The Civil Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the police by a protester allegedly beaten while in custody at Din Daeng Police Station in 2021, citing insufficient evidence.

Auttasit Nussa, an engineer, was arrested on 29 October 2021 as people went to Din Daeng Police Station to hold a candlelight vigil for Warit Somnoi, a 14-year-old boy shot by an unidentified person in front of the police station on the night of 16 August 2021. He alleged that while he and another protester were detained inside the police station, they were beaten in an attempt to extract information.

Auttasit subsequently filed a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) against the Din Daeng police. He also filed a civil lawsuit against the Royal Thai Police, as the organization with which the officers were affiliated, demanding 3.3 million baht in damages.

Auttasit’s lawyer said that, on Monday (26 August), the Civil Court dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence.

The lawyer said that the other protester detained with Auttasit testified that he saw a police officer raised a hand against Auttasit, while another lawyert who met Auttasit at the police station on the night he was arrested took a photo of a bruise on his right eye. Auttasit himself also said that he was in custody from 18.00 on 29 October 2021 to 3.00 on 30 October 2021, and could not have injured himself since he was always in the presence of an officer.

The police, on the other hand, alleged that Auttasit’s injuries were sustained during his arrest, when he fell and hit the footpath, and not because he was beaten. Despite contradictory testimony from a doctor, the Court believed that the evidence provided by the police held more weight.

Auttasit and his lawyer intend to file for appeal. Meanwhile, no progress has been made in the criminal complaint he filed against the police.