Monk called to police station after haunted jail claims third detainee

Sarapee Police Station officers in the northern province of Chiang Mai invited a monk to perform a sacred ritual within a supposedly haunted jail after three detainees committed suicide. The latest death was reported on Tuesday, July 30.

The latest victim, 53 year old Thai man Inthorn, was found hanging in the Sarapee Police Station prison on the morning of July 30. He hanged himself from the prison bar with his shoelaces.

No visible wounds or traces of physical assault were found on his body. His body was transferred to a hospital for an autopsy.

The superintendent of the police station, Jeerapas Saksung, told MGR Online that Inthorn was arrested after stealing iron rods from a victim. He was an alcoholic, suffered from depression and lived alone without family.

According to Jeerapas, Inthorn’s trainers were placed outside the cell but it is understood he poked his arm out of the jail to retrieve his shoelaces.

Several Thai news agencies reported that Inthorn was not the first person to commit suicide inside the Sarapee Police Station jail. Channel 7 reported that two detainees committed suicide behind the cell on the same day a few years ago.

The repeated reports of deaths at the police station led to talk and rumours about the prison being haunted. Accordingly, police officers decided to invite four Buddhist monks to the police station to make merit and perform a ritual to dispel any evil spirits.

The ritual was performed in the northern style. The monk removed the spirits of the dead from the jail and also blessed all of the police officers.

Aside from talk about ghosts inside the police station, some also raised questions over police negligence. Superintendent Jeerapas promised to conduct a further investigation into the police officers who were on duty at that time.

A similar story was reported in February when a detainee with a history of drug abuse and mental illness committed suicide behind the cell at Mahchakhiri Police Station in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The deceased’s family blamed police negligence for the death and sought accountability in this case.

One police officer reportedly worsened the situation with a poor excuse.

“I was watching a boxing match and had no time to look after anyone.”

There has been no further update on the case.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.