The story of Tor, a toddler in Nakhon Pathom who was initially believed to have been kidnapped before it was determined that he was dumped into the Tha Chin River by his own mother, is more than just a simple homicide. The case reflects a deep-rooted social problem in our society, which requires a concerted and systematic effort to eradicate.
The saga began with Nim -- not her real name -- telling police in Nakhon Pathom on Feb 5 that her eight-month-old son had gone missing. In response to her report, local authorities conducted a search for the missing boy. The case attracted so much attention that the Royal Thai Police assigned deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, to monitor the case.
However, after several rounds of questioning using a lie detector, the 17-year-old confessed on Monday that she had engineered the whole situation. Nim said that after she accidentally dropped the toddler on the floor while trying to comfort him, she decided to throw her son into the Tha Chin River, as she believed the boy had died from the impact. As of press time yesterday, Tor's body has not been found.
