AYUTTHAYA — Two police officers were given warnings – one written and the other verbal – for their failure to conduct a sobriety test on a millionaire who killed two people with his Mercedes-Benz in March.
The Ayutthaya provincial police commander characterized that decision a “minor” mistake, because investigators’ case against Jenphop Viraporn, 37, was largely unaffected, and the suspect is now charged with driving under the influence, in addition to fatal reckless driving offenses.
Fatal Benz Crash Case Reaches Prosecutor’s Office
“There was a minor error in our investigation,” said Maj. Gen. Sutthi Puangpikul Monday, a day after Jenphop, who’s free on bail, was ordained as a monk in a bid to “redeem his sin” for killing Krissana Thaworn and Thantapat Horsaengchai in the fiery March 13 car crash.
Meanwhile one of the victim’s loved ones has rejected the version of events laid out in Jenphop’s campaign to rehabilitate his image.
The two officers placed under investigation were Lt. Col. Somsak Polpankwang of the Phra-Inracha Police Station, the officer who visited Jenphop at hospital after the crash and failed to get a blood test from the suspect, and station chief Col. Pongpat Suksawasdi.
Pongpat in particular drew widespread ire on social media for defending Somsak’s decision not to insist on the blood test during a live interview with Nation TV. Pongpat said Jenphop had the right to refuse a sobriety test, contrary to what the law says.