KHON KAEN: The provincial police chief has promised a new investigation into the death of a man while in police custody.
Pol Maj Gen Phuttipong Musikul told media on Monday that the relatives are not satisfied with the handling of the case by Weruwan police, so he will set up a new inquiry panel headed by the deputy Khon Kaen police chief to look into the case.
His remarks came after complaints from relatives of Phuttaporn Sophapon, 35, who was found dead while in custody at Weruwan police station in Muang district on March 30.
They had questioned the cause of his death, which was reported as "unknown", despite his body having sustained bruising and abdominal wounds, according to an initial examination by a doctor.
The relatives also claimed that they had tried to file a complaint when the man was first found dead, but police refused to accept it until six days later.
On Sunday, the relatives filed a lawsuit accusing the police officers who detained Phuttapornat of malfeasance under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
However, the relatives yesterday met Pol Maj Gen Phuttipong to seek clarity on how the police had treated Phuttaporn.
They told the provincial police chief that he did not have any bruises or wounds when he was put in the cell on March 30. After the meeting, Pol Maj Gen Phuttipong said the relatives have the right to see video footage from security cameras to allay their doubts.
Wassana Sornsakda, 42, Phuttaporn's girlfriend, said that it all began after her boyfriend became drunk and aggressive earlier in the day on March 30, prompting her to call the police and urge them to take him to the station to calm down.
"On March 30, the police called to tell me that he was dead. I was shocked because he was strong but had died mysteriously in a cell," she said.