Public prosecutors on Tuesday indicted a junior policeman who hit and killed a woman on a pedestrian crossing while riding a powerful motorbike in Bangkok last month.
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) called a press conference to announce that Pol L/C Norawich Buadok, of the Protection and Crowd Control Division's sub-division 1, will stand trial on nine charges.
The decision was based on the police investigation report submitted to prosecutors on Feb 10.
Pol L/C Norawich is accused of causing the death of opthalmologist Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, of the faculty of medicine at Chulalongkorn University, on a pedestrian crossing on Phaya Thai Road in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district on Jan 21.
She died from her injuries after being struck by a Ducati Monster motorbike he was riding.
Itthiporn Kaewthip, director-general of the Office of Criminal Prosecution, said the nine charges against him are: driving a vehicle with no licence plate, using a vehicle without paying the registration fee, having no third-party insurance, driving a vehicle with no side mirrors, failing to keep to the left lane, speeding, failure to comply with traffic signs and driving a vehicle recklessly or in a way that risks harming others and their property.
Prosecutors are also seeking the forfeiture of the motorbike, which was impounded by the police as evidence during the investigation.
They would also ask the court to suspend or revoke Pol L/C Norawich's driver's licence, Mr Itthiporn said.
Prayut Phetchkun, OAG deputy spokesman, said the proposed appropriation of the bike was merited on account of it being the vehicle used in the crime.
Thawatchai Hatthapanit, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said Waraluck's family could file for damages with the OAG under Section 44/1 of the Criminal Code, even though they have already filed suit against Pol L/C Norawich for damages in the Civil Court.
If the family decided to claim for damages under the Criminal Code, they must do so either before the first witness examination hearing or before the lower court hands down its ruling in the event the defendant pleads guilty, he said.
Pol L/C Norawich was present at the OAG media briefing on Tuesday. After announcing the indictment decision, prosecutors took him to the Criminal Court for formal arraignment.
Waraluck's parents have already filed a 72-million-baht lawsuit with the Civil Court against the Royal Thai Police Office and Pol L/C Norawich for violation of rights over the fatal accident.
The family also filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and two of its agencies - the Traffic and Transportation Office and the Road Safety Centre - for negligence in safety management at pedestrian crossings and demand the same compensation, 72 million baht.