Thai man dies on police station waiting room sofa in Bangkok

A Thai man tragically died on a Bang Khen Police Station sofa in Bangkok yesterday, December 7, while waiting to report a physical assault by his employer’s son.

Police officer Somporn Sata approached the 45 year old victim, a Thai man named Tui, to inform him that it was his turn to file a complaint. However, upon reaching Tui, Somporn discovered him sitting lifeless on a sofa inside the police station. Tui was wearing a dark blue T-shirt, a black jacket, long jeans, and sneakers. No visible wounds were observed on his body.

Officers were unable to locate any documentation indicating Tui’s name and surname. They only knew his nickname, provided by his 65 year old friend Wirat Piancharoen. Tui’s body was subsequently transported to Police General Hospital for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of his death.

Wirat said he did not know much about Tui’s life because he had only met him three months ago. They started working at a garage on Soi Ramindra 19 in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district on the same day and became friends.

Wirat said Tui had no home. All he had was a motorbike, a dark blue Honda Wave 110. Tui usually slept at bus stations or by the roadside and went to work in the morning.

Wirat reported that on December 2, Tui told him that he felt pain in his chest and that the employer’s son and his friends had physically assaulted him for no reason. Wirat suggested that Tui go to the doctor and file a police report but he refused.

Victim quits

Wirat said he was afraid of being the next victim of the employer’s son and decided to resign. After hearing of his resignation, Tui also resigned. Wirat went to work as a taxi driver, while Tui was still unable to find work.

Wirat said he would give his friend a meal once a day. He gave Tui food, as usual, yesterday and noticed that Tui looked exhausted and asked about his condition. Tui said he felt pain in his chest again and it was worse. He was having difficulty breathing.

Wirat said he decided to take Tui to the police station to file a complaint and get a health check document. He saw his friend fall asleep on the sofa and thought he was just exhausted. He was shocked when his friend did not answer the police or his call.

The police promised to question the son of Tui’s employer and his friends about the assault and to charge them if they were found guilty.