Thai-Indian Seri Setthinamwong, 30, was granted bail by the South Bangkok Criminal Court on Wednesday, January 22. This comes after his arrest on Tuesday for allegedly ramming his car into a motorcycle, causing the death of a Thai food delivery driver.
The accused was granted bail set at 600,000 baht. Conditions of the bail include that Mr. Seri is equipped with an electronic monitoring bracelet and that he must not leave the kingdom without permission. Lumphini Police Station’s request to detain Mr. Seri for interrogation over the road rage incident, was dismissed by the court.
According to a The Nation report, Seri is accused of intentionally ramming his vehicle on to the motorcycle of Mr. Ritthisak Prakuptanon, 49, and refused to discuss compensation. When Ritthisak reportedly chased after him and blocked his path, Seri exited his vehicle and attacked the rider, as reported by some witnesses. Mr. Seri then slammed into the motorcycle while trying to flee. The rider hit a lamppost that caused his fatal death, the report concludes.
Based on police investigation and eyewitness accounts, it revealed that Seri and Ritthisak had a confrontation near the Asok intersection. After Ritthisak chased and blocked Seri’s car along Sukhumvhit Soi 10, Seri allegedly hit the motorbike, causing Ritthisak to strike the car’s windshield. Seri exited his vehicle and assaulted the rider before fleeing. The chase ended along Sukhumvhit Soi 8, where Seri allegedly struck Ritthisak again, resulting in his death.
Ritthisak leaves behind four children, three are still in school and one working.
Local police sought court approval to extend Mr. Seri’s detention after the initial 24-hour holding period expired. They also opposed bail, insisting that he might leave and go to hiding due to the severity of the charges, which includes premeditated murder and reckless driving.
Chief of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, Pol Major-General Witthawat Chinkham said that Seri denied the charges and “chose to reserve his right to testify in court.”
Netizens have expressed their opinions and have dubbed it as the worst road rage incident to date.
Photo from Bangkok Post – Road-rage driver in court for killing motorcyclist