Bangkok: Minister of Justice urges Corrections Department to release full CCTV footage to solve the case of “Former Superintendent Joe” and to cooperate with police in the investigation.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, revealed after establishing a subcommittee to screen facts in the torture and enforced disappearance cases to investigate the facts of the death in prison of ‘former Superintendent Joe’ that he is currently urging the Department of Corrections and all relevant agencies to bring out all available evidence to clarify, especially issues that the public and relatives are suspicious of, but it must not violate the law or violate the privacy rights of others. He asked that this case be separated into two parts: the death case and the motive case leading to the death. As for the subcommittee’s observation of the meeting with the director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice yesterday, there is no report yet. Time is needed to work, but he insists that we are sorry for the bereaved and what they want most is justice, which the Ministry of Justice will come to help take care of this matter.
As for the family still being concerned about the Corrections Department’s press conference, which conflicts with the facts that the family has received, Pol. Col. Thawee said that if there is a mediator to investigate quickly, and there are police officers in the subcommittee, they must act straightforwardly as a mediator, even if the incident occurred in prison, the prison must cooperate with the police.
As for the previous news that the prison obstructed the police from questioning ‘former Superintendent Joe’ in the case of being physically assaulted, there is a medical certificate from the Corrections Department Hospital clearly stating that he was hit in the torso with a hard object. If an investigation finds that the action falls under the Prevention of Torture Act, the Department of Corrections already has administrative measures. As for the guards who actually assaulted the prisoners, they will face severe disciplinary punishment, including criminal prosecution without exception. However, all sides of the facts must be thoroughly investigated first. It is also emphasized that according to regulations, if a criminal offense occurs, no matter where in the country, including in prisons, the police must be able to investigate. Regulations must not be more important than the rights of the people. However, there may be a problem of miscommunication.
Although the former director Joe has passed away, the criminal case is not over yet because the perpetrator is still alive until the statute of limitations expires. It can be investigated from other evidence such as circumstantial evidence, CCTV footage, and witness testimony. It is believed that there is no concealment of evidence because all the evidence obtained came from the prison. He also emphasized that the Department of Corrections should release the full CCTV footage that has not been edited and the Director-General of the Department of Corrections should also allow its release.
Pol. Col. Thawee confirmed that he is trying to upgrade prisons to be places of rehabilitation, to allow people to have new lives and become new people going out into society, because prisons are not in conflict with anyone. If anyone makes a mistake and goes to prison, there must be a verdict from the court, but prisons are not courts. We must not be prejudiced against anyone. If anyone asks if it is a twilight zone, they will have to ask the villagers.
Pol. Col. Tawi added that he wanted the Corrections Department to make a statement. Joe was not in solitary confinement all day, only when he slept. During the day, he was released and then he slept. Normally, a room like this could accommodate five people, but the Superintendent Joe wanted to be alone. In prison, what an inmate needs the most is a place to sleep. As for the initial case where Joe was said to have a mental illness, it was because the officers found that he was paranoid and acting out. When the doctor was asked, he said that his anxiety was not a mental illness, so they had to follow the doctor’s advice. However, for the investigation of the officers, in this case, when someone died, it was considered a serious disciplinary violation. All guards must be investigated.
