Prakitpao's case went to court after a 24-year-old woman, who claimed to be a "close friend" of his, lodged a complaint with police on February 20, alleging that Prakit-pao had been forced to receive mental treatment at Srithanya Hospital despite being perfectly sane.

After her complaint, police petitioned the court, and the case immediately attracted media attention. However, the Criminal Court decided on March 13 not to order the release of Prakitpao from the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute.

According to the court, evidence clearly showed Prakitpao had been suffering from a mental disorder and there was nothing wrong with his admission to Srithanya Hospital on February 19.

"He has recovered almost 70 per cent from his [mental] illnesses," said Dr ML Somchai Chakraphan, director-general of the department told The Nation in a telephone interview Friday. "He has made a steady improvement ... and should be allowed to go home after some further treatment," he said. Dr Prakitphan Thomthitchong, the older brother of Prakitpao, also said his brother's condition had dramatically improved and he was now able to speak normally to his wife and children, who visited him regularly.

Assoc Prof Pleonjit Thomthit-chong, Prakitpao's mother, who showed up at the Crime Sup-pression Division yesterday together with Prakitphan and Prakitpao's wife, said she had handed police some documents pertaining to Prakitpao's financial situation.

The family had previously reported to police that a huge amount of Prakitpao's money had gone missing. Prakitpao ran a lucrative tutorial business that earned more than Bt100 million a year.

Arthit Khwankhom

Suparat Iamtarn

The Nation