Family wants investigation after ‘stable’ patient dies

NARATHIWAT: Relatives are seeking an investigation into the “suspicious death” of a young man at Narathiwat Hospital who was serving a jail sentence in connection with a case of southern unrest.

Rattika Sama, his wife, said yesterday that Arsu Woh-ngoi, 25, died at Narathiwat Hospital at 8.20pm last Thursday, but only 20 minutes earlier relatives visiting him in the intensive care unit had been told by a nurse that his condition was stable.

When they returned to the hospital, a nurse told the family she had no idea why the tube to respirator had become disengaged, Ms Rattika said.

She said her husband had caught tuberculosis while in prison, coughed up blood and been belatedly transferred to the hospital for treatment.

On Aug 9 the Narathiwat Criminal Court sentenced Arsu to two years for involvement in an attack on police in front of Rangae station in March last year.

Two policemen were shot dead during the attack.

Ms Rattika said he was in the process of appealing against the sentence.

The family has asked that authorities investigate the matter and ensure justice.

Narathiwat prison chief, Thorntha Buaking, said Arsu’s health began to deteriorate dramatically soon after he first arrived at the prison on July 26, and that he also had a blood pressure problem.

According to his autopsy results, he died of pneumonia.