Military committee summons forensic team to testify over cadet’s death

A fact-finding committee set up by the Supreme Command will invite representatives of the Central Institute of Forensic Science to testify on the autopsy results of a cadet who died at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School [AFAPS].

ACM Chawarat Marungruang, chairman of the fact-finding, was speaking to journalists after unconfirmed reports about the autopsy were widely shared.

According to the reports, which the cadet’s family has declined to confirm, the first-year student of the AFAPS, Phakhapong “Meay” Tanyakan, had traces of physical injuries. The autoposy is also said to reveal that his fourth rib was broken not because of CPR, as earlier stated by the academy and the Phramongkutklao Hospital, but through blunt force.

Chawarat says he has not seen the autopsy report from the Institute and he heard that the family had declined to make it public.

However, details purportedly from the autopsy have been published widely on social media.

“The committee will invite representatives of the institute to testify,” Chawarat said.

But he said the autopsy result was only the end result and his committee had already interviewed 40 witnesses, including teachers and students. He said his panel is expected to complete its probe next week and will submit its report to Supreme Commander General Tharnchaiyon Srisuwan on December 14.

The cadet’s case captured national attention after Phakhapong’s family came forward last month to demand a transparent inquiry into his death. His organs, which were removed in the first autopsy at the military-run Phramongkutklao Hospital, were later sent for a second autopsy at the institute.

The family has said they thought Phakhapong might have been killed by senior students administering punishment, and not by cardiac arrest as the academy had claimed.

The cadet died on October 17. The school and Phra Mongkutklao Hospital stated in his initial death certificate, and in the hospital autopsy report, that he died of heart failure.

Phakhapong’s sister, Supicha Tanyakan, posted on her Facebook wall that the family would fight the case in court to the final stage. “We will fight until the end and the autopsy results will be used in the court fight,” she said in the post.

She also stated that cremation rites for her brother would be held at 3.30pm on Sunday at Wat Wewikarm in Tambon Bang Phra in Chon Buri’s Sri Racha district.

Read an article by Asian Corresponent HERE about culture of hazing in Thailand.