Military panel set up to look into conscript's death

Military panel set up to look into conscript's death

The family raises doubt over the death of Pvt Luechanon Nanthabut, 22, whose body  was found in a security unit compound attached to the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters in Bangkok. (Photo taken from Non Ni Facebook page)
The family raises doubt over the death of Pvt Luechanon Nanthabut, 22, whose body was found in a security unit compound attached to the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters in Bangkok. (Photo taken from Non Ni Facebook page)

A military panel has been set up to look into the death of a soldier whose body was found in the compound of a security unit at the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Gen Pornpipat Benjasri, chief of defence forces, appointed the probe panel chaired by ACM Paisarn Namthaptim, chief-of-staff of the armed forces, to investigate into the death of Pvt Luechanon Nanthabut, said Col Chatraphee Phoonsri, deputy spokeswoman of the armed forces.

She said the committee had been instructed to conduct the probe transparently, fairly and comprehensively to find the cause of the death, adding the family of Pvt Luechanon was welcomed to join the probe.

The chief of the defence forces is also speeding up remedial measures for the family, she said.

Pvt Luechanon, 22, who was drafted in November last year, was found dead in the security unit on May 17. Fellow conscripts told his family he had fallen to his death from the six-storey living quarters for conscripts. There were several bruises on the body and sandals remained on the feet despite the high fall, prompting suspicions about the cause of death.

His family, not entirely convinced the death was an accident, called on the prime minister to order the probe.

On Thursday, Maj Gen Krit Chantaraniyom, the spokesman of the armed forces, dismissed as untrue social media reports that drinking had sparked a violent brawl that led to his death. He called on people not to rush into conclusions over the cause of death.

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