Three Bangkok police detectives wil

Three Bangkok police detectives will be jailed for 30 days for shooting up the car of a student after mistaking it for a drug suepect's vehicle.

The National Police Act B.E. 2547 allows for the jailing of officers in disciplinary cases even when no criminal charges have been filed, said Pol Maj Gen Itthiphol Phiriyaphinyo, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

The three detectives involved in the Aug 2 incident in Saphan Sung district of Bangkok were Pol Sen Sgt Maj Chamnian Khandaeng, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Rassami Theptha and Pol Sub Lt Supot Toket.

The three detectives fired shots at the car of Apisada Sajjapanroj on Ramkhamhaeng 118 Road after mistaking it for the car of a suspected drug dealer. The 21-year-old law student tried to drive away for her safety and her Suzuki Swift hit several other vehicles before coming to a halt. Fortunately she was not shot.

Pol Maj Gen Itthiphol said that Metropolitan Police Division 4 would specify the station where the three officers would be jailed and when their detention would start. He insisted that three officers were responsible for the case, not four as earlier reported.

The deputy commissioner said Miss Apisada had not filed a criminal complaint, possibly because the police had already apologised to her and no one was injured. He said the police would be responsible for all of the property damage, including repairs to other vehicles hit by the student's car.

Deputy national police chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen on Aug 6 presented Miss Apisada with a new car.