Thanyaburi prison warders accused of physically assaulting a 34-year-old inmate during a brawl have been transferred out of the facility pending a fact-finding investigation.
Narat Sawettanan, director-general of the Corrections Department, said the prison staff have been moved to inactive posts at the department while the inquiry into the alleged beating takes place.
The transfers follow a complaint lodged by the family of an inmate known as "Krittikorn" with the Justice Ministry seeking an investigation into the incident on Tuesday at Thanyaburi District Prison in Pathum Thani.
According to the family, Krittikorn was beaten with a baton and stomped on by warders when he intervened to stop a brawl between prisoners.
However, Thanyaburi prison chief Kiattikorn Pattamathat dismissed the allegation and claimed the inmate had attacked another prisoner, prompting the warders to intervene.
Pol Col Narat said he has also ordered a fact-finding investigation into another incident at a prison in Loei in which an inmate sustained serious brain injuries during a brawl.
In the Loei case, the family of an inmate known as "Theerapong", who is being detained at the provincial prison, submitted a complaint with a Damrongtham centre about the incident.
According to the department chief, Theerapong suffered from a brain haemorrhage and has undergone surgery. He is being closely monitored at Loei provincial hospital.
Pol Col Narat said an initial investigation found the inmate was injured during a fight.