Police mull changing the law for minors
PUBLISHED : 18 Jan 2024 at 06:02
National police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has ordered agencies to gather all the criminal cases committed by youngsters over the last five years for a study into whether the juvenile criminal law should be amended in favour of tougher penalties for violent crimes.
Pol Gen Torsak said the criminal records would be analysed and the findings submitted to the Justice Ministry. The report is expected to be completed by the end of this month, he said.
The Royal Thai Police’s (RTP) move comes amid growing calls for the government to consider improving the law to ensure young criminals do not walk free merely due to their age after society has been shocked by a series of violent offences by minors in recent times.
The latest incident saw a 47-year-old woman identified as Buaphan Tansu violently assaulted in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district. Five people aged 13-16 were arrested in connection with her death.
Pol Gen Torsak gave his assurances the investigation into the woman’s death would be transparent, saying he instructed deputy police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn and Pol Lt Gen Somprasong Yentuam, chief of Police Provincial Police Region 2, to look into the local police’s handling of the case.
Police in Aranyaprathet district have come under heavy criticism for their handling of the case after a TV reporter found footage from security cameras showing the victim was viciously assaulted by a group of teenagers, one of whom is the son of a policeman.
At that time Buaphan’s husband, Panya Khongsaengkham, 54, was arrested and charged in connection with her death. Some of the public suspected Mr Panya had been coerced to confess. Pol Gen Torsak insisted local police followed the investigation process after Mr Panya surrendered to police and confessed to the killing. One report said he confessed during questioning because it was the easiest thing to do.
However, when officers discovered the footage implicating the five youngsters, they proceeded to secure Mr Panya’s release.
Meanwhile, Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Nattacha Boonchai-insawat, head of the House committee on social welfare, said the Buaphan case should bring together concerned parties to review the juvenile criminal law, which treats children and young people differently from adults.
Asked about the recent calls for the abolition of the juvenile criminal law, the MFP said numerous youngsters have been given a second chance courtesy of this law so it would be better if other solutions could be sought. “The law gives youngsters a chance but perhaps we have to consider if the offence committed by a juvenile is as serious as that committed by an adult. A premeditated murder or a group assault is not the typical behaviour of a child,” he said.
The MFP MP said the case also highlights the need to revamp the police force, which he said is suffering from a crisis of faith.