Family Demands Justice After 26-Year-Old Hotel Worker Dies from Electrocution in Phuket

The family of Kanokwan 'Nong Nam' Injak, a 26-year-old hotel employee who tragically died from electrocution, brought her body back to Phuket from Nakhon Sri Thammarat on August 9 to demand justice and accountability.

Tragic Incident and Initial Findings

On April 21, Kanokwan, an assistant cook at a Cherng Talay hotel, suffered a fatal accident while working in the kitchen. Witnesses reported that she screamed and collapsed, striking her chin on a kitchen bench. Initial investigations by local police found no immediate signs of foul play but identified electrical appliances—specifically a refrigerator and a rice cooker—as potential sources of the incident.

An autopsy by Dr. Tulay Wichawansri at Vachira Phuket Hospital initially attributed Kanokwan’s death to hardened and narrowed arteries, suggesting fat blockages. However, further investigations revealed that the actual cause of death was electrocution.

Compensation and Ongoing Disputes

Following the incident, the hotel offered compensation to Kanokwan’s family, including employee death benefits and merit money. However, the family rejected this offer, expressing doubts about the true cause of death, according to Thanong Saejiw, the family’s lawyer.

On August 9, Kanokwan’s parents and Mr. Thanong met with Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum and senior officers at Cherng Talay Police Station to discuss the case. During this meeting, the hotel increased its compensation offer to 4.8 million baht, but an agreement has yet to be reached.

Concerns About Evidence and Hotel Transparency

Mr. Thanong emphasized the importance of fair compensation, noting the young woman’s potential future contributions to her family. He also raised concerns about the integrity of the evidence, particularly the refrigerator involved in the incident.

“There have been significant issues with the hotel’s cooperation and transparency,” Mr. Thanong said. “The hotel initially refused to allow the refrigerator and rice cooker—key pieces of evidence—to be removed or examined.”

Fortunately, the refrigerator was eventually seized by the police, thanks to the efforts of Pol Col Weeraphong Rakkhito, the Superintendent of Cherng Talay Police Station. “We are grateful for the police’s intervention in securing the evidence,” Mr. Thanong added.

Family’s Continued Fight for Justice

Despite four months of struggling to get answers, the family remains frustrated with the hotel's handling of the situation. “We had hoped for a sincere resolution and expected the hotel to act with morality and ethics,” Mr. Thanong said. “Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.”

A follow-up meeting with Col Weeraphong and hotel representatives is scheduled for August 10 to further address the family’s demands and accelerate the investigation.

As the search for justice continues, the family hopes that the investigation will uncover the truth and ensure accountability for the tragic loss of Kanokwan Injak.