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5 Speedboat Passengers Face Lie Detector Tests Over Nida’s Death
In response to allegations of foul play in the death of TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong last week, police plan to use lie detectors when questioning people who were on a speedboat with her when she fell into the Chao Phraya River and drowned.
Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, chief of the national police, said on Monday that lie detector tests would facilitate the investigation.
The national police chief said “every answer from Nida’s friends should be backed up by reasons… The police will look into who was contacted after the incident … and if there was any physical assault. The police will clarify if there was any dispute or life insurance involved.”
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Nida’s mother Mrs.Panida Siriyutthayothin said she didn’t believe her daughter’s death was an accident and suspected foul play.
As part of the investigation into the death of the 37-year-old personality who fell from a speedboat into the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi last Thursday night, Pol Gen Suwat met with officials at the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau on Monday.
Nonthaburi Police Chief Chaturon Aksornbundit said lie detectors would be used when questioning Tanupat “Por” Lerttaweewit, the owner of the speedboat, Phaiboon “Bert” Trikanjananun, Nita’s “Job” Kiratisoothisathorn, Tangmo’s manager Idsarin “Gatick” Juthasuksawat and Wisapat ”
In this way, the investigators hoped to get a better understanding of what happened, he said.
On Monday, the police chief in Nonthaburi presented his initial report to Pol Gen Suwat.
Speedboat passengers give the same story
According to Pol Col Chaturon, the initial accounts of all five people were virtually identical, but police were looking into all possible angles that might interest society.
Nonthaburi Police sent the deceased actress’s mobile phone to the office for an examination. The examination should be concluded by this week, Pol Col Siriwat Deepor, deputy commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau said.
Mr. Tanupat, the speedboat owner, and Mr. Phaiboon, who was driving the boat when Nida fell to her death, have already been charged.
Among the charges they face are operating an unlicensed vessel and negligently causing death.
The second charge is punishable by a fine of 200,000 baht and/or ten years in prison. It has been reported that both men have been released on bail on Sunday.
On Thursday night, around 10:40 pm, the Channel 7 TV actress fell off the speedboat into the river. It took until about 1 pm on Saturday to locate her body.
Her companions on the speedboat said that she went to the back of the boat to relieve herself and fell into the river.
