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The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has approved an inquiry into the case of Thai actress Tangmo's death after concerns were raised about possible interference with the justice process.
On January 22, Police Lieutenant Colonel Yutthana Phaedam, the DSI’s Director-General, authorised this investigation. A complaint had been filed requesting the case be handled as a special investigation due to suspicions of legal manipulation. The complaint alleged that certain individuals may have unlawfully influenced the justice process to help others avoid penalties.
The investigation aims to determine if any tampering occurred and whether state officials or others were involved. The inquiry was approved under the Special Investigation Act of 2004. Police Lieutenant Colonel Nathapol Disatham will oversee the investigation and communicate updates to the complainant.
Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong, 37, was an actress from Thailand. Her body was found on a speedboat along with five others on February 26 last year, nearly two days after she fell into the Chao Phraya River.
Now police are investigating "fresh evidence" from a CCTV camera that recorded footage of speedboat TV actress Nida "Tangmo" Pacharweerpong falling before she drowned in the Chao Phraya River last month.
Reenactment raises questions
Recently, Tangmo’s brother, Daisak, expressed doubts about the accuracy of a reenactment of events leading to her death. The reenactment, held on January 16 at Pibulsongkram Pier, depicted Tangmo falling from a boat into the Chao Phraya River on February 24, 2022. Tangmo’s death occurred after a boat trip with friends and her manager, and her body was discovered two days later.
During the reenactment, six participants, including Miss Grand beauty contestants, questioned the likelihood of Tangmo urinating at the back of the boat as claimed by one of the suspects. Despite performing the reenactment seven times, none of the participants believed the scenario was realistic.
Tangmo’s brother, visibly emotional, shared his sadness and anger on social media. He described the reenactment as painful and questioned its accuracy.
What's the whole story?
Video taken from a building by the river purportedly shows a man standing and sitting on the stern (rear) of the speedboat as the boats move along the river, before the tango falls into the water and on February 24 Let's drown in the night. The footage, the commissioner of the provincial police area 1, Pol Lieutenant General Jirapat Phumichit, said on Sunday.
He said the footage showed an unidentified man standing and sitting on the stern of the speedboat at 10:34 a.m, on 26 Feb. that night - before falling into the Tangmo River - but further investigation is needed to determine whether the person shown Is she really an actress or not? He said the police would consult film experts from the local production house to help them inspect the GPS coordinates of the boat as well as improve the clarity of the video.
As per the report of The Sun, Pacharveerpong was reportedly on a boat with her friends when she fell into the river, travelling to a restaurant. Her friends realized she was missing and spent 20 minutes searching for her. They called the police, who then sent 30 divers to search the area. Pacharavierpong's brother, Dais Dejjab, joined the search and reportedly saw "something floating" in the water. It later turned out to be the body of Pacharavirapong.
As Thai PBS reports, the matter took another turn on March 8 when police said they had no evidence of disturbances during a press conference. Major-General Yingyos Thepjumnong, the spokesman for the Royal Thai Police Poll, said his evidence indicated negligence.
The boat's owner and helmsman were both charged with causing the death of another person due to negligence, but no one else on the boat on the night of Pacharveerpong's death is yet to face criminal charges.
The spokesman said Pacharveerpong's friends admitted that he had consumed alcohol but did not say what he drank. As for the amputation in Pacheraweerpong's leg, the spokesman said it was yet to be determined whether the cut took place before or after his death.
Suspects and legal proceedings
Six people who were with Tangmo on the boat have faced scrutiny:
- Idsarin “Gatick” Juthasuksawat (Tangmo’s friend and manager)
- Wisapat “Sand” Manomairat (transwoman manager)
- Tanupat “Por” Lerttaweewit (boat owner)
- Phaiboon “Robert” Trikanjananun (unlicensed boat driver)
- Nitas “Job” Kiratisoonthisathorn (mutual friend)
- Pheem “Em” Dharmatheerasanee (advisor to the group after the accident)
Authorities have charged the group with reckless conduct causing death. Two suspects, Por and Robert, admitted their actions were reckless, while the others denied involvement.
The case has sparked widespread public interest, with many questioning the group’s actions on the night of Tangmo’s death. Some have accused them of covering up the incident, as they did not report it to the police immediately.
Despite reviewing security camera footage and Tangmo’s social media posts, no definitive evidence has emerged to explain her death.
ALSO READ: Why Justice for Tangmo Nida is trending? A complete story
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