BANGKOK — The final week of 2024’s year-end celebrations was marked by at least three devastating alcohol-related incidents. Each incident has deeply shaken society in its own way.
In Hat Yai, an intoxicated man, enraged at a restaurant server, opened fire in a rice porridge restaurant, killing parents who were protecting their young children. In Nakhon Ratchasima, a 75-year-old drunk driver crashed into a police officer and seriously injured schoolchildren. In Chanthaburi, a 27-year-old TikTok star with intellectual disabilities died after excessive drinking at a party.
The first two cases involved children as victims, while the final case highlighted the struggles of a special needs individual who endured bullying for money to support himself and his elderly grandmother.
Death for 30,000 Baht?
Bank Lester, whose real name was Thanakarn Kanthee, was born in a Bangkok slum and lived with his impoverished grandmother after his parents separated when he was just two months old. By age seven, he was selling flower garlands on the streets to make a living.
He later gained social media fame as a special needs individual who would perform outrageous acts for money and likes, often subjecting himself to humiliation. His acts included fighting in underground fight clubs, riding motorcycles into water, being secretly filmed while bathing, eating unsanitary items, and even consuming lubricant gel. His final act involved drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
Bank Lester died at age 27 on Christmas night at a party where he was videoed consuming straight liquor. Before his death from shock, a post questioned whether drinking so heavily was worth 30,000 baht. His death prompted an outpouring of grief online, with netizens calling for police investigation into the cause and those responsible, as well as support for his elderly grandmother.
On December 26, Police Lieutenant General Yingyot Thepchamnong, Commander of Provincial Police Region 2, revealed that the case is under investigation by Thung Benja Police Station. Initial autopsy results showed acute heart failure as the cause of death. Forensic doctors have collected tissue samples, bodily fluids, blood, and stomach contents for laboratory testing.
The police have interviewed five witnesses, including the party host’s mother, the deceased’s friend named Thanakarn, event witnesses, the video recorder, and a suspect allegedly involved in paying for the drinking. Initially, all denied paying Bank Lester to drink.
However, later some of the witnesses stated that money was offered to Bank Lester for drinking, at 10,000 baht per 350ml bottle. This led him to drink at least two 350ml bottles and 1 glass of liquor, plus 1/4 bottle of beer. The police are currently investigating to proceed with legal action.
Drunk Driving Tragedy at School
Police Lieutenant Wimut Taensupho, Deputy Traffic Inspector at Nakhon Ratchasima City Police Station, was well-known to students, parents, and teachers at Ban Don Khwang School for helping children cross the street. On December 23, around 4 PM, while riding his motorcycle for his usual after-school duty, he was struck and killed by a car driven by Somsak Asaichaow, a 75-year-old former provincial agricultural officer.
The elderly driver lost control, hitting students and teachers in front of the school, causing multiple casualties. When rescue workers pulled him from the car, they detected a strong alcohol odor. He was too intoxicated to give a consistent answer about what he had drunk – wine, beer, or spirits. His breathalyzer test at the hospital showed 197 mg of alcohol, far exceeding the legal limit of 50 mg.
Somsak was charged with drunk driving causing death and injury and released on 150,000 baht bail.
Shooting Takes Parents’ Lives
A couple who died protecting their children during the restaurant shooting were cremated on December 26 in Pa Bon, Phatthalung province.
The incident occurred on their son’s 12th birthday at a rice porridge restaurant in Hat Yai, Songkhla. The mother died shielding her 6-year-old daughter, while the father was fatally shot in the head trying to protect his family.
The suspect, 50-year-old Akarapont Phamjamnong, a former Territorial Defense Volunteer, has been charged with murder for killing the married couple Sittipong and Ms. Orachon, attempted murder for injuring three others, including the female rice porridge restaurant owner who was shot in her left eye and lost her vision.
Additionally, he faces charges of firing a weapon in a community area and illegally carrying a firearm in public. Before being detained after being denied bail, he raised his hands in apology and expressed remorse for the incident, apologizing to the victims’ families.
He stated that he acted out of rage and refused to comment further, saying he had already given his statement during the investigation and would accept the consequences of his actions.
While many government and private sector organizations have offered educational support for the two orphaned children, this senseless act of alcohol-fueled violence highlights ongoing concerns about both alcohol control and gun violence in society.
In response to these incidents, Sastra Sripan, spokesperson for the Tourism Committee, announced that the committee will propose amendments to gun possession laws. Currently, the penalty for carrying firearms outside of official duties is limited to a fine not exceeding 10,000 baht, which the committee considers insufficient to create an effective deterrent in society.
____________
