Police are set to question 60 army officers and a private over the death of a soldier who was found unconscious at a Surat Thani military base and later died.
An initial autopsy result showed the private died from cardiovascular system failure.
Wichob Keodklieng, deputy chief of Surat Thani provincial police, said yesterday investigators have been unable to identify the cause of his heart failure.
They had to wait for forensic results from the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok. The agency was examining internal organs and a biopsy retrieved from the body of Pvt Noppadol Worakitpan, 21, who was attached to the Vibhavadi Rangsit Military Camp in Surat Thani.
The results are expected to come out within two weeks, he said.
Pol Col Wichob, who is in charge of the case, yesterday met Maj Gen Wichai Thatsanamonthien, chief of the 45th Military Circle overseeing the camp, to seek permission to question around 60 army privates who also faced disciplinary punishment with Pvt Noppadol on the night he was disciplined.
Investigators also inspected the camp, including its armoury, where Pvt Noppadol was captured on CCTV before he was taken away by two senior conscripts on a motorcycle.
The soldier's family later found him unconscious in his bedroom and bleeding from the nose and mouth, according to his mother, Malaiporn Worakitpan. He was rushed to Surat Thani Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Ms Malaiporn said her son had returned home with two other conscripts on Saturday night, and complained that he was feeling tired.
She added that the two other conscripts had told her daughter that Pvt Noppadol had been physically disciplined in the camp.
Pol Col Wichob said police also inspected a dormitory where the deceased was stationed during 7.40pm-8.40pm on Saturday.
"Police have questioned more than 10 army privates and Pvt Noppadol's relatives who witnessed the incident. All privates on the night of the incident will also be rigorously questioned," he said.
On Monday, all military officers who witnessed the disciplinary punishment which Pvt Noppadol received on Saturday night were also questioned by Maj Gen Wichai. Only Pvt Noppadol's family was allowed in the interrogation room, and the media barred.
Pvt Noppadol was punished after he sneaked out from the camp to fraternise with other soldiers and smoke a cigarette.
All CCTV footage featuring the disciplinary punishment and other activities of Pvt Noppadol that day was examined. The footage showed Pvt Noppadol had not been assaulted either before or during his punishment.
The nature of each disciplinary action was explained to the family by Maj Gen Wichai.
Ms Malaiporn said she acknowledged the initial autopsy result which indicated her son died of a heart attack. After reviewing the footage, she ruled out physical punishment being responsible for his death.
However, she remained sceptical that the evidence is conclusive and said questions still need to be answered.
