The Minister of Justice welcomed the parents of Miss Tomoko KAWASHITA on the occasion of their courtesy visit and discussion regarding matters pertaining to the demise of their daughter

          On February 15, 2024, at 01:00 p.m., in Meeting Room 10-01 of the Ministry of Justice building, Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, accompanied by Miss Aimon Siangyai, Director General of the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, Mr. Thawewat Surasit, Director of Bureau of Security Crime, representative of the Department of Special Investigation, representative of Legal Affairs Division and representative of Foreign Affairs Division, Office of the Permanent Secretary, welcomed Mr. Yasuaki and Mrs. Eiko KAWASHITA, parents of Miss Tomoko KAWASHITA, along with officials from the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, on the occasion of their courtesy visit and discussion regarding matters pertaining to the demise of their daughter, who was murdered on November 25, 2007, in Sukhothai Province.

          As inquired, Mr. Thawewat Surasit, Director of Bureau of Security Crime explained the investigation process regarding the investigation of Miss Tomoko KAWASHITA case that the case was initially investigated by the local inquiry officials where the incident occurred. Subsequently, in 2013, the case was transferred to the Department of Special Investigation for further investigation as a special case. Evidence was collected from dozens of involved individuals, including forensic examinations and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters to gather additional evidence and utilize modern technology in forensic examinations. The investigation of the case is undergoing.

          In addition, there was an exchange of case-related information. Mr. Yasuaki KAWASHITA proposed an amendment to the law to prescribe murder cases as non-prescriptive crimes, as established in the Japanese Law. This proposal stems from the fact that the offence of killing another person in Thailand has a statute of limitations of 20 years. Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, gladly accepted the suggestion for consideration and expressed readiness to collaborate with the victims and Japanese authorities in coordinating investigations involving all relevant parties to bring the perpetrator to justice. Furthermore, the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection provided information on the implementation under the Act of Damages for the Injured Persons and Compensation and Expenses for the Accused in Criminal Cases, B.E. 2544 (2001). They also offered guidance on providing legal remedies to victims under Thai law.