Delay in Billy’s Family’s Civil Lawsuit Against the Department of National Parks

Bangkok, Thailand – The long-awaited civil lawsuit filed by the family of Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen against the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation faces yet another delay. Initially scheduled for 21 February 2025, the plaintiff’s witness examination in Civil Court case no. P1459/2024 has been postponed following a decision by the court.

On the morning of 11 February 2025, the legal team representing Billy’s family received a phone call from the Civil Court officer, informing them that witnesses would not need to testify as scheduled. The court indicated that it may have to wait for the final judgment in the related criminal case, currently under appeal at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. However, the legal team had already coordinated with all nine of the plaintiffs’ witnesses, who were prepared to testify as planned.

If the Civil Court decides to wait for the verdict in the criminal case, all scheduled witness examinations will be canceled, and the case will be temporarily removed from the court’s docket. The civil proceedings will resume only after the criminal case is concluded.

An 11-Year Fight for Justice

Billy’s family—his mother, wife, and five children—filed the civil lawsuit on 4 April 2024, seeking over 26 million baht in damages under the Act on Tort Liability of Officials B.E. 2539. The lawsuit alleges that National Park officers committed a tort by abducting and killing Billy, resulting in damages that include financial loss, mental suffering, and the loss of household labor and support.

Despite nearly seven months of preparation since the court scheduled the hearings in July 2024, Billy’s family now faces another setback in their pursuit of justice. Witnesses have already booked flights and accommodations, making this sudden postponement particularly unjust to the plaintiffs, who have been waiting for accountability for over a decade.

Since Billy’s abduction by National Park officers on 17 April 2014, his family has tirelessly sought truth and justice. This latest delay only adds to the many challenges they have endured throughout their fight.