Thai judge criticizes judicial system; shoots himself in court
A judge in Thailand shot himself in a packed courtroom after acquitting five Muslim murder suspects on Friday in a provincial court in the city of Yala. Reportedly, the judge, Kanakorn Pianchana, criticized the kingdom's judicial system in a speech broadcast on Facebook Live. Judge Pianchana then shot himself in the chest. He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. Here are more details.
Judge was presiding over gun murder case
On Friday afternoon, Judge Pianchana was presiding over a gun murder case involving five Muslim suspects, Agence France-Presse reported. Addressing the court, the judge said, "You need clear and credible evidence to punish someone." He added, "So if you're not sure, don't punish them. I'm not saying that the five defendants didn't commit the crimes, they might have done so."
'Punishing wrong people makes them scapegoats'
"But the judicial process needs to be transparent and credible...punishing wrong people makes them scapegoats," the judge continued with his speech, broadcast live on Facebook. Thereafter, the live feed was cut, but witnesses say he delivered a legal oath before shooting himself in the chest.
Judge 'out of danger'; receiving treatment
However, the judge survived his apparent suicide bid and was rushed to a hospital. Speaking to AFP on Saturday, Suriyan Hongvilai, the spokesman of the Office of the Judiciary, said, "He is being treated by the doctors and is out of danger." He added, "He shot himself because of 'personal stress'. But the cause behind the stress is not clear and will be investigated."
Senior judges allegedly interfered with verdict
According to local media, Judge Pianchana purportedly shared a 25-page document on Facebook on Friday wherein he described interference in the case. Senior judges were allegedly forcing him to change his verdict to guilty for the five suspects despite lack of evidence. "[If] I cannot keep my oath of office, I'd rather die than live without honor," he said in the document.
No judge ever breached protocol in this manner: Hongvilai
The Office of the Judiciary spokesperson added that no judge has ever breached protocol by delivering such statements. Meanwhile, in the insurgency-hit south Thailand, advocacy groups allege that security forces often trump up charges against Muslim suspects in the Malay-Muslim majority region.
