2 weeks Ago
Ten years ago today, Phanuthat Saksitthipan and his five-year-old daughter Narasiri, affectionately known as "Nong Cartoon," were preparing to close their family's steakhouse in Bangkok's Bang Bon district. Her mother, Saranya Chamni, was busy in the kitchen when a horrific event unfolded. A runaway pickup truck, driven by Nampueng Jaisa-ngiam, crashed into the shop.
The impact killed Phanuthat, 42, while Nong Cartoon suffered extensive brain damage despite being wrapped in her father's arms. Now 15 years old, Nong Cartoon remains severely disabled: she is blind and partially deaf. She has also been bedridden since the incident, with 75% of her brain damaged.
Her mother, Saranya, has become the family's sole provider, running the steakhouse while tending to her daughter's medical needs and costly bills. The case received a lot of public attention and garnered sympathy for the victims. It went all the way to the Supreme Court, which sentenced Nampueng to one year in prison for reckless driving.
She was also ordered to pay 6.3 million baht in compensation to the victims' family. The saying that no one escapes "the long arm of the law" has proven too idealistic in this situation.
Over the years, Nampueng has defied the court order and avoided paying compensation by allegedly changing her name and ensuring she held no assets. Today marks the tenth anniversary of this tragic accident. It is also on this day that the statute of limitations for the compensation case expires.
With the perpetrator allegedly exploiting legal loopholes to avoid payment, Saranya concluded that it was a losing battle. She also conceded the legal process appears stacked against victims like her and her daughter. Leading figures, including Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, said there is still hope as Saranya can petition for an extension of the deadline to track down the perpetrator's assets.
However, it does not seem to make much difference. In the end, the burden of chasing down the payment legally owed to Saranya and her daughter still falls solely on the victim. Whether anything can still be done to help Saranya pursue justice, her ordeal should serve as a reminder that in many cases, help is needed for victims to enforce court orders.
The loopholes that allow those responsible to evade accountability must be addressed to ensure that justice is effectively served. Mr Tawee mentioned that the Justice Fund, under the Justice Ministry, may be explored as it was set up to assist individuals in accessing the justice system and pursuing justice. With the tragedy befalling Nong Cartoon and her mother being a case in point, it is hoped the justice minister will stay true to his word and find a long-term solution which will go a long way towards easing the burden for people in similar situations.
The plight of Nong Cartoon and her family illustrates the importance of road safety and responsible driving -- two issues that Thailand has struggled to manage. This kind of tragedy should not be allowed to happen again. That is why all possible measures must be taken to keep irresponsible drivers off the road, and ensure that those who violate road safety regulations are held accountable.
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