Three Bang Chan policemen have been sentenced to 30 days in prison for shooting the car of a student after mistaking her for a drug suspect.
The National Police Act allows officers to be handed custodial sentences in disciplinary cases even when no criminal charges have been filed, said Pol Maj Gen Itthiphol Phiriyaphinyo, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
The shooting took place at 2pm on Aug 2 at an intersection on Ramkhamhaeng Soi 118.
Police in pursuit of a drug suspect mistook a car driven by 21-year-old Apisada Sajjapanroj for that of the drug dealer.
Ms Apisada was overtaken by an unmarked black pickup truck. Four plainclothes police officers then got out the vehicle and surrounded her car, but did not identify themselves as police.
The student became frightened when she saw a gun protruding from the waistband of the officer standing on the driver's side of the car. She reversed quickly and hit a car behind her. One of the policemen then raised his pistol and fired several shots at her car.
Ms Apisada accelerated and crashed into several more vehicles before coming to a stop after her right front tyre was deflated by bullets.
The men then identified themselves as policemen and searched her vehicle but found nothing.
The three detectives involved in the incident were Pol Sen Sgt Maj Chamnian Khandaeng, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Rassami Theptha and Pol Sub Lt Supot Toket.
Pol Maj Gen Itthiphol said Metropolitan Police Division 4 will announce later where the three officers will be jailed and when their detention will start.
He said that only three officers were responsible for the shooting, not four as earlier reported.
Ms Apisada has not filed a criminal complaint relating to the case. The deputy MPB commissioner said this might be because the police have already apologised to her and no one was injured in the incident. He added that police will pay for all damaged property, including repairs to other vehicles hit by the student's car.
The three officers admitted they were at fault for opening fire on the woman's vehicle.
Deputy national police chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen presented Ms Apisada with a new car on Aug 6.