A woman who sold bootlegged ‘rotgut’ alcohol which has killed six people and seriously affected 37 others in Thailand has since spoken out.
An investigation is currently underway in Bangkok over allegations of fake booze mixed with chemicals such as methanol and isopropanol being sold from street stalls.
Local news reported that six people had died after consuming the illegal alcohol with 37 more hospitalised, and Thai Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has said that 15 individuals had been placed on respirators, while 22 required kidney dialysis and 21 had suffered from blurred vision.
A 49-year-old woman has been charged on suspicion of illegal production of alcohol, and has been identified with the name Phatrasa.
She spoke out at a press conference on 26 August and said that she felt ‘guilty and sorry’ for what had happened.
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Six people have died and many more were hospitalised in Bangkok by the ‘rotgut’ fake booze. (Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld/Getty)
“A year ago, I hired two men, who were brothers, to make rice whiskey for me. The batches they made tasted normal, so I continued ordering from them,” she said, further insisting that she’d never meant to kill anybody.
“However, last week, my customers reported that the flavour of the liquor had changed. They said it tasted weaker and fizzier, and seemed to have a lower alcohol content.
“I called the brothers to ask if they had changed the ingredients, but they refused to tell me, only saying they had improved it.
“When I tasted the latest batch of liquor, I had a little diarrhoea, but it wasn’t serious. Later, I found out that someone had died from drinking it and I was very shocked. I couldn’t believe it could happen.”
Surasak Insam, 46, and Surachai Insam, 44 have since been arrested, and both have allegedly claimed to diluting the alcohol but also say they do not know how methyl alcohol got into the fake booze.
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An investigation into the possible source of the chemicals is underway. (ViralPress)
Police Major General Kiatikul Sonthinen, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 3, said: “Phatrasa will be charged with negligently causing death and severe injury to others, and violating the Excise Act by producing and selling liquor without permission.”
Officers are also investigating a factory to discover whether it sold chemicals to Surasak and Surachai.
They have also urged anyone who has drunk alcohol that they may have bought from locations flagged as dangerous to see a doctor as soon as they can.
LADbible has reached out to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Viral Press
Topics: World News, Crime, Alcohol, Health
