Mother Seeks Justice After Son's Death in Unsolved Assault
A mother seeks justice after her son was beaten to death with a stainless steel chair at a Pathum Thani market in September 2024; police have identified suspects and are completing their investigation before forwarding the case to prosecuto
Ms. Saichon, 58, the mother of 35-year-old Thosapol (nicknamed "Ai Khai Thongdaeng"), filed a complaint with Sergeant Major King Taengthim Samphrannuea seeking justice after her son was beaten to death by a group of teenagers using a stainless steel chair. The incident occurred at Rotgsai Market 1 in Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province, in September 2024, but the case has stalled with no arrests and suspects still at large. She subsequently filed a complaint with the Suppression Division on July 15, and most recently on July 20, 2025, met with the Pradumnuea Chulalongkorn Police Station commander to follow up on the investigation's progress, fearing the case might be buried or influenced.
The police commander disclosed that the incident occurred before he took office in December. Upon assuming his position, he ordered investigators to review the case and found that one suspect, Sakchai, had engaged in mediation regarding his involvement in punching the victim. However, the autopsy confirmed the death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head from a hard or metal object, not directly from the punches. Another suspect, Go, will be charged with attempted murder, though compensation payments are only considered mitigating factors and do not close the criminal case. The commander emphasized that the final decision to prosecute remains the court's discretion, not the investigator's or police's responsibility.
Regarding the mother's concerns about the case going quiet, the commander confirmed that while investigators had completed an initial summary, he found it insufficient and ordered further investigation into all aspects, including forensic science, evidence, and witness testimony. He has instructed investigators to finalize the summary by Friday, though he cannot confirm when it will be submitted to prosecutors, as he personally reviews all details to ensure thoroughness before legal proceedings continue.
Ms. Saichon expressed relief that the commander pledged to expedite the case as requested. She stated that although losing her son left her feeling unsupported, she must remain strong and care for herself as he would have wanted. She hopes officials will pursue the case to the end, noting that her son was beloved in the community, kind-hearted, and always willing to help neighbors and those around him, even when struggling financially.
