Police officer in drunk driving crash escapes legal action

A troubling police corruption case has emerged involving an officer allegedly driving while drunk, resulting in a collision with a parked car, yet faced no legal repercussions. The incident, which took place four months ago, raised concerns over potential bias and inadequate investigation.

The incident occurred previously on June 20, when a red Mazda parked on the roadside within the Ban Tha Sa-at village, Loei province, was reportedly struck by a black Honda driven by 55 year old Cho, a police officer. Cho, who was visiting his hometown for a festival, allegedly displayed clear signs of intoxication. The crash caused significant damage to both vehicles, and Cho sustained minor injuries.

Cho admitted to drinking and driving at high speed, mistakenly believing he was turning into a street leading to his home. However, there was no intersection where the accident occurred. The collision happened approximately 3 kilometres from the police station.

Emergency services were contacted, and it took nearly two hours for police officers to arrive at the scene. Meanwhile, Cho was transported to a hospital with minor head injuries and was discharged after treatment.

Upon police arrival, the officer in charge, So, requested Cho to undergo a breathalyser test. Despite initial reluctance, Cho eventually complied, resulting in a blood alcohol level reading twice the legal limit.

However, as of today, November 1, the report lacked critical details such as the vehicle registration numbers, the extent of the damage, or the specific parties involved. A meeting was scheduled between the involved parties on June 29 to discuss compensation, but no agreement was reached.

Lack of accountability

Attempts to follow up on the case with So revealed that the criminal case had been closed after Cho was fined. The complainant was informed that civil claims for damages would need to be pursued independently.

Additionally, the complainant alleged that So’s communication was often intimidating and failed to maintain impartiality. To date, no formal statements have been taken from the complainant or their witnesses.

The complainant expressed suspicions of corruption influencing the case’s handling. They questioned why the fine was imposed without mutual consent and why Cho was not charged with drunk driving despite the breathalyser results. Furthermore, the complainant’s car was wrongfully accused of obstructing traffic, despite being parked on a dirt shoulder, separate from the main road.

The frustrations continued over the past four months, with the complainant facing difficulties in coordinating meetings and feeling pressured to accommodate Cho’s schedule due to his claimed travel constraints. The complainant cited an incident where Cho and his sister suggested a way to avoid financial liability, offering only 100,000 baht for repairs, less than half the estimated cost.

Despite filing complaints and providing testimony at the provincial police station, the complainant reports no disciplinary action has been taken against So, reported KhaoSod.