Home » The Surin Provincial Court to conduct inquest hearing on the death of Corporal Kittikorn Suthiraphan

The Surin Provincial Court to conduct inquest hearing on the death of Corporal Kittikorn Suthiraphan

Press Release The Surin Provincial Court to conduct inquest hearing on the death of Corporal Kittikorn Suthiraphan on 25 April 2016 at 9.00

Corporal Kittikorn Suthiraphan, 25 years, of the 23^rd Regiment, the 3^rd Infantry Battalion, Weerawat Yothin Camp, the 25^th Military Circle, was arrested on 30 January 2016 per the warrant by the Surin Military Circle Court no.14/2558, the warrant application no.J11/2558 dated 4 August 2015. The arrest was made by police of the Muang Surin Police Station. After completing the arrest information record, he was transferred to the Military prison of the Weerawat Yothin Camp, the 25^th Military Circle on 1 February 2016. While being held in custody since 1 February at the Weerawat Yothin Camp, the 25^th Military Circle, later he was found dead on 21 February 2016.

It is required by law that when a person dies in custody of officials claiming to perform their duties, the public prosecutor and administrative officer at the rank of Assistant District Chief Officer or upward have to conduct a post mortem examination. The examination shall be conducted with officially together with a police inquiry officer and a forensic doctor. In this case, the inquiry officer has compiled evidence and submitted the investigation report to the Surin public prosecutor who later filed a motion at the Surin Provincial Court to have a post mortem inquest. The Inquest petition submitted on 11 March 2016 as the Black Case no.Ch1/2559 between the Surin public prosecutor, petitioner, Mrs. Boionruang Suthiraphan, co-petitioner, and the Court has set the date for the inquest hearing on 25 April 2016 at 9.00.

In this case, Mrs. Boionruang Suthiraphan, mother of Corporal Kittikorn Suthiraphan, has requested legal assistance from the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF). CrCF has agreed to designate her legal representatives to plead to the Court and to participate in the trial in order to determine as to who caused the death, circumstance and detail surrounding the death of Corporal Kittikorn Suthiraphan. According to the post mortem examination report, the cause of death is identified as “severe head injuries coupled with raptured stomach as a result of physical abuse”. It is therefore important to bring to justice the perpetrators and to review and improve the standard of treatment toward the persons being held in custody by agencies.

All interested parties and media are invited to attend the hearing on the aforementioned date and time.

For more information, please contact