Thai man sets fire to hospital in stress over 3 million baht loss
A Thai man set fire to a hospital in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani allegedly due to stress after losing 3 million baht in a real estate scam six years ago. The blaze caused 100 million baht in damages to the hospital.
The fire broke out on the third floor of the third building of Det Udom Royal Crown Prince Hospital on the afternoon of Friday, January 31. Medical professionals quickly and safely evacuated patients but the situation was chaotic.
The fire brigade spent over an hour bringing the fire under control but medical equipment and devices worth over 100 million baht were damaged in the blaze.
A witness reported to Det Udom Police Station that a man was seen carrying a bag of petrol, setting it alight, and throwing it onto an empty hospital bed. Medical staff rushed to extinguish the fire but the man fired a weapon at them to prevent them from doing so.
The suspect was seen fleeing the hospital in a black sedan. Shortly afterwards, the car was caught on camera colliding with two motorcycles, injuring three people near the hospital.
The man abandoned his car and ran into a roadside forest near the accident scene. Unable to escape any further, he was eventually arrested. He was identified as 40 year old Pibun Rachathammasakun, a baggage handler at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok.
Crime as stress release
Pibun claimed that his actions were unrelated to the hospital or its staff. He stated that he was distressed over losing 3 million baht in the real estate scam he fell victim to six years ago.
He insisted that he did not target any specific place or person and committed the crime at random to relieve stress.
He arrived in Ubon Ratchathani from Bangkok on January 26 and rented the black sedan to carry out the attack.
Police confirmed that Pibun had no history of mental illness and was able to communicate with officers clearly. He has been charged with three offences including:
- Attempted Murder: This charge carries a penalty of half the punishment for murder under Section 288 of the Criminal Law, which can result in the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for 15 to 20 years.
- Section 217 of the Criminal Law: setting fire on public property. The penalty is the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment from five to 20 years.
- Section 7 of the Act on Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive, Fireworks, and Imitation Firearm: possessing a gun without permission. The punishment will be imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.
Following the incident, the hospital closed the building for further investigation into the damages, and all of the patients in the building were transferred to a nearby hospital.
A donation was opened allowing the public to support the hospital via the Government Savings Bank accoutn number 020-2-84924-089. Further information can be reached via 0-4536-1134 ext. 680 or 681.
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