At 10am yesterday (21st July 2026), Somkid Kantiya, Chiang Mai Constituency 5 MP for the People’s Party, accompanied Suta (no surname given), 37, a Myanmar national and wife of Thun-i, 36, along with more than 100 elephant camp workers and other representatives from Mae Taeng district, to the front of the Provincial Police headquarters building. They submitted a letter to the Region 5 Police Commissioner and relevant officers seeking justice and urging authorities to speed up the investigation into Thun-i’s case.
On the night of 14th July 69, Thun-i was allegedly abducted along with his motorcycle by a group of armed men who had set up a checkpoint on the road in front of the Kiat Khang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation Kindergarten in Mae Taeng district. He was later found unconscious at the roadside on the Ban Chang-Pang Mai Daeng road, with severe injuries from a violent assault. He remains in the ICU of a Chiang Mai hospital in a coma and has not regained consciousness.
Footage subsequently circulated showing the abduction and alleged assault was reportedly carried out by officers from Border Patrol Police Sub-Division 33 in San Sai district, raising concerns that the case might not be handled fairly given the suspects’ status as police officers, prompting today’s rally.
The gathering was peaceful. Pol Maj Gen Yutthana Kaenchan, Chiang Mai Provincial Police Commander, received the complaint letter from the protesters and Suta in person, telling reporters that the injured man remains in ICU and has not yet been able to give a statement. Initial investigations indicate the operation was carried out by a narcotics unit under Border Patrol Police Sub-Division 33. After questioning circumstantial and secondhand witnesses, along with the roughly five officers said to have been on duty at the checkpoint, two have so far come forward to investigators at Mae Taeng Police Station and been charged under Section 157 (malfeasance in office) on a preliminary basis. The remaining three are still being contacted to surrender.
Police say they are treating the case seriously and will ensure fairness to all parties despite the suspects’ status as officers. Evidence gathering is expected to take around 30 days, after which the case will be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Police urged the injured man’s family to report immediately any evidence of assault or extortion, saying they were ready to assist at every stage.
The Provincial Police Commander added that the remaining three officers were expected to surrender later today (20th July 69). Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai Phongwiwatchai, Deputy Commissioner of Region 5 Police, travelled to Mae Taeng Police Station to personally follow up on the case. The unit leader on duty that night, believed to hold the rank of police captain, has given a preliminary statement claiming he was carrying out legitimate duties, and that the victim fell from the back of a pickup truck while being transported. He said the victim did not appear seriously hurt at the time, so he was left at the location where he was later found, while officers intended to take him back to their unit. Police noted this account has not yet been corroborated by other witnesses.
As the injured man remains unable to give a statement, further details are not yet available. Police said they would act immediately once he is able to provide an account, and reaffirmed their commitment to seeking justice on his behalf.
Suta, Thun-i’s wife, said she felt reassured after hearing from the commander and hoped those responsible would be brought to justice, saying what happened to her husband was excessive. She said she was heartbroken over his condition and feared he may never be able to return to his former work, adding that he is the family’s main breadwinner and appealing for justice for her husband and family.
