Boy found safe in Khon Kaen after drug use with father
A stepmother in Udon Thani reached out to a local activist after concerns that her husband was introducing their 12 year old son, A, to drugs. However, when officials investigated, they initially lost contact with the family.
Eventually, they found the boy safe in Khon Kaen, preparing to become a novice monk, and he admitted to drug use with his father.
Activist Kan Jompalang received a complaint from 46 year old Jib, the stepmother, about her husband, 40 year old Suthiphong, who was the boy’s biological father. Suthiphong, a former rescue worker in Udon Thani, had a history of heavy drug use and allegedly abused his son.
Jib, unable to tolerate her husband’s behaviour, sent a video to Kan, showing him encouraging their son to use drugs.
Upon receiving the complaint and video evidence, Kan’s team coordinated with several local officials, including Pisitchai Apaipiyakoon, the deputy governor of Udon Thani, and Police Colonel Phatthanaphon Chanphon from the Udon Thani District Police Station. They conducted a search at a rented room on Ring Road, Mak Khaeng subdistrict, Udon Thani province, to find the boy.
On arrival, they found the room locked from the outside and empty, with only a motorcycle parked nearby. Unable to contact Jib, the team discovered that the boy’s grandfather lived on Chintakam Road, Udon Thani Municipality.
Drug use
The deputy governor led a team to the grandfather, who confirmed that the boy was at Wat Sawang Phosri temple in Nong Ruea district, Khon Kaen, preparing for ordination.
The team contacted the temple’s abbot, who confirmed the boy’s presence and wellbeing. Speaking with his grandfather, the boy admitted to using drugs with his father as shown in the video.
He explained that the drugs were obtained from a person in Ban Na Sai and that he followed his father’s example, who also physically abused him.
Later, police reported to Kan’s team that they had located Suthiphong and Jib. Jib explained that she had reconciled with her husband and wished to withdraw the complaint, citing a moment of emotional impulse.
Suthiphong admitted to using drugs with his son for about two months, having started first and not opposing his son’s decision to try them. He mentioned obtaining the drugs from a neighbour. Consequently, police detained Suthiphong for legal proceedings and kept Jib as a witness, reported KhaoSod.
They also searched the rented room, finding drug paraphernalia and a firearm but no one was present.
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