Police inspect car used to 'run over' woman in parking dispute

[Admin]

Police inspect car used to 'run over' woman in parking dispute
By Suparat Iamtan,
Monthien Inthaket
The Nation 2011-06-21

Officers at Bangkok's Phya Thai Police Station yesterday inspected a car that was allegedly used by a military officer last week to run over a woman over a parking dispute. The victim is in hospital and still in critical condition.

The victim's mother Dr Pannakorn Imwittaya, who was formerly a lecturer at Siriraj Hospital, met the Metropolitan Police Division 1 chief Pol Maj-General Wichai Songprapai yesterday to provide information about the incident and appeal for justice. She also told him that she was concerned about her family's safety.

On the day of the incident, Pannakorn and her daughter Major Hathaiporn Imwittaya, who works as a doctor at the Phra Mongkutklao Hospital, returned home to find a Nissan sedan with the licence plate number "Wor Khor 1355" blocking the entrance.

Pannakorn went to the restaurant nearby to look for the car owner, while Hathaiporn parked her car next to the Nissan sedan and rushed home to use the toilet.

The car owner, who appeared to be drunk and was reportedly upset about having to move his car across the street, suddenly sped across to hit Hathaiporn as she was about to get into her vehicle. He reportedly tried to hit her again, but sped away when neighbours intervened.

Pannakorn said the neighbours had found a windscreen wiper, believed to have fallen off the culprit's car, and had kept it for use as evidence. She said the officer obviously believed that he had enough clout to protect himself.

Wichai, meanwhile, said the police were not dragging their feet but might be a bit slow in taking action due to bureaucracy, but would ensure justice for all sides.

Hathaiporn, 34, who sustained severe concussion, is in critical condition despite two surgeries.

Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, officials from the Office of the Army Comptroller delivered a Nissan sedan at the police station for inspection. Phya Thai superintendent Pol Colonel Saman Rodkamnerd said police needed to collect evidence before the culprit could be identified.

Initial inspection showed that the car delivered to the police station might be the one driven by the officer, except its windshield only had one sticker, while the culprit's was said to have several, though one of its windshield wipers looked like it was changed recently.

Phya Thai deputy superintendent Pol Lt-Colonel Chote Suwanjunee said police were planning to file a charge of assaulting another with the intention to kill, because this was not a hit-and-run accident. He added that police also had security camera footage of the attack.

Office of the Army Comptroller deputy director Maj-General Pisut Pao-in said the car belonged to the office, but because it has had engine problems since June 8, it was not taken out of the compound.