Soldier death sparks rumours: Mother refutes claims of hazing over e-cigarette incident

A 21 year old Thai soldier was found dead in the barracks of an army camp in Saraburi Province, sparking rumours that he was punished for bringing an electronic cigarette into the camp. However, the deceased soldier’s mother has refuted these claims, stating his cause of death was unrelated to any physical abuse or a ruptured spleen, and the truth will be determined by the formal autopsy results in 45 days.

On June 4, a soldier hailing from Chanthaburi Province was discovered to have passed away in his sleep at an army camp in Saraburi. Word quickly spread about the possible mistreatment of the soldier because he had smuggled in electronic cigarettes, leading to a penalty. A case had been filed on the “Big Grian” Facebook Page, and it was revealed that a preliminary examination of his cause of death showed the young soldier’s spleen had ruptured.

The military camp in Saraburi Province confirmed that the 21 year old conscript, serving in the 1st Battalion/Rotary Company of the Saraburi-based 27th Infantry Regiment, passed away from a pre-existing illness. The soldier’s body was transported to the funeral rites at his home in Chanthaburi Province, where fellow servicemen from the same class attended the ceremony. The deceased soldier’s mother, 37 year old Siriporn, claimed that her son had initially joined the monkhood in Kalasin Province before being conscripted into the military on May 16, before he died on June 4.

Siriporn added that she had spoken with medical staff and military personnel who informed her that her son had not been abused or suffered a ruptured spleen as had been rumoured. According to her, the entire ordeal surrounding her son’s loss of life didn’t bother her, despite her son’s lack of underlying health conditions. However, he occasionally exhibited shortness of breath during physical exercises. She and parties from all involved sides have discussed and cleared any misunderstandings. While the autopsy results have been revealed, specific details remain elusive.