Phuket policeman charged with attempted murder still on active duty

PHUKET: A Phuket policeman charged with attempted murder after a violent attack on Valentine’s Day remains on active duty in Thalang, while police prepare their case for the prosecutor.

Sen Sgt Maj Wichit Dada of the Thalang Police was charged with attempted murder after he was accused of restraining a teenager while his son threatened the teen with his father’s handgun.

Sgt Wichit’s two sons, both under 18 years old, have also been charged with attempted murder over the incident, Thalang Police Superintendent Sirisak Wasasiri confirmed to the Phuket Gazette.

The move to press charges followed a teenage couple appealing to the Phuket Press Club for help after they were allegedly attacked by Sgt Wichit’s sons on February 14 (story here).

The teenage couple who appealed for public help have also been charged over the incident, Col Sirisak explained.

“The 17-year-old girl ‘Koy’ [not her real name] and her boyfriend, Benz Densiri, 18, have been charged with assault,” Col Sirisak said.

“However, despite earlier reports in the media, we do not have any CCTV footage of the incident. All we have are witness statements from the people involved – and they all claim that they are the victims,” he said.

The Gazette has repeatedly contacted Sgt Wichit, but he has yet to offer any explanation as to the sequence of events on February 14.

Meanwhile, Col Sirisak is waiting to complete procedural steps so he can hand the case over to the Phuket Public Prosecutor.

“We are waiting for the Juvenile Court to confirm whether or not any of the teenagers involved have criminal records. We are also waiting for a psychological report to confirm the youths are mentally fit to stand trial,” he said.

Once the reports have been received, the case will be handed to the prosecutor to decide whether the case will be heard in the Juvenile Court or the Provincial Court, he added.

Col Sirisak refuted allegations that Sgt Wichit was receiving special protection because he was a police officer and blankly denied media reports that Sgt Wichit was his official driver.

“Sgt Wichit has never been my driver. I saw some newspaper reports mention that he was and that he was under my protection. But that is not so, and even if he were my driver he would still have to answer to the law for this,” Col Sirisak said.

“Every step of this case must be fair. I want to see justice served for all parties in this case,” he added.

“Sgt Wichit remains tending to his regular duties because the accusation was not of a heinous crime and the trial has yet to start,” Col Sirisak said.

— Saran Mitrarat