A young man who kicked and beat an elderly scavenger following a motorcycle-tricycle crash in an alley in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district surrendered to police and claimed he was not using a mobile phone while riding the bike.
Narathorn Sodtiyang, 21, admitted to assaulting Charoon Maneepan, 82, in a fit of anger after the elderly man allegedly knocked down his motorcycle with his push-cart tricycle and tried to flee without paying attention to him. The young man turned himself in at Huai Khwang police station on Wednesday night.
Mr Narathorn said he regretted it and would foot the medical bills for the treatment. He insisted he was not using a mobile phone while riding his bike at the time.
But footage of a clip contradicted his claims and he was held in police custody on assault charges.
The attacker drew a barrage of criticism online after a clip showing him kicking the elderly man pedalling his tricycle on Soi Chan Muang 2 in Din Daeng area on Tuesday evening was posted on a popular Facebook page, @queentogetherisone, on Wednesday.
The man was seen using a mobile phone while riding his bike which hit the tricycle at the time. His bike swerved and fell. The scavenger looked back and later pedalled his tricycle slowly. Shortly later, the man walked towards him and suddenly kicked him in full view of other people. Another man tried to intervene, but the angry attacker did not stop. He continued his attack on the elderly man until the latter was unconscious.
Mr Charoon was being treated at Rajavithi Hospital.
Pol Col Kamphon Rattanapratheep, chief of Huai Kwang police station, said the clip was heartbreaking and the act was unacceptable.
Kerdchot Kasemwongchit, deputy director-general of Justice Ministry’s Rights and Liberties Protection Department, said his office would provide assistance to the victim.
Mr Charoon would be given medical payments of up to 40,000 baht and another 20,000 baht for physical and mental rehabilitation. Compensation payments of up to 50,000 baht would also be given to him. The department would also provide him with legal assistance.
Mrs Charuay Jarit-ek, wife of the victim, said her husband now regained consciousness, and the injuries to his left eyebrow were treated. He was still under medical care as he had high blood pressure.
The family said they forgave the attacker after he apologised to them. He promised to cover the medical expenses and give them compensation. The family would let police proceed with legal action.
Clip taken from @queentogetherisone's Facebook page
