A man’s 17-year fight for justice ended on 31 Aug after Thailand’s Supreme Court ordered the Royal Thai Police to pay him 4.38 million baht (THB) (about S$167,000) in compensation.
This was after he was tortured by police officers into a false confession over a robbery in 2009.
For almost two decades, his family had sought justice, sending letters to over 50 government agencies to file civil and criminal lawsuits against the police officers involved.
On 28 Jan 2009, police arrested 18-year-old Rittirong Chuenjit, a high school student in his final year, over an alleged robbery.
They then assaulted him and placed a black plastic bag over his head to force him to confess. However, the actual thief was later prosecuted.
Source: IJR Forum
In the same year, Mr Rittirong filed criminal charges against the two officers involved in his torture at the Prachinburi Provincial Court.
His first taste of justice came only in 2018, when one of the officers was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and fined THB8,000 (about S$304).
However, the other officer was acquitted due to a lack of evidence, Nation reported.
Mr Rittirong then sued the Royal Thai Police for compensation. He was initially awarded THB3.38 million (about S$129,000) by the Bangkok South Civil Court.
On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the compensation to THB380,000 (about S$14,500), plus 7.5% annual interest.
Mr Rittirong’s family then appealed to the Supreme Court, citing 15 to 16 years of damages, Matichon reported.
Source: Thai Post
The Supreme Court ordered the Royal Thai Police to pay Mr Rittirong THB4.38 million (about S$167,000), plus 7.5% annual interest from 28 January 2009 to 10 April 2021.
The police must also pay 5% annual interest from 11 April 2021 until the amount is fully paid.
Additionally, the court ordered that Mr Rittirong’s criminal record and fingerprints be removed from police databases.
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Featured image adapted from IJR Forum, MGR Online.