The Thai police have denied allegations of torture by the Bangkok court bombing suspects, claiming that the suspects did not say anything as such. Meanwhile, human rights lawyers requested to see the medical examination reports of the suspects.   

Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri, spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police, on Thursday dismissed the allegations.  

“I already asked each of the suspects myself during the medical examination, but no one said anything,” said the police spokesman.

On the same day, Col Winthai Suwaree, spokesperson of the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), stated that the allegations of torture by the four suspects are false. He said that the allegations are a distortion of the facts, and are aimed at ruining the credibility of the authorities.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Sansern Sriounruen, Chanwit Chariyanukul, Norapat Luephon and Wichai Yusuk, the four suspects, were tortured after their arrest in police custody from 9-15 March 2015.

The four are among 17 suspects who have been accused of a terrorist plot involving explosives attacks in 100 different venues nationwide, according to Thairath News Online.       

“The four suspects had been subjected to torture including being hit, punched and kicked in the head, chest and back and threatened with assault in order to extract information from them,” said TLHR. “In addition, some suspects were electrocuted, leaving visible marks on their skin while being held in custody under martial law between 9 and 15 March 2015.”

Sansern, one of the four, on Thursday told Prachatai that he was slapped on the face, punched on the base on the sternum and in the ribs, trampled on, and electrocuted on his thighs about 40 times.

On Thursday, TLHR requested to see the medical examinations of the four suspects. The group also urged that the four should be physically examined by independent physicians.

In addition, Human Rights Watch (HRW) on the same day issued a statement that the Thai authorities should promptly and impartially investigate the alleged torture of suspects while they were held incommunicado in military custody.

Earlier, TLHR issued a statement, calling for an independent investigation into the torture complaints by the four suspects.

See related news:

Exclusive: Bomb suspect reveals details of torture allegations “They tortured me until I won.”