Police to sue over water cannon damage

Police are preparing to file a civil lawsuit against protesters who allegedly vandalised five water cannons in a bid to claim compensation for damage totalling 47 million baht.

The five trucks were badly damaged by a handful of protesters who poured sand into the fuel tanks and into the oil, ruining the engines, Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau spokesman, Pol Maj Gen Nithithorn Chintakanon told reporters yesterday.

Police were looking to identify those responsible for the vandalism. When they do, police will file a civil lawsuit against them seeking compensation for the damaged trucks which cost 8.9 million baht each.

Pol Maj Gen Nithithorn said the police were looking to repair the trucks in a deal with the manufacturer that he said would not be incredibly expensive. “It will cost 47 million baht to repair the five trucks, which were all imported from South Korea,” he said.

“In the event of damage, they must be sent for repair at the manufacturer in South Korea or engineers can come to Thailand. The deal also allows the procurement of various parts if it’s found the old are too costly to repair.”

Pol Maj Gen Nithithorn also said police will seek to prosecute members of the “Thalu Gas” group in connection with a protest near Mitrmaitree 2 Road during which some car tyres were set on fire under Din Daeng expressway on Tuesday night.

The group also was instructing people on how to make Molotov cocktails on its Facebook page, he said, adding a charge of violating the Explosives Act will likely follow.