The Criminal Court on Samui Island in Surat Thani province has revoked bail for a British national accused of seriously injuring a Thai doctor in a motorcycle crash on Pha-ngan Island late last month, following the victim's death on Sunday.
Police have filed an additional charge of causing death by reckless driving against the suspect after the death of Associate Professor Dr Theerasuk Kawamatawong, 53, a specialist in respiratory disease and critical care medicine.
The suspect, identified only as "Wilcox", 51, was arrested following the May 23 incident, in which his motorcycle allegedly struck Dr. Theerasuk as he was walking along a roadside on the island.
Dr Theerasuk Kawamatawong
The doctor suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to Bangkok for treatment at Ramathibodi Hospital. He remained in a coma until his death.
According to police, the suspect fled the scene after the collision. Investigators tracked him down using CCTV footage and other evidence gathered along his escape route. He allegedly admitted to being the rider involved in the crash.
Laboratory tests conducted after his arrest found alcohol and cocaine in his system.
Initially, investigators charged him with reckless driving causing serious injury, fleeing the scene without assisting the victim, driving without a licence, operating an unregistered vehicle, failing to obtain compulsory vehicle insurance, illegal use of a Category 2 narcotic (cocaine), and drunk driving causing serious injury to another person.
On May 26, investigators sought his detention and opposed bail, citing the severity of the case and concerns that he might flee. The Samui Island court, however, granted temporary release on the condition that he report to the court every 12 days and remain in Thailand.
Following Dr. Theerasuk's death, police summoned the suspect on Monday to acknowledge the additional charge of reckless driving causing death and petitioned the court to revoke his bail.
The court subsequently approved the request, revoked the suspect's temporary release and issued a detention order. He was immediately transferred to prison on Samui Island.
Police said a separate investigation into the suspect's business activities found that he had allegedly established a company using Thai nominees as shareholders and operated a tour boat business without the required permits.
Additional legal action has been initiated in connection with those allegations.
