26-11-2023 (BANGKOK) The justice authorities find themselves under intense scrutiny following the daring escape of inmate Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as “Sia Pang Na Node,” and his subsequent month-long evasion of the law.
Anonymous videos recently surfaced online, with Chaowalit pointing the finger at the justice system, claiming that its misconduct led to his incarceration.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, on Saturday, made a plea to Chaowalit, urging him to surrender and submit to the legal process, emphasizing that prolonging his escape would only lead to further trouble.
The Prime Minister’s statement came in response to the release of two video clips in which a man believed to be Chaowalit asserted that he fled because he was a victim of injustice and that his petitions to the Justice Ministry had gone unanswered.
In the first clip, which circulated on social media on Friday evening, Chaowalit alleged that he was denied bail and sentenced to prison while others involved in his case, including state officials, had not faced indictment.
Furthermore, he claimed that authorities attempted to frame him in a drug-related case despite him never having been involved in narcotics.
The second clip, which circulated on Saturday, featured Chaowalit admitting involvement in a robbery but denying any intimidation of prosecutors. He expressed suspicion that the claim was fabricated to justify any attempt on his life during the manhunt.
“I want to see legal action taken against the prosecutor and those I mentioned. If action is taken against them, I’ll surrender. If not, I’ll be dead if I surrender. If there is no justice, I won’t surrender,” he asserted.
Following the viral circulation of the video clips, the Attorney-General ordered an investigation into Chaowalit’s allegations, as confirmed by Prayuth Phetchakhun, spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG).
Prayuth cited information from the Office of Public Prosecution Region 9, revealing that a prosecutor was implicated in a case from 2020, as claimed by Chaowalit. In this particular case, multiple suspects, including a prosecutor, managed to avoid indictment while Chaowalit faced trial, was found guilty, and subsequently incarcerated, ultimately leading to his audacious escape.
The Attorney-General also instructed the Region 9 office to submit the case file to the OAG’s Academic Office for examination, promising to keep the public informed of the progress.
National Police Chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol also ordered an examination of the video clips, instructing the police to investigate the alleged wrongdoing mentioned by Chaowalit.
Meanwhile, a police source confirmed the identity of the individual in the clips as Chaowalit, noting his clean-shaven appearance and approximate weight loss of 10kg.
The clips were shared with a local reporter, with the search team believing that the inmate is still hiding in the southern provinces.
Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong responded by ordering Justice Permanent Secretary Pongsawat Neelayothin to initiate an inquiry into Chaowalit’s allegations.
“No one in the justice system wants to catch him dead. We’re prepared to look into his claims,” the minister stated.
The Corrections Department took to Facebook, informing the public that they are actively pursuing Chaowalit and urging anyone with information to contact the authorities.
Chaowalit, 37, who was serving time for attempted murder, managed to escape into the Banthad mountain range, spanning across Phatthalung, Trang, and Satun provinces, after fleeing from Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital on October 22, where he was receiving dental treatment.
