The Corrections Department will investigate the death of former Nakhon Sawan police officer Pol Col Thitisan Ootthanaphol, who was found dead in his cell at Khlong Prem prison last night. He was serving a life sentence for murder.
Thitisan and five subordinates were accused of torturing a drug suspect, 24-year-old Chirapong Thanapat, by covering his head with a black plastic bag until he suffocated.
The murder took place at Muang district police station on August 5, 2021. All were charged with murder, and Thitisan was sentenced to life in prison.
The Corrections Department said in a statement today that Thitisan was found dead in his prison cell at 8:50 p.m. Friday when a guard arrived to give him his daily medication.
He was sitting with his back against the wall and did not respond when the guard called to him. The guard then alerted his superior.
When the cell was opened, Thitisan was confirmed dead. Earlier in the day, he had been visited by his wife and showed no signs of a life-threatening condition.
The department added that CCTV footage from outside his cell showed no one entering or exiting.
The department also stated that Thitisan suffered from paranoia, fearing that other prisoners might harm him. He had requested to be kept in solitary confinement but was still allowed to participate in normal prison activities.
The department assured that no prison guards had harmed Thitisan while he was serving his sentence, which began on August 27, 2021.
His body has been sent to a hospital for an autopsy.
