Thong Lor inspector in hot water over arresting wrong man | Bangkok Post: learning

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A Thong Lor police inspector accused of trying to protect the grandson of the Red Bull founder from hit-and-run charges could lose his job – or worse.

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Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrachang on Monday morning was clearly angry over the initial police investigation into the fatal collision which killed a police officer. KOSOL NAKACHOL

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Cop accused of Red Bull heir cover-up at risk of sack

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Pannapon: Arrested Yoovidhya family driver

The Thong Lor police inspector accused of trying to protect the grandson of the Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhya from hit-and-run charges could be fired, Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrachang says.

Pol Lt Col Pannapon Nammuang, a Thong Lor police station inspector, reportedly first arrested Suwes Hom-ubon for driving the Ferrari that killed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert on Monday, even though the driver was actually Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya.

The Bangkok police chief said he wanted to dismiss the inspector right away but had to wait for legal procedures.

Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit said yesterday some senior figures asked him to help Pol Lt Col Pannapon, but he refused.

He said he was waiting for an investigation into the actions of Pol Lt Col Pannapon.

Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit said the investigation will be straightforward and Pol Lt Col Pannapon could be dismissed from the force.

The Bangkok police chief said if the investigation confirms the inspector acted illegally, he will face both disciplinary and criminal punishment.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who oversees police affairs, said the police inspector would face serious penalties if he is guilty.

He said the inspector is believed to have a close relationship with the Yoovidhya family and so he allegedly tried to help the suspect.

Mr Chalerm said the hit-and-run case would be wrapped up soon as the suspect had confessed and there were sufficient evidence and witness accounts. He said police would not help Mr Vorayuth.

Mr Suwes, a 45-year-old driver for the Yoovidhya family, was charged with giving a false statement to police.

Deputy Bangkok police chief Pol Maj Gen Anuchai Lekbamrung, who is heading the investigation into the fatal collision, said investigators obtained recordings from three surveillance cameras which showed the Ferrari car driving at high speed. However, there was no video of its collision with Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian's motorcycle.

Investigators will gather more evidence, including Mr Vorayuth's blood alcohol content, before deciding whether he should face more charges. He currently faces charges of hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death.

The collision took place on Sukhumvit Soi 47 in Bangkok about 5.30am on Monday while Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian was on patrol. The black Ferrari reportedly dragged the policeman for hundreds of metres, resulting in the police officer suffering a broken neck and multiple broken bones. Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian died at the scene.

According to reports, Mr Vorayuth immediately drove the Ferrari back to his residence on Sukhumvit Soi 53, where the car was kept in an underground garage and attempts were made to block police from accessing it.

in hot water – in trouble มีปัญหา
initial – happening at the beginning of a process ในเบื้องต้น
investigation – the process of trying to find out all the details or facts about something in order to discover who or what caused it or how it happened การสอบสวน, การตรวจสอบหาข้อเท็จจริง
fatal – causing someone to die ถึงตาย
collision – an accident in which a vehicle or person that is moving crashes into something  การชนประสานงา
cop – (informal) a police officer ตำรวจ (คำสแลง)
heir – a person who will legally receive money, property or a title from another person, especially an older member of the same family, when that other person dies ทายาท, ผู้สืบสกุล, ผู้รับมรดก
cover-up – an action that is taken to hide a mistake or illegal activity from the public การปิดบัง, การปกปิด
at risk – in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง
sack(ing) – forcing someone to leave their job ปลดออกจากตำแหน่ง
inspector – an officer of middle rank in the police force สารวัตร
founder – a person who establishes an institution, business, or organization ผู้ก่อตั้ง
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อหา
fire – to make someone leave their job, sometimes as a punishment ไล่ออก
reportedly – as reported (often used for showing that you are not certain that something you are reporting is true) ตามที่รายงาน
arrest – (of the police) to take someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime จับกุม
dismiss – to force someone to leave their job  ไล่ออกจากตำแหน่ง
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
procedure – a way of doing something  ขั้นตอนการดำเนินการ
senior – with a high rank or position อาวุโส
figure – someone who is important in some way บุคคลสำคัญ
refuse – to say you will not do something that someone has asked you to do ปฏิเสธ
straightforward – clear and honest ตรงไปตรงมา
dismiss – to force someone to leave their job  ไล่ออกจากตำแหน่ง
illegal – against the law ผิดกฎหมาย, นอกกฎหมาย
disciplinary – related to the punishment of people who do not obey the rules  การลงโทษเนื่องจากการฝ่าฝืนวินัย หรือระเบียบ
criminal – relating to illegal acts เกี่ยวกับอาชญากรรม
oversee – to watch or organise a job or an activity to make certain that it is being done correctly คุมงาน,ควบคุม
penalty – a punishment, or the usual punishment, for doing something that is against a law โทษ
guilty – proven to have committed a crime มีความผิด
relationship – the way in which two people, groups or countries behave towards each other or deal with each other ความสัมพันธ์
allegedly – claimed to have done something wrong, but not yet proven ที่กล่าวหา
suspect – a person who is thought to have committed a crime ผู้ต้องสงสัย
wrap up – to finish  ทำให้เสร็จสิ้น
confess – to admit that you have committed a crime  สารภาพผิด
sufficient – enough เพียงพอ
evidence – facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime หลักฐาน
witness – a person who sees something happen  ผู้ที่เห็นเหตุการณ์
account – a written or spoken report about something that has happened  บันทึกถ้อยคำ
surveillance camera – a camera kept in a place to record what happens there, especially criminal activity กล้องวงจรปิดเพื่อรักษาการความปลอดภัย
currently – at this time; now ในปัจจุบัน
reckless – not thinking about the possible bad effects of your actions สะเพร่า
patrol – to move regularly around a place in order to prevent trouble or crime ลาดตระเวน
drag – to pull something or someone along with difficulty ลาก
multiple – many มากมาย
scene – site; a place where something happens or happened สถานที่เกิดเหตุ
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
residence – a place where someone lives ที่อยู่อาศัย
garage – a building for keeping one or more cars or other vehicles in โรงรถ
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else  ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
access – the ability to enter a building or place  การเข้าสู่

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