the swelling on her brain had eased and there are no complications.
Comment