Cadet’s family ‘free to sue Army’ over probe report

AS THE Army investigation into the death of military student Phakhapong “Meay” Tanyakan concludes its report today, officials have said the probe was based on firm evidence and witness statements, adding that the cadet’s family have the right to sue the Army over its findings.
Air Chief Marshal Chawarat Marungruang, deputy chief of staff and chairman of the investigation committee, said yesterday the investigation into the cause of death of the first-year cadet at Nakhon Nayok’s Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School was “90 per cent complete”. 
The final report would be presented to the Army Supreme Commander today, Chawarat said.
Asked about concerns that the military investigation could conflict with the results of an autopsy conducted by the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS), he said he did not know about those results, as the CIFS had sent them directly to Phakhapong’s family. The family had not informed the committee about them, he added.
However, Chawarat said the Army’s investigation was based on concrete evidence that could stand up in court, but he added that it was the relatives’ right to sue the Army over the investigation.
Last Friday, the cadet’s family revealed the first part of the CIFS autopsy, which found that Phakhapong’s body had many bruises and his fourth rib had been broken, which was believed to be the result of a physical attack.
According to an earlier report, the committee has interrogated 41 witnesses including cadets, teachers and officers at the academy and reviewed Phakhapong’s records from the school’s medical centre. The results were said to show that Phakhapong had health problems and died from heart failure.
Chawarat denied the report, saying the investigation was still not finished, and he did not know how that finding had been released.
“We will have to submit the final report of the investigation to the Supreme Commander first, and then it will be his decision whether to disclose the investigation results to the public,” Chawarat said. “We cannot reveal any findings from the investigation to the public right now.” 
The family of the dead cadet could not be reached for comment about the Army committee’s investigation or its findings.
Meanwhile, a source inside the CIFS said that its forensic team would report on its progress only to Phakhapong’s family and investigative officers. It was unknown when the second part of the autopsy, focussing on the cadet’s internal organs, would conclude.
In related news, prominent human rights activist Ticha Na Nakhon has started an online petition on Change.org to campaign for Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan’s resignation over his inappropriate comments about Phakhapong’s death. 
The petition claims that Prawit hurt the feelings of the dead cadet’s family without considering the facts, especially given that the CIFS autopsy reportedly confirmed that a physical attack had occurred.
As of press time, the petition had gathered more than 4,000 signatures.