PDRC guards accused of assault

A pregnant teen woman has filed a complaint with police that her husband had been assaulted and badly injured by security guards of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

The complaint was filed at Phaya Thai police station at noon on Sunday by Nantawadee Maleechom, 17. Ms Nantawadee accused the PDRC guards of beating and stabbing Thanakrit Pinwiset, a 29-year-old ice delivery man, in front of Channel 5 television station on Phaholyothin Road late on Saturday night.

According to the complainant, she was travelling in a pickup truck with Mr Thanakrit to deliver ice to a customer. It was raining at the time and the truck Mr Thanakrit was driving hit traffic cones placed near the roadside opposite Channel 5 by the guards because of poor visibility.

Ms Nantawadee, who is four months pregnant, said after the collision a group of guards assaulted her husband and one of them stabbed him with a knife. She then fled in panic. Mr Thanakrit was admitted to nearby Ratchawithi Hospital at 11pm where he was treated in intensive care for a punctured lung and liver.

Pol Col Wichai Dangpradub, chief of Phaya Thai police station’s investigation unit, said it was believed Mr Thanakrit may have had an argument with the guards before the assault. Police are conducting further inquiries and plan to accompany Ms Nantawadee to the spot where her husband was assaulted, Pol Col Wichai said.

The PDRC demonstrators rallied at Channel 5 and other free-to-air television stations on Friday and returned to their main rally site at Lumpini Park on Sunday afternoon.



