Village Chief Charged with Two Counts for Assaulting 28-Year-Old Man; Victim's Mother Seeks Justice, Requests Time to Quit Methamphetamine
A village chief in Phatthalung Province faces assault charges after brutally beating a 28-year-old man and tying him to a tree, claiming he caught him stealing beetles. The victim's mother fears the chief's influence will undermine justice
Police have charged a village chief from Sri Nakharin District, Phatthalung Province, with two offenses: trespassing and assault. The incident occurred when the chief forcibly removed 28-year-old Suthep from his home while he was sleeping, handcuffed him from behind, tied him to a mango tree in front of the house, struck him in the face twice until his eyes were bruised, kicked him once more, and then placed fire ants on his head and body. The chief claimed to have CCTV footage showing Suthep stealing beetles from local residents, which caused injury.
On April 27, 2025, Suthep's 49-year-old mother filed a complaint with Sri Nakharin Police Station. Investigators charged the chief with trespassing and assault. The mother expressed concern about receiving fair treatment in the case, noting that the chief is an influential figure who may intimidate the victim, and requested additional charges be filed to reflect the severity of his actions.
Family members acknowledged that Suthep has a history of theft and drug use, but argued that the chief's punishment was excessive and that such matters should be handled by police, not vigilante justice. Suthep stated he would reform himself and requested one month to quit methamphetamine use, after which he plans to move to Songkhla Province to live with his father. The family vowed to pursue the case to its full extent despite attempts by the chief's representatives to settle the matter.
