Police are gathering evidence to file an additional charge against the owner of SP Clinic following the death of a young British woman during a cosmetic surgery procedure.
Sompob Sansiri, who operates the clinic, was summoned for another round of interrogation at Phahon Yothin police station on Saturday after being released on bail by the Criminal Court on Friday night.
Pol Lt Col Suchai Saengsong of the Phahon Yothin station said officers planned to press another charge of operating a clinic without authorisation. The charge carries a maximum jail term of up to three years and a fine of up to 60,000 baht.
Dr Sompob, 51, was charged on Friday with reckless death of Joy Williams, 24, of Thamesmead, England. The charge carries a jail term up to 10 years and a maximum fine of 20,000 baht. He has denied the charges.
Pol Lt Col Suchai said the new charge was mooted after Health Service Support Department officials found a sign that could be used to back up the case for police.
The sign in Thai and English on the third floor of the four-storey building in Soi Lat Phrao 41/1 in Huai Khwang district reads: "If you need help, please press 0 for officials from 9am to 8pm and press 108 to contact staff from 7pm to 9am", according to the police.
SP Clinic has a licence to operate only from 9am to 8pm. Pol Lt Col Suchai said the sign showed that the clinic had provided services beyond the authorised hours.
The clinic was ordered to close for 60 days after Ms Williams died under anaesthesia on Thursday night. Police are waiting for reports from the Institute of Forensic Science at Police General Hospital and witness accounts before concluding the case.
An initial autopsy said the 24-year-old woman died of respiratory and circulatory system failure.
Ms Williams first had surgery on Oct 14. She reportedly returned to the clinic on Thursday to ask Dr Sompob to remove the buttock implants after bleeding from the treatment.
Police will summon surgeon Narongdej Jiarapepan for questioning and seek to obtain more detail on the nature of the contact between the clinic and the victim.
Dr Narongdej reportedly allowed Dr Sompob to perform the surgery on his behalf.
An initial police investigation found that the patient had contacted Dr Narongdej by e-mail for information about a surgery package that led to her decision to come to Thailand for the procedure.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons released a statment advising the public to be cautious about seeking treatment abroad.
"Details [of the Thai case] are still emerging, but it's important that the public remember the serious risks involved in any surgery, which are increased by travel abroad," said consultant plastic surgeon Michael Cadier, the association's president.
"This tragic case highlights how, if lured by the prospect of what is essentially 'cheap surgery', patients can be left vulnerable."