Cha-am pool villa electric shock case prompts ministerial action
7-year-old electrocuted at Cha-am pool villa prompts action
The Office of the Consumer Protection Board is preparing to take legal action on behalf of the family of a 7-year-old girl who was electrocuted at a pool villa in Cha-am.
Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, said on 4 June that officials had been ordered to provide continued assistance to the girl, who was seriously injured after being electrocuted while staying at a pool villa in Cha-am on 13 May.
The incident is reported to have involved a leaking electrical current from lighting beside a swimming pool at the accommodation.
The child’s parents have submitted evidence and filed a complaint with the Campaign to Reclaim Social Justice Foundation in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi.
Ms Supamas, who oversees the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, or OCPB, said the agency had been instructed to invite the business operator and the victim’s family to attend mediation talks as soon as possible.
Legal action possible if talks fail
Ms Supamas said that if no agreement is reached, the OCPB will ask the Consumer Protection Board to consider filing a lawsuit on behalf of the consumer.
She said the family would not have to pay the legal costs of bringing the case themselves.
The OCPB will also forward the matter to local authorities and relevant agencies in Phetchaburi to inspect the business.
Officials will be asked to determine whether any external electrical additions at the property failed to meet safety standards, or whether the case could amount to negligence causing serious injury.
The findings could be used to support action under building control laws or criminal law.
Operators urged to check pool safety
Ms Supamas urged accommodation operators, pool villa owners and hotels across the country to inspect electrical and lighting systems around swimming pools.
She also advised parents to check the safety of venues before allowing children to swim, particularly during long holidays and the rainy season.
Ms Supamas said the right to safety when using services is a basic consumer right. She said she would continue to follow the case and that the victim should receive fair compensation.
Consumers who find substandard businesses or believe their rights have been violated can contact the OCPB hotline on 1166, use the OCPB Connect application, or file a complaint through ocpb.go.th.
Main image: Supamas Isarabhakdi
