Infuriated Flood Victim Kicks Sheriff In Money Dispute

October 13, 2012

A Pathumthani woman whose home was damaged by the massive flooding last year got furious when a sheriff said she was not eligible for compensation. She then assaulted the sheriff, who called the police. Other flood victims loudly complained about the paltry sums they received.

PATHUNTHANI – October 12, 2012 [PDN]; a report of an irate woman assaulting a sheriff was received by Pol. Lt. Col. Supit Konphan, investigation officer, Ladloomkaew, Pathumthani province.

Police rushed to inspect the scene at the meeting hall of Amphur Ladloomkaew. Hundreds of angry people were standing around and loudly criticizing the government officials. They were all local residents waiting to receive compensation money for damaged homes from last year’s flooding.

Waiting for the police was the assaulted victim, Mr. Chalermphol Mungkhung, Ladloomkaew sheriff, who had bruises on his face. He told police that he had been punched and kicked by an angry woman who swore at him after her request for money was denied.

The female suspect was standing nearby, her face flushed red with anger. She was identified as Ms. Naramon Janphaijit, age 29, address 241/11 Moo 8 Tambon Na Mai, Amphur Ladloomkaew.

Mr. Chalermphol said that while he was processing people for monetary reimbursements, the suspect told him that her name was on the list of flood victims to receive compensation, but she had not received any money.

But Mr. Chalermphol informed her that she did not qualify for the compensation, so the government could not pay her money. He explained that although she is the owner of the flooded house, the money receiver must be the tenant, or the person who had stayed in the house during the flooding. So the claim for herself was invalid, since she was the absentee landlord, and not the tenant.

After being rejected, Ms. Naramon suddenly jumped up and kicked Mr. Chalermphol. She also began punching him and slapped his face 2-3 times while shouting and swearing at him.

But Mr. Chalermphol didn’t react to her, and instead walked away and asked the police to prosecute this woman. When questioned by police, Ms. Naramon admitted that she had kicked the sheriff and punched him because she got very angry. But she didn’t know that he was a sheriff.

Ms. Naramon said she was entitled to the money, because she is the owner of the damaged house, and she had let the tenant rent the house, and the tenant came to receive 5,000 THB from the government, and then the tenant moved out.

So Ms. Naramon repaired her house and asked for the compensation money, and a government officer had previously informed her that she would be paid 18,500 THB. But when she came to receive the money promised to her, Mr. Chalermphol instead told her she was ineligible to receive any money.

Police initially charged Ms. Naramon with assaulting a government officer who was fulfilling his duty, and insulting the officer.

Meanwhile, other angry flood victims were protesting in front of the office of the Subdistrict Administrative Organization Lamsai in Amphur Lamlookka. More than 500 local people joined together to protest against the injustice of the compensation money payouts.

The people were angry because the highest amount that anyone got for flood damages was 3,370 THB, and the lowest amount was 1,200 THB. The flood victims had asked for more than 10,000 THB each in reimbursements.

However, an official said the government payouts had been made according to the information in the accounts. But officials will inspect the records concerning the claims, said Flight Sergeant First Class Somsak Phewbang, Deputy of Subdistrict Administrative Organization, acting in place of the Lord Mayor.