This lawyer looks set to face legal and ethical actions from agencies.

Porntip Chantharat, 44, revealed on Thursday that a pro-bono lawyer had cheated the family out of Bt4 million in compensation money they received after a 2005 road accident left her 14-year-old daughter Pattarada “Beam” Kaewpong with serious spinal injuries.

Porntip’s husband was killed in the accident and “Beam” may never walk again and is confined to a wheelchair.

Yesterday, a team from the Rights and Liberties Protection Department contacted Porntip and her wheelchair-bound daughter.

“We have now guided the family about their legal rights and where to seek help,” the department’s director general Pitikarn Sithidej said. “We are also prepared to write to relevant authorities to ensure they can receive medical assistance.”

In 2014, a court ordered the truck owner to pay Bt4 million compensation to her family. Porntip says that her lawyer persuaded her to sign papers assigning him to handle everything for her, because he said it would not be convenient for her to pick up monthly compensation payments herself. She agreed but ended up getting just a little over Bt200,000.

“I lodged a complaint against him with the Bang Yi Khan Police Station in 2015,” Porntip said.

She said the lawyer then contacted her to negotiate and offered to pay her Bt1 million within three days if she withdrew the complaint. Porntip believed him, did what he requested, and has never received the money.

“I hope some government agencies will be able to help me. I cannot work. Both my legs are always in pain because of that accident. I am dependent on painkillers. My daughter needs treatment. We need money,” she said.

Porntip said she and her wheelchair-bound daughter now make a living by selling goods at a temple in Nonthaburi province. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn said he had instructed Bang Yi Khan Police Station’s superintendent Attawoot Niwatsopon to determine how to pursue legal actions against the lawyer.

Due to legal restrictions, those who have already withdrawn the complaint are unable to file a similar complaint based on the same alleged offence unless they have new evidence.

“We will try to help even though she has already withdrawn the complaint against the lawyer,” Sanit said.

Sanit also asked relevant authorities to consider revoking the licence of the allegedly deceitful lawyer.

Tareerat Yoambutr from the Justice Fund Office said her office would provide legal help as well as legal expenses related to court battles if Porntip sued the lawyer.

“We will help in whatever way we can under the law,” she said.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has also |contacted Porntip, offering her help.