The high-profile case that has drawn constant attention is how the story will conclude regarding the death of the fruit actress. Tangmo Pattharathida or Tangmo Nida Patcharaveerapong Even though more than four years have passed, there is still no clear conclusion.
Recently, Panida Sirayuthyothin, Tangmo's mother, visited the DSI on the morning of 30 Mar 2026. During this visit, she brought case evidence to the DSI and conveyed to forensic experts her desire to obtain the authentic images showing the wounds on Tangmo's leg. She also mentioned that a secret witness would come to the DSI and that the case would be summarized on 17 Apr.
What did you bring today?
"Documents that must be presented to the DSI. They are all important, including documents about my daughter. I don't really want to talk much about her because I feel sorry. The images of her leg when she was a corpse—she was stabbed and fat tissue was exposed. The DSI wants the original images of that. We've asked for them for a long time but haven't received them yet. I want to ask on behalf of the mother so the DSI can use them in the case file."
Why is it difficult to obtain these images?
"It's very difficult. We've been asking for six months with no success. The images must be the original ones. The four images shown before were edited and fabricated—they are unusable and actually illegal. Now, they want the genuine images, but no one knows who took them. Have I gotten them from anyone? Not yet."
How important is this to the case?
"We will use them as evidence in court. The images have appeared before but are not authentic originals—they were taken with a mobile phone. We want the real images so they can serve as genuine evidence in court."
Up to now, what do you believe caused your daughter's death? Do you want to hold any state officials accountable for aiding those on the boat?
"We follow the DSI. I've been monitoring everything and trust their work. At first, when I didn't know how my daughter died, I was indifferent because I wasn't sure if she drowned or something else. But in the last month, I know exactly how she died and who did it. I know the reasons. The grief has lessened somewhat because it's better to know than to remain clueless. At first, I was very worried and confused."
What hopes do you have for the direction of the case with the DSI?
"The DSI has done a lot. Whether they will classify it as a special case, I don't know; you have to ask them. But I think we've submitted a lot of evidence—over 300 pages—so they should accept it."
Will any officials be charged?
"Not officials. The people on the boat are not officials. The DSI will prosecute the actual wrongdoers." (laughs)
What makes you more confident that your daughter did not drown?
"Oh, there is a lot of evidence, including from Professor Panthip—I have seen it. The media are very skilled, even insulting me sometimes. That made me realize some people dislike me, even though I'm the mother of a deceased child. They want something bad to happen to me."
You said you are confident based on the evidence that the DSI discussed with you?
"Oh yes, the media have been very detailed with many clips. I watch every night, several channels, until it’s all in my head and I can piece together how it happened and who did it."
Have you discussed this information with the DSI or your lawyer about what really happened?
"Not yet, today we will have a meeting."
You mentioned an important witness in this case. Who is this witness?
"Let me talk with the seniors here first. I can’t reveal it yet as it might compromise the case. (But do you think this witness can help prosecute?) Yes, definitely."
Have you had contact with those on the boat?
"No, not a single one. Before, there were fruit baskets and gifts, but now all gone. Since my daughter passed, they haven't contacted me. However, monthly payments have been made for four years—four months paid so far. They are supposed to pay for 20 years, as promised, since they consider themselves responsible as her son. They keep their promise but we don't talk. If I want to talk to anyone on the boat, I’d prefer to speak to the son, but I hesitate because if I ask too much, he might find it hard to answer."
What is the most pressing question you want to ask him?
"(laughs) I want to ask about things outside the boat. I want to ask Por why Benz (Prikthai) dressed so scantily to sing (laughs). I want to call Por, but he doesn't answer."
So all the information they gave before was false?
"Which information? (Information after the incident?) Not exactly false, but incomplete. At that time, I never met them; only the police interviewed them. Police Lieutenant Colonel Omthong—I want to know his full name because he seemed like the case manager. I encountered him everywhere."
What do you expect after today’s discussion?
"It will be clearer. Actually, I come to the DSI often. I already know everything, so there’s not much more I want to know, except why the large wound on my daughter's leg occurred, who caused it. There are other images showing the leg being pierced with fat tissue exposed under the knee fold, which we haven't yet received from forensics. I asked them again to provide the real images to use in court."
Anything you want to say to those on the boat?
"I can’t say. Do I still have grievances with those on the boat? Yes, many."
Do you think the evidence you brought, partly from social media and media, will be believed by the DSI?
