Thai woman’s ‘spirited’ fury on police after drink-driving bust

A Thai woman dressed in Dhamma retreat attire yesterday physically assaulted and verbally abused police after being arrested for drink driving in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok.

The 52 year old woman, Onsurat, filed a complaint with Pak Kret Police Station officers at around 8am yesterday, May 23, after a drunk driver, later identified as 36 year old Pitchada, drove against traffic, causing Onsurat to swerve and crash into the footpath.

Officers arrived at the scene and found Onsurat’s damaged Toyota Fortuner SUV on the footpath with the right wheel detached. Pitchada’s Haval electric SUV was located nearby.

According to the police, Onsurat was hiding from Pitchada, who was behaving erratically and attempting to attack her. Police officers arrested Pitchada, prompting her to assault officers by grabbing their collars and hurling insults.

Officers immediately perform an alcohol test and found 102 milligrammes percent of alcohol in Pitchada’s system. She was taken to the police station for further legal proceedings on drink driving charges. Onsurat was also invited to the police station for questioning.

At the station, Pitchada attempted to kick Onsurat but officers intervened. Pitchada then pleaded for release, claiming she had just returned from a Buddhist retreat and needed to rest. Police had to temporarily detain her due to her unruly behaviour.

Channel 3 reported that police charged Pitchada under Section 378 of the Criminal Law: putting herself in a state of drunkenness by consuming of alcoholic beverage or other intoxicant substance, and causing troubles in public places. The penalty is a fine of up to 5,000 baht.

The victim, Onsurat, expressed her distress and disappointment in an interview with Channel 8.

“I am very sad, not because of the injury or the damage, but because of the bad luck. I always make merit, help people in difficulties, and have never taken advantage of anyone. I had never experienced any accident in life.”

Onsurat added in the interview that Pitchada’s boyfriend was a good person Pitchada. He protected her from assault and tried his best to control his girlfriend.

A similar case was reported last month when a former executive officer of Google Cloud kicked a traffic police officer at a checkpoint in Bangkok after she was arrested on drunk driving.