The funeral procession, which began at 12.09pm, paraded through the streets of Phuket Town, from Mr Paiboon’s family home opposite Surakul Stadium to the graveyard at Khao Rang to the sound of gospel hymns sung in accordance with Mr Paiboon’s Christian faith.
Siwa Seangmanee, Adviser of the Ministry of Interior, attended as a guest of honour, among others.
Mr Paiboon was interred at 2pm, with Teera Jiasakun, president of the PPAO council, handing onto the coffin the first handful of soil, which was blessed by the Royal Household of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej on August 6.
Mr Paiboon died of cancer on August 2 (see story here). At the time of his death he was Phuket’s highest elected official, but had been suspended from office pending an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
The inquest, specifically into the Provincial Hospital in Rassada, was at the request of the Office of the Auditor General. (See story here.)
Meanwhile, the NACC has fallen silent on the ongoing corruption investigation, with NACC officials in Phuket and Bangkok declining to reveal any details about the corruption probe. (See story here.)