Thai court orders 4.9 million baht payout over soldier beaten to death in army camp

The Civil Court of Thailand has ordered the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) and the Royal Thai Army to pay compensation totalling 4,951,000 baht to the mother of a conscript who was beaten to death in a military detention facility in 2017. The verdict was delivered on 29 June 2026.

As reported by local media, the case was brought by Mrs Renu Modraki, mother of Private Yutthakinan Boonniam, who filed a tort claim against 13 defendants, including MinDef and the Army, seeking 4,131,000 baht (US$124,000) in damages plus interest. The court ruled in her favour, ordering defendants to pay the full principal sum and accrued interest.

Private Yutthakinan was a conscript from the 2015 first intake assigned to the 45th Military Circle in Surat Thani province. In March 2017, he was accused of insubordination and misconduct, and was sentenced to 15 days of confinement. Upon transfer to the 15th Military Circle prison on 27 March 2017, a urine test detected drugs, leading authorities to shackle him. Lieutenant Thitikarn Wetchasit, defendant 13 and the supervising officer, ordered him to perform 300 push-ups three times daily as punishment.

That night, between roughly 9:00 p.m. on 27 March and 1:20 a.m. on 28 March, several soldier defendants — defendants 4 through 11 — were drinking alcohol near the prison together with Sergeant Surachet Promsart, defendant 12, and Lieutenant Wetchasit.

At approximately 1:20 a.m., four of the soldiers woke Private Yutthakinan and ordered three fellow prisoner-privates to assault him. According to the plaintiff's case, the beating lasted several minutes before the soldiers held the deceased's head against the cell bars, tied his arms to the bars with cloth, and continued the assault. Several soldiers then joined in punching and kicking the deceased.

At one point, a plastic bag with holes was placed over Private Yutthakinan's head. At around 2:01 a.m., the soldiers left the cell, leaving the deceased naked on the floor. They returned approximately 20 minutes later for further assault. At 3:40 a.m., three of the prisoner-defendants tied the private's ankles to the bars, leaving him suspended upside down with a wet towel covering his face.

When prisoners were called for morning roll call at 6:00 a.m., fellow conscripts helped free Private Yutthakinan from the bars. Despite visible bruising across his body and a laceration above his eyebrow, the duty officer ordered him to stand in the sun in front of the cafeteria. He collapsed to the ground.

Lieutenant Wetchasit, upon seeing the private's condition, ordered an assistant guard to take him to bathe and bring him to the dining table, and then struck him twice with a bamboo stick. No medical attention was provided.

Between 29 and 30 March, Private Yutthakinan was reportedly still made to lie in the sun despite his deteriorating condition. On 31 March, he developed a severely swollen head and high fever. He was transferred first to Vibhavadi Hospital, which referred him to Surat Thani Hospital, where he subsequently died. A forensic examination found multiple lacerations across his body. The cause of death was determined to be kidney failure, acidosis, and kidney overload.

The 45th Military Circle Court had previously found defendants 3 to 13 guilty of criminal offences. Defendants 3, 4, 5, and 8 each received six-year prison sentences for torturing another person causing death. Defendants 6, 7, 9, and 11 each received eight-year terms. Defendant 10 received five years and four months. Sergeant Promsart, defendant 12, was convicted of disobedience, neglect, and joint assault, and sentenced to six years. Lieutenant Wetchasit, defendant 13, was convicted of disobedience, neglect of duty, and joint assault, receiving a three-year sentence.

In the civil proceedings, the court found that the actions of defendants 3 to 13 constituted torts against Private Yutthakinan and his mother. As they served under MinDef and the Army, the court held all parties jointly liable.

Damages awarded included 80,000 baht for suffering from assault, 700,000 baht for funeral expenses, and 2,280,000 baht for loss of support, calculated at 5,000 baht per month until the age the deceased would have reached 60. Together with 5% annual interest from the date of the tort to the filing of the suit, amounting to 1,071,000 baht, total damages stood at 4,131,000 baht.

Prior to the verdict, Lieutenant Wetchasit had agreed to pay Mrs Renu 1,000,000 baht, and proceedings against him were accordingly resolved. The court ordered the remaining defendants — MinDef, the Army, and defendants 3 to 12 — to pay 2,680,000 baht, plus 5% annual interest on the 1,071,000 baht principal from the date of filing until full payment, bringing the total to 4,951,000 baht. Defendants 2 to 12 were also ordered to cover court fees, including 100,000 baht in attorney fees and 100,000 baht in litigation expenses.

Mrs Renu had sought legal assistance from the Lawyers Council of Thailand, which assigned lawyer Nitithorn Kaewto, also known as lawyer James, from the Human Rights Case Subcommittee to handle the civil suit.