"โสธรชัย" ขอพูดบ้าง!!! l EP.2297 l 8 ต.ค.69 l#โหนกระแส

Summary

The episode continues an investigation into the Sothonchai care facility in Kanchanaburi, following reports of barred rooms, cage-like beds and barbed-wire fencing. It examines the facility’s practices and a separate family dispute involving an older woman who was taken there.

The facility’s explanation

The facility’s representative, identified in the subtitles as Japan, said the centre had operated for about 20 years and cared for older people and people with dementia, psychiatric conditions or substance-related problems. He said residents were separated into zones and that restrictive equipment was intended to prevent injuries during episodes of distress.

Japan acknowledged that the facility had made mistakes and said he had returned from New Zealand hoping to improve its standards. He also said the centre did not employ its own doctor; families coordinated medical care, including consultations with doctors.

Equipment, inspections and accountability

The programme questioned whether the barred beds and rooms were appropriate or lawful safety measures. Japan and the facility’s owner, Maew, said officials had inspected the centre and that they believed its operations were permitted.

However, recorded comments from an official indicated that inspectors had not seen the reported cages and had inspected only the areas covered by the relevant approval. The programme also highlighted a discrepancy between an approved area of about 1,600 square metres and the much larger property, described as roughly four rai, or around 6,400 square metres.

The facility had been ordered to close by the Social Security Office’s Region 5. The discussion stressed that the centre may be responsible for its practices, but that the agencies issuing approvals and conducting inspections should also be examined. Participants called for coordinated inspections by relevant public agencies, warning that weak oversight could allow similar conditions at other facilities.

The Napat family dispute

Napat said her son, Benz, arranged for her to be taken to the centre against her wishes. She alleged that people restrained and assaulted her during the removal. She and Ek Saimai went to file a police report. Napat also raised concerns about her business, property and a safe allegedly containing valuables.

These are allegations discussed on the programme, not findings established in the episode.

Benz’s side said the decision was connected to concerns about his mother’s behaviour and safety. The facility’s representative said staff had tried to contact relatives to collect Napat, but that Benz initially refused and later agreed after being pressed to make arrangements.

The programme examined competing accounts and video or written material, including disagreements about whether Napat was ill, why she was taken to the centre and how long she remained there.

The hired driver’s account

Teerapong, who said he was paid 15,000 baht to help take Napat to the facility, denied punching or otherwise assaulting her. He acknowledged that she was restrained and tied during the journey because she resisted.

The host and lawyer questioned what legal authority Teerapong had to enter the home and take Napat away, and whether the circumstances could amount to unlawful detention, assault, coercion or trespass. Teerapong said he had acted on the family’s instructions and accepted that he had not properly checked the relevant records.

Other concerns raised

The programme showed or discussed testimony from a person at another facility who said he had been restrained until recently and wanted help leaving. This broadened the discussion to the treatment and oversight of residents at care facilities more generally.

The episode ended with calls for the facts to be investigated through legal channels and for the parties to provide consistent, truthful accounts.

Presenters and contributors

• Num Kanchai — host
• Ekaphop Luprasert (Ek Saimai) — contributor
• Lawyer Kaew — legal contributor
• Japan — Sothonchai facility representative and Maew’s son
• Maew — owner of the facility
• Napat — the mother at the centre of the family dispute
• Benz — Napat’s son
• Beam — Napat’s daughter
• Teerapong / Peerapong — hired driver who took Napat to the facility
• Naiyana — official whose recorded comments were played on the programme