Robber has ‘proof of innocence’
A masseuse who claimed she was wrongfully sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery yesterday handed new evidence to the Justice Ministry to help prove her innocence as the case heads to the Appeal Court.
Pavitta Kongkampol was convicted late last year for a 2011 robbery in Trang, but she has always insisted she has never set foot in Trang and was working at a spa in Phuket when the robbery took place.
The 32-year-old woman petitioned the Justice Ministry seeking legal assistance after being freed on 200,000 baht bail. The evidence against her included security camera footage.
Ms Pavitta produced new evidence including dental records showing she has never had cosmetic dental treatment. The victim told police the culprit wore dental braces.
She said she also had photos taken several years ago proving she was not the person in the CCTV footage.
Dusadee Arayawuth, deputy permanent secretary for justice in charge of complaints about wrongful convictions, said officials have reviewed the police evidence and found something was amiss.
He said the suspect caught on camera does not look as heavy built as Ms Pavitta and does not have a tattoo — she does. He said authorities will verify the information supplied by the complainant.
However, he said the ministry will not ask for a retrial in this case because it is not finalised. The new evidence will be used to fight her case in the Appeal Court.
“Her defence in the lower court centred on her whereabouts. In the appeal we will focus on forensic evidence. Her dental records show she had never been fitted with braces,” he said.
Commenting on another wrongful conviction case involving a janitor in Chai Nat, Pol Col Dusadee said the ministry will initiate a retrial when the legal proceedings against new suspects are finalised.
Kamol Phaekhiew, a 48-year-old janitor at Hankha Witthayakhom School, was sentenced in 2012 to 20 years in prison for a robbery in Suphan Buri’s Sri Prachan district.
While serving his jail sentence, Kamol met fellow inmate, Sakhon Khaophan, who confessed to the robbery.