The Justice Minister has threatened to fire a probation officer assigned to the case of a teen hit-and-text driver if it is found the officer “harassed” her over her community service.
Paiboon Kumchaya said he would dismiss the official if the claims of Orachorn “Praewa” Thephasadin Na Ayudhya, whose family has filed a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman Thailand accusing the Probation Department of “threatening her,” Thai PBS reported.
Praewa caused a car crash in 2010 when her car collided with a commuter van, sending it plummeting from the Don Mueang elevated expressway, resulting in nine deaths and four injured people. She was unlicensed and at 17, had not reached the legal age to drive.
She became the focus of public anger when she was photographed resting against a barrier and chatting on her phone while the bodies of van passengers littered the road below.
However she was spared from spending a single day in jail and instead was ordered to do 48 hours of community service per year for four years.
The Nonthaburi Probation Office claims she has not performed any legitimate community service over the last three years, and has given the excuse that she was “busy with her studies.”
Praewa claimed through her lawyer that she had carried out community service at Phramongkutklao Hospital, which does not comply with the department’s rules for her community service because the hospital is outside Nonthaburi province where she resides.
Ombudsman General Withawat Rachatanant confirmed that an investigation was underway regarding Praewa’s complaint of harassment.
The justice minister added that any accusation against parole officials without evidence would harm the reputation of the department.
Related:
‘Too busy’: Hit-and-text teen driver accused of breaching community service order
Hit-and-text driver to pay THB20 million for 9 lost lives
Honda hit-and-text girl officially off the hook
Court upholds (gentle) wrist-slap for Honda hit-and-texter Praewa
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