FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Foreign DNA traces found on suspect’s socks

Foreign DNA traces found on suspect’s socks

LAB TESTS have revealed DNA traces of more than one person on the socks that a suspect in a land-title criminal case purportedly used |to hang himself while in the custody of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Tawatchai Anukul, 66, who was accused of issuing illegal land deeds in Phuket and Phang Nga provinces, died in mysterious circumstances on August 30. 
The DSI initially announced that Tawatchai had hanged himself but after a preliminary autopsy showed he had a ruptured liver, questions emerged as to whether it might have been a murder. 
Central Scientific Crime Detection Division’s commander Pol Maj-General Tawatchai Mekprasertsuk said yesterday that tests confirmed that the socks could have been used to commit suicide. 
However, he added that police had not yet ruled out other theories as they were still evaluating the evidence. 
For instance, he said, police had to check if DNA traces found on the socks belonged to a DSI official. 
A source said the DSI had already submitted footage from six security cameras at its facility to police. 
“The recordings showed just three DSI officials in the area,” the source said. 
The source added that a second autopsy had not yet been scheduled because the decision depended on the fact-finding committee that the Justice Ministry set up earlier this week. 
Meanwhile, police yesterday interviewed two nurses at the Mongkutwattana General Hospital’s critical care unit regarding Tawatchai’s case. 
Medical workers rushed Tawatchai from the DSI detention facility to the hospital on August 30 but failed to revive him. 
 

 

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