Police to probe student’s death in custody
TWO POLICE teams were set up yesterday to probe the death in custody of a university student who had been arrested for drink driving in Saturday in Bangkok.
Sithsawat Eiumlapa, 21, was arrested at a checkpoint on the outbound lane of Bang Na-Trat Road after recording a blood alcohol level of 0.170. The third-year student reportedly passed out and was detained at Bang Na Police Station, where he died.
Deputy city police chief Maj-General Ampol Buarapporn joined a meeting yesterday to discuss the case with Metropolitan Police Area 5 chief Maj-General Mongkol Warunno and related officers, including seven policemen involved in the student’s arrest.
Ampol offered his condolences to the student’s family and assured them that investigators would ensure justice for both the family and the officers.
He said the two teams had seven days to probe what happened.
A seven-member team, led by Metropolitan Police Area 5 deputy chief Colonel Suchat Klaichanpong, will work with forensic experts to determine Sithsawat’s cause of death.
The other team, led by Metropolitan Police Area 5 deputy chief Colonel Sitthiparp Baiprasert, will investigate whether the student’s arrest was carried out lawfully.
Ampol said he had assigned Mongkol to visit the student’s family to solicit their thoughts.
The result of the autopsy on Sithsawat at Chulalongkorn Hospital is expected in 45 days.
City police chief Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn said he felt uneasy about the case and he would ensure justice was served.
He said the autopsy would reveal if the student was assaulted although a heart attack was initially identified as the cause of death.
