The Nonthaburi provincial court has issued warrants for the arrests of the owner and the driver of the speed boat from which TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong fell into the Chao Phraya River and drowned.
The boat’s owner, Tanupat “Por” Lerttaweewit, and the boat’s driver, Paibul “Bert” Trikanchananan, are facing charges of causing wrongful death by negligence. Tanupat also faces an additional charge of using a boat with an expired license.
Pol Lt-Col Uthen Hongthong, who is investigating the case, said that the two suspects, accompanied by a lawyer, reported to the Muang district police station Saturday night to acknowledge the charges and applied for bail.
Nida’s body was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital yesterday for an autopsy, the toxicology results from which are expected in about seven days. Preliminary autopsy results revealed sand in her lungs.
Forensic experts also dismissed a report that Nida went to the rear of the boat to urinate, noting that he was wearing a body suit at the time, which would have made this difficult.
Nida and a small group of friends took a speed boat ride on the Chao Phraya River on Thursday night, from Thon Buri Bridge towards Nonthaburi province. She fell into the river as the boat was approaching the Pibulsongkram Pier. Her body was found Saturday afternoon, about 300 metres from the pier.
