Panel to seek polygraph test for Tangmo five

Panel to seek polygraph test for Tangmo five

Memorial services for actress Nida
Memorial services for actress Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong were held at Liberty Church Bangkok in Saphan Sung district on March 11. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)

A Senate committee will ask the police to subject five people who were on the speedboat with the late actress Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong when she drowned in the Chao Phraya River to a lie detector test.

The chairman of the Senate committee on human rights, freedom and consumer protection, Somchai Sawaengkan -- who was petitioned by the late actress' mother to keep a close eye on the investigation into her daughter's death -- also said on Monday that police will be asked to re-examine a number of aspects in the investigation. These include her dress and a blood sample, he said, adding the police have been asked to be transparent in their investigation of the evidence.

The committee won't summon anyone to provide additional information at this point, Mr Somchai added but it will consider meeting summaries, autopsy results, CCTV footage and other evidence in its next discussion. He said investigators took statements from all five people on the boat at the time of the accident, but their testimonies conflict with one another. As such, he added, he believed their statements were fabricated.

Separately, the Justice Ministry has set up a panel of forensic experts to review the re-examination of the actress' body, which began on March 16.

The move came after lawyer Kritsana Sriboonpimsuay submitted a request on behalf of Tangmo's mother to the Central Institute of Forensic Medicine for a re-examination.

He said it is to clear up any questions regarding the burn mark on her chest, the condition of her teeth and head, as well as the deep wound to her thigh.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (28)