Bus union may sue Benz driver for libel

It accused the man's father, too, for a statement in which he described bus employees as "uneducated and low-class". He had claimed a bus driver and conductor were involved in a brawl with his son before the fatal incident and that a No 513 bus had collided with his son's Mercedes-Benz car.

Union president Sanan Bun-ngok said the statement by Kan-anek Pachimsawas in a television interview was unacceptable, false and had damaged the reputation of authority employees in the eyes of the public.

He said Kan-anek and suspect Kanpitak, 20, had damaged the reputation of authority employees, including the female staff member killed in the incident.

Before Kanpitak drove his car into a crowded bus stop in the Sukhumvit Soi 26 area, he allegedly verbally and physically assaulted the two employees.

"Education alone doesn't make people good. It's the deeds they do," Sanan said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok police chief Adisorn Nonsee said yesterday that Kan-anek must pay compensation to victims.

Last week Kanpitak, 20, the son of former Miss Thailand Savinee Pakaranang, drove his car into a bus stop after an altercation with a bus and its driver. One person died and several were badly injured.

Adisorn said police expected to start interviewing Kanpitak about the event next week. Waiting a month to question him over a murder charge "would have been too long".

"The one-month period could have aroused suspicion or prompted uneasiness among officers handling the case," he said.

The family of Kanpitak and his lawyer and psychiatrists welcomed questioning of the suspect, he noted.

Adisorn instructed Metropolitan Police Division 5 commander Maj-General Anant Srihiran, the officer in charge of the case, to ensure the family of the woman killed in the incident and those injured were compensated.

Meanwhile, Savinee visited and apologised to Hathaithip Krunthakhajorn, a University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce student from Samut Prakan, who was injured in the incident.

Savinee said she had only recently learned of Hathaithip's treatment in hospital and had agreed to cover all expenses.