UBON RATCHATHANI: An angry man who tried to attack a rival being treated at a hospital in Lao Sue Kok on Sunday has faced four charges, including attempted murder.
Police on Monday took Thanakit Mungporn, 41, to Lao Sue Kok Hospital for a crime re-enactment, following Sunday’s attack that caused chaos at the medical facility.
Mr Thanakit, a resident of Phon Muang village in the district, entered an emergency room where his rival Preeda Duangphet, 27, was receiving treatment for head injuries on Sunday afternoon.
Armed with a cleaver, he ran toward Mr Preeda and tried to hit him but Mr Preeda used medical equipment to shield himself. The attacker missed the target and damaged a heart-rate monitor and a blood-pressure monitor instead. At this point, Mr Thanakit calmed down and waited for police to arrive.
The incident frightened doctors, nurses and staff who fled, said a hospital official. The damage caused to the two devices were worth about 220,000 baht.
Pol Col Thammachak Khongmongkhol, deputy chief of Ubon Ratchathani police, said the attack at the hospital came after a brawl at a village fair in Phon Thong village on Sunday. Two rival groups got involved in the brawl, prompting Mr Thanakit, who hosted the village fair, to intervene. Mr Thanakit then went onstage, where folk singers were performing, to ask the two groups to stop the fight
After Mr Thanakit got down from the stage, Mr Preeda walked towards him and kicked him in the back. Mr Thanakit’s aides who saw the incident then hit Mr Preeda in the head with a bottle. Mr Preeda was later sent to the district hospital.
However, Mr Thanakit, who was still angry, drove a pickup truck to the hospital to attack the injured man.
Pol Col Thammachak said police have pressed four charges against Mr Thanakit for carrying a knife in a public area, trespassing a hospital, damaging the state’s property and attempted murder.
Mr Thanakit apologised to the hospital staff for the incident and promised to pay for the damage.
Suspect Thanakit Mungpron, 41, a blue T-shirt, is interrogated over a hospital attack on Sunday. (Photo taken from @ubonpolice2015 Facebook page)