KHON KAEN: An assistant village head is seeking legal and disciplinary action against five police officers who he says assaulted him outside a restaurant.
The incident took place on Jaenjobthit Road in front of a restaurant in Ban Phai district of Khon Kaen on Wednesday night, said Nirot Wongchanla, the assistant head of Ban Don Ku village in Non Sila district.
He made the allegation on Friday in a complaint filed with Pol Col Suwat Somjit, chief of the Ban Phai police station.
Outsiders and reporters were not allowed inside the room while the two men were meeting.
One of the five accused officers tried to negotiate with Noree Wongchanla, the wife of the complainant, and their daughter Lalita, 22, but the pair refused to take part.
Ms Lalita said her father had been assaulted for no reason, and lashed out at the officers for having no common sense.
“Which rights or laws did the five police use to assault my father? If he had suffered more than this, would the officers have been able to shoulder my family burdens?” she asked rhetorically.
“If my father had got drunk, they should have called Ban Phai police to take him out for legal action. But they instead called my father out to see them in front of the restaurant and jointly assaulted him. This is a barbarous act.
“Could they do what they want? If they act like this, how can people have faith in police? Our family will not compromise.”
She called on the superior of the five offices to take disciplinary action against them. She said 10,000 baht in cash offered by one of the officers could not buy the dignity of her family.
Mrs Noreee said the five accused officers, escorted by a local politician, went to her house and apologised for the incident. They also offered 10,000 baht to her family and said they had no intention to assault her husband, but were just kidding with him as they knew him.
But her family rejected the offer and would fight to the end, she said.
Pol Col Suwat said Ban Phai police investigators had been given the identities of the five accused officers and would question the assault victim and witnesses further.
Investigators are awaiting a medical report on Mr Nirot and plan to notify the superior of the accused officers about the incident. The five would be called for interrogation and to acknowledge assault charges, said Pol Col Suwat.
The investigation is expected to be wrapped up in two or three days.