Thai actress Nida “Tango” Patcharavirapong’s five sailing buddies are set to pass polygraph tests – again.
This is the recommendation of Senator Somchai Sawangkarn, Chairman of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, Consumer Rights, Freedoms and Protection. He made the statement to the media after a meeting on Monday, during which he heard reports from police and medical examiners involved in the ongoing investigation.
Somchai recommended the polygraph tests because witnesses have given conflicting statements to police and the case has seen very little progress, after nearly a month of investigation, while the media circus surrounding them continues.
The senator said he also suspected the five boating mates might have been coached by someone before being questioned by police. And he suggested that the police try to locate the actress’ skirt, saying it could provide an additional clue.
Notably, Tango was shown wearing a white skirt around her waist in photographs taken the night she died. The item of clothing was not found on the actress’ body when it was found in the Chao Phraya River two days after the incident. But the garment has not yet been located.
Somchai also said police will be asked to review some details of the ongoing investigation, including Tangmo’s skirt, a bruise on her chest, the deep wound on her thigh and a blood sample. He said the police had been asked to be “transparent” in their investigation of the evidence. The late actress’ mother reportedly asked the senator to closely monitor the investigation into her daughter’s death.
The senator said that at this stage of the investigation, the committee will not call anyone to provide additional information, but will review meeting summaries, autopsy results, CCTV footage and other evidence. in his next discussion.
But this is not the first time polygraphs have been mentioned in the survey. Last month, national police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk said police would use polygraphs during the interrogation of the five boaters to aid in the investigation, the Bangkok Post reported.
Since then, there has been no news whether the five witnesses actually underwent polygraph tests and, if so, what the results were. It is unclear why they would have to undergo a second round of polygraph tests, if the police had already used them once before.
Police also conducted five days of boat reconstructions with each of the witnesses, to determine the events that took place on the speedboat that night. But police say the witnesses gave contradictory statements, leading them to believe they lied.
The five people who were on board the boat are boat owner Tanupat “Por” Lerttaweewit, unlicensed skipper Phaiboon “Bert” Trikanjananun, Nitas “Job” Kiratisoothisathorn, Tangmo manager Idsarin “Gatick” Juthasuksawat and Wisapat “Sand ” Manomairat, a transgender woman.
Police said earlier the five would likely be charged with making a false statement and recklessness resulting in death. But the inquest is dragging on – Wednesday marking a month since Tangmo drowned in the Chao Phraya River on the night of February 24. Police have yet to determine why she fell off the boat and who was to blame.
Last week, the Justice Department set up a panel of forensic experts to review the actress’ body re-examination, which took place on March 16.
Notably, Senator Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunan, a Senate committee member and forensic expert, says the first autopsy was fairly thorough and she doesn’t believe the late actress was assaulted.
She said the existing evidence was not sufficient to determine the actress’ death was an act of premeditated murder, but rather a “homicide”. said Dr. Pornthip
Meanwhile, Somchai said the panel received and reviewed the results of both autopsies, which were similar. Notably, Tangmo’s head showed no signs of impact and his teeth were not broken. As for the leg injury, authorities are still awaiting the results of a tissue examination to determine the cause.
THE SOURCE: MCO | Thai PBS World | Bangkok Post
