Public opinion in Thailand is shocked following an incident on 2/7 in Mukdahan province, northeastern Thailand. An 11-year-old boy drove a pickup truck at high speed into a Buddhist procession, killing 10 monks. The tragedy has raised questions about how authorities will handle the case.
Preliminary police investigations revealed the boy secretly took his family's pickup truck without parental permission. He drove for about 10 km before losing control and causing the tragic accident. The monks were on a pilgrimage from a temple in Mukdahan province to the nearby Ubon Ratchathani province.
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Scene of the accident where the boy drove into a group of monks in Mukdahan province, northeastern Thailand, on 2/7. *AFP* |
Amid public outrage, the Thai Parliament Archival Institute (PRT) clarified the legal regulations applicable to the boy and his parents.
The PRT cited Article 73 of the Thai Criminal Code, which stipulates that children aged 12 or younger who commit an offense are not criminally liable. Instead, investigators must refer such cases to the relevant authorities under the Child Protection Act to determine appropriate measures.
The agency also referenced Article 56 of the Road Traffic Act 1979. This article prohibits vehicle owners from entrusting their vehicles to individuals without a driver's license or those with an inappropriate license. Violators face an administrative fine of up to 2,000 baht (approximately 60 USD).
Furthermore, the PRT invoked Article 429 of the Civil and Commercial Code. This article holds parents or guardians jointly responsible for damages caused by minors, unless they can demonstrate that they exercised careful supervision but were still unable to prevent the outcome.
These legal provisions were highlighted by the PRT as Thai police continue their investigation into the accident's circumstances.
The boy's mother met with police after the accident, stating that her son secretly drove away with the car without her or his father's knowledge. She added that immediately after discovering the situation, she called the 191 emergency hotline, but officers could not intercept the vehicle before it crashed into the monks.
Phairoj Thaiphutra, the Mukdahan provincial police chief, reported that police have not yet been able to take the boy's statement, as he remains in shock following the incident. Police affirmed that any further legal action would proceed in accordance with Thai law.
Ngoc Anh (According to Thaiger, AFP)
