The family of a 17-year-old Myanmar worker found dead with a gunshot wound to the head has lodged a petition with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) calling for a follow-up investigation after local police ruled the death a suicide.
Accompanied by an official from the Myanmar embassy, the dead girl's 47-year-old mother said she suspected foul play in the death of her daughter and wanted a thorough probe.
The teenage girl worked as a housemaid in Ratchaburi's Ban Pong district along with her 22-year-old sister, who quit the job on the same day, shortly before the incident.
The victim was found dead on Aug 6 this year at her employer's house. The weapon used was reportedly owned by her employer.
While the family, which sought help from the Myanmar embassy, suspected foul play, investigators ruled the death a suicide.
According to the family, there were several questions that were left unanswered.
These included two spent bullet shells found next to the body and the gunshot wound to the girl's right temple despite her being left-handed.
The family also claimed the victim did not know how to use a firearm.
The victim's older sister said she left the job on Aug 6, the day her sister died, and learned about the death the following morning.
She claimed she quit the job because she could not put up with pressure put on her by her employer, who always found fault with their work and often complained.
She told the CSD that she did not believe her sister took her own life.
The Myanmar official said the embassy requested the details of the probe from local police after the case was ruled as suicide but had got no response so far.
He hoped the CSD would launch a thorough investigation into the case and clear up any doubts.
Pol Col Phumin Phumpanmuang, a CSD investigator, said the complaint was accepted and a team would be dispatched to Ratchaburi to gather more information and evidence. He said the CSD took statements from the complainants and would forward the case to his supervisors for a decision.
