Niece of slain soldier seeks officer's layoff

The niece of an army conscript who was beaten to death during military training in 2011 has asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to suspend from duty one of the 10 officers facing a probe in connection with her uncle's death.

Naritsarawan Kaewnopparat, the niece of Pvt Wichian Puaksom, who died in Narathiwat Ratchanakarin army camp five years ago, yesterday submitted her request through the Government House complaints centre.

She sought the suspension of Maj Phuri Perksopon, of the Infantry Regiment 151, Kalayaniwattana Camp in Narathiwat province.

In her petition, Ms Naritsarawan, 25, said the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), which has been investigating Pvt Wichian's case, found the allegation against the 10 officers, including Maj Phuri, had grounds, pursuant to the Criminal Code's Section 157 and Section 83 and the Military Criminal Code's Section 30.

Nine officers were suspended from duty pending the investigations, but Maj Phuri, their commander, had not been suspended, she said in the petition.

Ms Naritsarawan, who was arrested last month after Maj Phuri filed a defamation charge against her, will also lodge her petition at the Defence Ministry and the Royal Thai Army.

She said if her request to suspend Maj Phuri from his position is rejected, she wanted to hear an explanation from the authorities.

In May 2011, Pvt Wichian, a master's degree graduate in social administration from Thammasat University, was posted to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin army camp in Cho Airong district of Narathiwat. He died of acute renal failure on June 5 after a beating administered by troops at the camp. A probe found he was beaten by instructors as punishment for disobeying orders and absconding from camp.

Pvt Wichian's family had filed complaints against the Ministry of Defence, the army and the Office of the Prime Minister, which acts as a supervisory body of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4.

The Civil Court in February 2014 ruled in favour of the plaintiff. As a result, the court ordered the army to pay the plaintiff compensation of 6.5 million baht.</p> <p>On criminal offences, the family filed complaints against the soldiers who tortured Pvt Wichian. But the complaint had to be handled by the Military Court as it involved military officials.

As a result, the plaintiff in the case is not the family but the military prosecution office. The case is still under investigation by the PACC.