News Forum - Officer who killed eye doctor at Bangkok Zebra crossing sentenced to prison

[Thaiger]

The crowd control police officer who killed an ophthalmologist with his motorbike at a zebra crossing in Bangkok in January, has been sentenced to prison today. The officer will serve a 1 year and 15 day prison sentence and pay a 4,000 baht fine. He has been charged with 9 different counts. On January 21 this year, 21 year old Pol L/C Norawich Buadok struck and killed Dr. Waraluck Supawatjariyakul with his Ducati motorbike at a pedestrian crossing in Ratchathewi, Bangkok. He was travelling between 108 – 128 kilometres per hour on a road with an 80 kmh speed limit. […]

The story Officer who killed eye doctor at Bangkok Zebra crossing sentenced to prison as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

[FatBob]

It went "fast" to get a junior policeman convicted, now lacks the same speed in the Joe Ferrai case, we do not see much of that case!

[Fanta]

18 minutes ago, FatBob said:

It went "fast" to get a junior policeman convicted, now lacks the same speed in the Joe Ferrai case, we do not see much of that case!

One defendant who pled guilty. As opposed to 7 pleading not guilty. Same same but different. 

48 minutes ago, Thaiger said:

The officer will serve a 1 year and 15 day prison sentence and pay a 4,000 baht fine.

No mention of compensation for the family of the victim. 50% off for pleading guilty could mean his sentence was 2 years 1 month total. For 9 offenses that caused an avoidable death. Amazing Thailand.
On the less than pitch black side, a Thai policeman was held accountable and sentenced to prison for breaking the law. 

[palooka]

Something maybe to be held up as precedent if anyone does have a serious issue in the future.

Disgraceful and totally disrepects the woman  who was killed and her family.

[ThaiEyes]

48 minutes ago, Transam said:

4000bht fine....

Yes and I’m sure that was very unfortunate on the policeman’s pocketbook

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

51 minutes ago, Transam said:

4000bht fine....

Maybe it matches the officer’s base annual pay. It would not count the “Tips” he works for at check points and other official police duties which are not taxed. Yes the 4000 baht fine is pittance but loss of his annual estimated earnings (though not Joe Ferrari level) could be quite substantial now tourists are dripping back in to Thailand.

[Boddown]

So if he only gets 1 year and 4000 baht fine why did the red bull heir do a runner for when this the sentence they give?

[Fanta]

15 minutes ago, Boddown said:

So if he only gets 1 year and 4000 baht fine why did the red bull heir do a runner for when this the sentence they give?

All the charges against the Red Bull heir were dropped 2 years ago. That should answer your question. After that the Attorney General reopened the case only because of a public outcry. 

[Graham]

What a disgrace, RTP should be hanging their heads in shame along with the Thai courts who gave out this ridiculous sentence, the disparity in Thailand is still rife.

[piyanat]

Sad but true. This is typical Thailand. They have short view or less of responsibility. 

[palooka]

1 hour ago, Boddown said:

So if he only gets 1 year and 4000 baht fine why did the red bull heir do a runner for when this the sentence they give?

Because he believes himself "entitled" and his family do not do common things like jail.

[Janneman]

Released on bail for roughly 6000 dollars? To wait for the appeal? Might be a very long wait.

[Fanta]

He must be lodging an appeal against severity of sentence. Madness that may well backfire because the Appeals Court can increase a sentence they deem inadequate. On the bright side, Thai social media will go nuts over the sentence & the successful bail application so there is no chance of a quick & quiet release by the Appeals Court after the noise has died down. 

[Fanta]

10 minutes ago, Janneman said:

Released on bail for roughly 6000 dollars? To wait for the appeal? Might be a very long wait.

First appeals in Thailand are written, not a retrial. Paperwork must be lodged within 30 days (that can be extended to 90 days) then 4-6 months for a decision. So about 10 months maximum and he should be in the slammer.

[Giltee]

Now it makes sense that his sentence was so light. 1 he’s a policeman and 2 his fathers a senior policeman. Being out on bail and appealing his lenient sentence shows he has no remorse. 

[Benroon]

4 hours ago, Boddown said:

So if he only gets 1 year and 4000 baht fine why did the red bull heir do a runner for when this the sentence they give?

Jesus when will this ever get dropped !

It's clearly, wrongly, never going to get anywhere so stop referencing it every time someone steals a packet of crisps from 7-11 !

[Benroon]

2 hours ago, palooka said:

Because he believes himself "entitled" and his family do not do common things like jail.

How long have you known them ?

[jimmyhat69]

5 hours ago, AdvocatusDiaboli said:

Maybe it matches the officer’s base annual pay. It would not count the “Tips” he works for at check points and other official police duties which are not taxed. Yes the 4000 baht fine is pittance but loss of his annual estimated earnings (though not Joe Ferrari level) could be quite substantial now tourists are dripping back in to Thailand.

Pretty sure if you at the corruption level where you get free Ducati's 4000thb is nothing.   

[Morpheus]

Just imagine the sentence if he was a farang, 10 years at least. What a joke. Amazing Thailand

[Chatogaster]

3 hours ago, Janneman said:

Released on bail for roughly 6000 dollars? To wait for the appeal? Might be a very long wait.

So what? The time spent while out on bail won't be deducted from the jail sentence when it is ratified (or modified, in either direction). Recidivism will only lead to a higher sentence, so if the guy has got an ounce of intelligence I reckon there's little risk of allowing bail (at worst, he'll go into hiding for the next couple of decades). There are a few tricks to stimulate a lighter sentence at the appeal verdict (like getting pregnant during bail time), but I know of none that could apply here.

[Graham]

3 hours ago, Morpheus said:

Just imagine the sentence if he was a farang, 10 years at least. What a joke. Amazing Thailand

Or if he was a mere motorbike taxi driver you can bet it would be a very different sentence ?

[Smiler]

I noticed when this tragedy happened that when you tried to cross the road the traffic actually stopped, now it’s back to as it was, trying to cross any road is a matter of taking your life in your hands especially where the crazy motorbike riders are concerned,  obviously the police have no interest until the next person is killed 

[RichardR]

Maybe Russel crow can share this on social media in stead of showing the picture of cables in Phuket. 

I hope that, while his licence is suspended for the coming 5 years, this guy will spend his days crossing streets in Bangkok till, one day a policeman comes driving a Ducati.......

 

[Benroon]

14 hours ago, Morpheus said:

Just imagine the sentence if he was a farang, 10 years at least. What a joke. Amazing Thailand

Yet last year a drunk falang killed three people in his ford ranger driving whilst drunk (and had killed one before) - compensated victims family 1 million, deported and not a day in jail outside his remand. 

So it would appear you’re wrong.

Amazing old wives tales. 

[Leo]

1 year and 15 days, out on bail, and 4,000 baht fine (the fine for smoking in some buildings and hotels is higher). Thai people have to understand that news like this makes their country look like a banana republic. No pressure, no coordinated backlash--> nothing will change.

Edited April 26, 2022 by Leo