Central Thailand: Family demands justice for unexplained death of 17 year old girl at welfare centre

The death of a 17 year old girl while under the care of a welfare centre in Ratchaburi, has left her grandfather and father seeking justice.

The family only recently discovered the death of the girl, Nong Not, when contacted by officials last week, despite her passing in October last year. The family is now demanding a clear explanation regarding the cause of death, and to know whether the girl was subjected to any form of abuse.

Nong Not’s 70 year old grandfather Prachak and 45 year old father Tawee were visited by Manit Sogao Kha and Suwannan Khai Saksit, the Permanent Secretary of Sri Bun Ruang Subdistrict and the village head of Muang Kaew Village, respectively. The family voiced their grievances towards the incident, expressing their immense sorrow and longing for justice.

Prachak shared his story of raising Nong Not after her parents separated. The 17 year old girl had previously survived a near-fatal accident, resulting in a fractured skull during her kindergarten years. After a long period of treatment, her condition improved until she became a victim of sexual abuse at the age of 11.

This led to her exhibiting abnormal behaviour, and she was placed under the care of the Nong Bua Lamphu Child and Family Home for psychological and physical rehabilitation.

In late 2021, the 17 year old girl was transferred to a centre in Ratchaburi. During the first two years of her stay, Prachak managed to maintain contact with her. However, in late 2022, his phone broke, and due to financial constraints, he was unable to replace it, leading to a loss of contact with his granddaughter.

Seek justice

The news of Nong Not’s death was relayed to Prachak last week by officials from the Ratchaburi Child Welfare Centre. The officials inquired if the family intended to perform religious rites with the girl’s remains or if they should arrange a ceremony themselves.

Grief-stricken and perplexed, the family decided to seek justice, demanding a clear explanation behind the cause of Nong Not’s death, reported KhaoSod.

The village head, Suwannan Khai Saksit, expressed his astonishment upon hearing the news and emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into the incident. The Permanent Secretary, Manit Sogao Kha, also echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for a clear and transparent investigation.

Both officials agreed that if Nong Not’s death was natural, it would bring some peace to the family. However, if it was due to any abuse, justice must be sought, especially considering the year-long delay in informing the family about the incident.