NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: A post mortem examination had found that a recently conscripted soldier died of a chronic health condition, not as a result of physical assault as his mother had suspected, a senior military spokesman said on Tuesday.
Col Pramot Phrom-in, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, said the results of the postmortem on Pvt Adisak Noiphithak, 21, a conscipt at Thep Satri Si Sunthon military camp, Infantry Division 5, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, clearly showed he died of “peritonitis” and “peptic ulcer perforation”.
The forensic examination was performed by Songklanagarind Hospital, which is part of the Prince of Songkhla University. Dr Chalida Chumyuang had reported on Monday that these two health conditions had resulted in severe and lethal infections in the soldier’s abdominal cavity.
Dr Chalida also reported that neither injuries nor bone fractures were found. Certain blue and purple marks found on Adisak's body were believed to have been caused by the infection, which had discoloured the skin.
The doctor said a further examination would be carried out to ascertain what actually caused these marks, if the dead conscript's family wants the forensic team to do so.
Adisak's mother, Tueanchai Khongsanit, 52, however, said on Monday she clearly understood and was convinced by the forensic finding, despite her previous doubts about the cause of her son’s death.
Ms Tueanchai earlier lodged a complaint with the police and in a post on a popular Facebook page had said she suspected her son died after being physically beaten.
Cpl Pramote said the army expresses its condolences to the family of the dead soldier and would ensure they received appropriate welfare assistance, including help funding the funeral.
Big Krian, a popular Facebook page, had published a story about Pvt Adisak, who was pronounced dead on Saturday, Nov 11, at the hospital of the military camp where he was in training.
The Facebook story dealt mainly with Ms Tueanchai’s doubts about her son’s death. She said at the time she was not convinced by the information provided by the military hospital that her son died from sudden heart failure.
She also said she saw blue and purple marks all over his body, which she suspected were the result of his having been physically assaulted.
