Bangkok: The family of former police chief Joe remains deeply concerned about the circumstances surrounding his death. They have submitted his body for an autopsy at the Ministry of Justice's Institute of Forensic Science, highlighting their ongoing worries about the cause of death. The family disclosed that it would take 1-2 days for the autopsy results to be available, after which they plan to proceed with religious ceremonies. However, they have decided not to cremate the body until the case is resolved.
According to Thai News Agency, the body of Pol. Col. Joe was delivered to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, earlier today. Ms. Thananya, Joe's younger sister, and her girlfriend, Sai, revealed that Joe had been subjected to bullying by a guard since late last year. Despite his typically calm demeanor, Joe had confided in relatives about being physically assaulted, including being punched in the stomach. Although the family did not press charges initially, Joe had been placed in solitary confinement following accusations of rudeness and disobedience by guards.
The family further reported that Joe had complained of a cigarette smell from a neighboring room, which led to further harassment by guards and a prisoner. Despite filing a report about the assaults, police were not allowed to interrogate Joe, a restriction not imposed on other prisoners. Joe's health deteriorated visibly with each family visit, compounded by inadequate nutrition, as requests for milk and bread were denied.
A recent visit by a policeman friend and Joe's girlfriend revealed that Joe had been discussing plans for the future, counting down the days until his release, and expressing determination to fight his circumstances. There were no signs of suicidal tendencies.
Concerns have been raised about the lack of assistance provided to Joe on the night of his death. An officer's call around midnight informed the family of an incident, but CCTV footage showed no attempts to aid Joe, who appeared to have died earlier than reported. Disturbingly, red marks were found on his wrist, alongside blood on the floor and a towel in his cell, prompting the family to demand transparency about his death.
Adding to their concerns, Joe's sister disclosed that senior officers from the Corrections Department had approached her to withdraw the complaint in exchange for ending Joe's solitary confinement. During a visit to Joe, a senior officer attempted to negotiate the complaint's withdrawal, but she deferred the decision pending consultation with her mother. The family noted that their phones and bags were confiscated during visits, leaving them without evidence.
The family awaits the autopsy results, planning a funeral but withholding cremation until the investigation concludes.