The family of Chit Singhaseni, a royal aide convicted for the murder of King Ananda Mahidol and executed in 1955, has filed a request with the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court for a new trial.

Kungwal Buddhivanid (left) and Pricha Suwannathat (right) filing their request with the Criminal Court yesterday (18 October).

Kungwal Buddhivanid and Pricha Suwannathat, former Dean of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law and a Democrat MP, were authorized by the family to file a request with the Criminal Court for a re-trial in the murder of King Ananda, for which Chit and two other men, King Ananda’s secretary Chaliao Pathumrot and But Patthamasarin, another royal aide, were convicted and executed.

On 9 June 1946, 20-year-old King Ananda was found shot dead in his bedroom in the Grand Palace’s Boromphiman Throne Hall. Although initially thought to be an accident, King Ananda’s death was later ruled a murder. Chit, But, and Chaliao were arrested and charged with involvement in the murder. Their trial began in August 1948, but faced several irregularities, including the court’s refusal to grant an adjournment so that the defence counsel could consider the evidence, and the fact that two of the defence lawyers were charged with treason.

In May 1951, Chit was found guilty of being a party to the King’s assassination. However, the charges against But and Chaliao were dismissed as Chaliao was not proven guilty and the court believes neither But nor Chit could have fired the shot. Chit appealed his conviction, but the Appeal Court convicted both him and But. They then filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, which found the two men, as well as Chaliao, guilty. They were sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on 17 February 1955, after their petition for clemency was rejected by King Bhumibol, King Ananda’s younger brother.

Kungwal said that the family wishes to seek justice for the three defendants, who were executed even though they were innocent. He also said that King Ananda’s death has been used by political factions against their enemies, and that he wanted society to learn about what happened. Along with the request, he and Pricha are submitting 500 pages of what they claimed is new evidence.

Kungwal said that no one has previously requested a re-trial in the case, and that he filed a request with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), but no action was taken. He has also contacted the Bureau of the Royal Household via Air Chief Marshal Satitpong Sukvimol, King Vajiralongkorn’s Lord Chamberlain, as he believes he should be given permission by the King before proceeding since the case is directly related to the monarchy.

He noted that Jaran Pukditanakul, a former Constitutional Court justice and former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice, recommended that he and Pricha file a request for a new trial if they are authorized to do so by the defendants’ next of kin. He said that Chit’s daughters, Phongphan and Phuangsi Singhaseni, have given power of attorney to him and Pricha so they can file the request.