A woman is seeking justice for the death of her husband, who she says was brutally beaten in Samut Prakan central prison only a short time before he was due to be released.
The inmate died on Wednesday. His wife posted pictures on her Wanicha Ouyub Facebook account yesterday showing him with severe bruising all over his body.
The photos went viral, drawing criticism of prison authorities by social media users.
Ms Wanicha wrote that a prison official phoned her on Wednesday evening and said her husband had died of unknown causes. She said she was shocked as she had visited him on Monday morning and he seemed fine.
She went to Bang Bo Hospital in Samut Prakan, where his body was sent, and saw the heavy bruising on his back and left arm. There was also a dark bruise behind his left ear and traces of binding on both hands, she wrote.
She asked the warden who took her husband's body to the hospital what had happened and was informed that he was among 18 inmates who were punished for some wrongdoing. Only her husband died, however.
The woman said she was not convinced by that story and suspects he was tortured. She asked why wardens had to assault an inmate who had always assisted with work at the prison and was soon to be released.
She, their three children and his parents had been looking forward to him coming home, she said.
She called for justice and urged netizens to share her post.
The popular Facebook page @queentogetherisone picked up her story yesterday, drawing strong criticism of prison officials from readers.
Shortly after it went viral, Corrections Department director-general Narat Sawettanan ordered an investigation into the man's death.
Pol Col Narat said he had received a report from Samut Prakan central prison chief, Krit Wongdet, that the late inmate had been involved in the drug trade while incarcerated. The prison had disciplined him for that, he said.
The department moved Mr Krit and four of his subordinates to work at the Corrections Department so the probe could be undertaken without interference, Pol Col Narat said.
He said the department has set up a committee to investigate whether the prison chief and his warders had overreacted, leading to the inmate's death.
Torture is against department policy and unacceptable, Pol Col Narat said.
