Thai police crusade against ‘fake news’ after torture snuff video embarrassment

The authorities are hunting for whoever was behind reports that a police whistleblower who leaked footage of a suspect being tortured to death had himself died mysteriously.

Maj. Gen. Yingyong Thepjamnong, national police spokesperson, said they were looking for whoever spread “fake news” about the drowning of Tossaporn Kaewkoed, who was said to be the junior police officer who implicated Col. Thitisan “Chief Joe” Utthanaphol in torturing a drug trafficking suspect to death.

Yingyong said that no such officer existed, and whoever spread the news faces up to five years in prison for violating the Computer Crime Act.

The police have been reeling from outrage over Thitisan’s brutality and the privilege he’s been extended despite his confession. Rather than announce sincere reforms, they have gone on the offensive against further sources of embarrassment.

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