Police in Thailand’s eastern province of Chachoengsao are investigating a complaint, filed by a 67-year-old man who claims he was illegally detained and drugged by his own son and daughter-in-law for about two years and had his assets, worth about 100 million baht, stolen by them.
The man said he was freed from detention in the house of the parents of his daughter-in-law by his nephew, with the help of a postman who delivered his letter to his nephew asking for help.
According to the man, who owns an electrical appliance shop in Chachoengsao, he and his wife were both detained separately, from 2020-2022, in a locked room with a small hole for food and water delivery.
He claims that, during the detention, he was assaulted and drugged, which made him weak and unable to help himself. He showed the police scars on his body, which he claims are the result of wounds inflicted by his son. He also claims that he has evidence of money transfers from his bank accounts without his consent.
His wife, he says, died during the detention.
Police went to the house of his daughter-in-law, where the victim claims he was detained, but were not allowed to enter by three men, who were employed to look after the house.
Pol Maj-Gen Narewich Sukhonthawit, the commander of Chachoengsao police, admitted that police have limited evidence, because the illegal detention took place from 2020-22.
He said that forensic science and medical examination of the victim could be helpful in revealing the truth in this case, adding that police will question about ten witnesses, including the victim.
The victim’s son and daughter-in-law are not in Chachoengsao, but police know their whereabouts and will summon them for questioning.
