The official fan club of TV actress Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong, who drowned after falling from a speedboat into the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi on Feb 24, will gather at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) today to call for justice regarding her death.
A newly setup Line group for her fan club, introduced on Friday, notified its more than 2,000 members about the symbolic rally at 10am today at the police headquarters on Rama I Road. It called on supporters to show up dressed in black and white.
The movement began after the public grew sceptical about the police investigation into her death, which happened at night when she was accompanied by five other people, who originally gave conflicting or suspicious statements about what had transpired.
The police then told the press that evidence and witnesses pointed to negligence causing death, rather than murder, sparking concern about a lack of transparency in the probe.
The vague testimonies given by the five people -- Tanupat "Por" Lerttaweewit, Phaiboon "Robert" Trikanjananun, Idsarin "Gatick" Juthasuksawat, Wisapat "Sand" Manomairat and Nitas "Job" Kiratisoothisathorn -- remain unclear.
Pol Lt Gen Jirapat Phumijit, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, said the case has yet to be concluded as police are waiting for autopsy results from Mahidol University and the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
He called on anyone with evidence to contact investigators. Police have questioned about 80 witnesses so far, he said.
Currently, the police are pressing charges against Mr Tanupat, the boat's owner, and Mr Phaiboon, the driver, for negligence leading to death, Pol Lt Gen Jirapat said.
Memorial services for the late actress have been held at Liberty Church Bangkok in Saphan Sung district since Friday, a source said. They were scheduled to run until Saturday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, with visitors capped at 1,000.
Registration has maxed out for all three days, with the event broadcast via the Church of Joy Facebook account and CJConnect YouTube channel.