"Hmm, if social media plus Bang Jack are counted, then yes. Bang Jack is considered social media, right? His information is substantial and credible. Did it take long to prepare? Not really. I watch daily and just capture the information."
Four years have passed. What do you want to say to your daughter?
"I feel very sorry for her. We parted without saying goodbye. I didn’t know where she went, with whom, no one told me. I had to file a report myself at the Nonthaburi police station that my daughter was assaulted and fell into the water. No one filed a report before. I went to report at 4 a.m. So responsibility must be greater—it’s not just about going home and sleeping."
Has Tangmo visited you in dreams over these four years?
"I dream sometimes that she invites me to act in a drama. She comes out of the morgue's cold room, but her body is completely blackened—I don’t know why. I also dreamed that she was blackened. Maybe she was telling me that she has passed away. That was a very heavy dream, the only one that really scared me. It was about two months ago, but I think she has been reborn."
What have you done for Tangmo during these four years?
"I entrusted Pae-sa to make merit for her. I also pray and chant. Tangmo was Christian, but I make merit in the Buddhist way. The monk said it’s okay, it’s the same."
After Panida met with Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaphon Disyatham, or 'Pee Yak' of the DSI, he gave another media interview.
How was the conversation?
"We discussed many things. (Sigh) First, regarding the image with the fat tissue exposed on the leg, that is not the real one—it’s a copy. Pee Yak wants the original photos taken by officials for use in the case. They must be authentic images, but we still don’t have them. Please help if you know anyone at forensics to get the real images."
Will the mother request the images herself since Pee Yak already tried but failed?
"No one can get them. It's been six months now. I think I will go myself to get them to confirm that the wound is not from the boat propeller. That kind of wound would be on the outer leg; this wound is underneath. So it's not from the propeller. This will be evidence for court."
When do you plan to go?
"I’ll see when I’m free. Will you go with me? (asks reporter) Pee Yak asked the media to help. The case will be summarized on 17 Apr. The team of Professor Panthip and lawyers will be there, along with Pee Yak. After that, they will hold meetings. There are also text messages from Bang Jack’s phone. In recent days, there have been news reports; I didn’t capture them but listened. Bang Jack harshly criticized the police."
Do you feel more at ease now?
"Yes, more at ease. I asked about every detail. But those images of my daughter’s leg with the wound are not real; they want the real ones to present in court."
There will be a secret witness on 17 April?
"I don’t know if they will invite him. He is a close person to my daughter and close to Kratik. He knows the movements of both Kratik and my daughter. They live in the same house. Will he be able to overturn the case? Yes, if the seniors talk to him, definitely. It could turn into a big case."
Has he ever spoken with the police before?
"I remember he came to the DSI once and then left. Why didn’t he come earlier? He didn’t think he did anything wrong, so he didn’t come. Or no one advised him. He didn’t come. Like Bird, if no one advised him, he wouldn’t come either."
Did he attend the previous session in Nonthaburi?
"The police didn’t summon him. He didn’t go."
What makes you think he could be the witness to change the case?
"You ask good questions. (laughs) He has some documents in his hands that he thinks no one knows about. So he didn’t come and kept the documents. But I found the documents and know what they are, so I gave them to Pee Yak, but they can’t be revealed yet. They are bank documents. Are they money transfers? Yes, transfers from outsiders to my daughter."
Is the transfer related to the day your daughter boarded the boat?
"Is it related to selling my daughter? No, not related. The transfer is for something else. Actually, the day she was sold was the same night—the entire incident happened in one night, on 24 Feb. Everything—murder, weighing down in water—happened that night. Because there are many characters, we thought it took several days, but it was all in one night. She was killed that night and fell from the boat that night, but she did not fall by herself."
You believe someone forced her off the boat, not that she fell by herself?
"She did not fall by herself. Someone carried her off the boat and assaulted her elsewhere."
So the staged evidence relates to your belief that someone carried her off?
"No, that’s unrelated. There are many characters involved. Over 20 police officers are implicated in this case."
Do you trust the previous investigations?
"Oh no, I don’t. It was negligence. We have to ask if we trust the court, not the police. I don’t trust the court. They acquitted them. (laughs) When the case came out, I almost fell down the stairs. They acquitted them, saying it wasn’t murder and no wrongdoing, and that she didn’t fall from the boat. That’s how it is."
Will you attend when the secret witness appears?
"Of course, on 17 Apr. Don’t forget to come. There will be lawyers and Professor Panthip from the Sun Institute summarizing here. It will be the last time."
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