The Central Institute of Forensic Science has reported that the former police colonel, who was found dead in his cell at the Khlong Prem prison on Friday night, died of self-inflicted asphyxiation.
Dr. Worawee Waiyawut, deputy director of the institute, said that pathologists spent about an hour examining the body of Thitisan Ootthanaphol, former superintendent of Nakhon Sawan Muang district police, and concluded that he hanged himself.
He explained that a bruise on his neck was caused by a piece of cloth, about 1.4cm wide, and not by a rope. The pressure from the cloth did not inflict any marks on the membranes below the neck. No other bruising was detected in the neck muscles and there was no damage to the hyoid bone, which would have suggested that the victim had been assaulted.
He ruled out the possibility that the ex-police officer was strangled by someone else, adding that the results of blood and urine tests will take between 2-4 weeks to come back.
Dr. Worawee added that pathologists will use a CT scan to examine his ribs, as requested by the victim’s family.
Veerasak Nakhon, a lawyer for the decedent’s family, said they are satisfied with the autopsy report, but are still insisting on taking the body to Chulalongkorn General Hospital for further examination.
He claimed that, in the past two months, Thitisan had asked to be relocated from solitary confinement, but without success, prompting suspicion that he might have been assaulted while in solitary.
Ratthawit Chitsucharitwong, director in charge of the investigation of criminal cases for the Provincial Administration Department, said officials had found a towel, cut into two pieces, in the prison cell. One piece was found tied to the door and another on the ground, next to the victim’s body. Some medication was also found in the cell.
Chokechai Sitthipholkul, director-general of the Prosecution Investigation Office, said he will ask the court to open an inquiry into Thitisan’s death and will file a complaint with Prachachuen police, to the effect that Thitisan had been assaulted by prison guards.
