Following media reports that the father of 15-year-old Nitcharee Peneakchanasak, Mr Kittanesh Peneakchanasak, 56, is suing SMRT for $3.4 million on her behalf, the rail operator has come out to clarify that it had given $15,000 to the family as a goodwill gesture.
The operator said that the amount is not meant to be compensation.
The Straits Times reported that SMRT had offered this "goodwill financial assistance" - an initial sum of $10,000 to facilitate her family travelling to Singapore to be with her, followed by another $5,000 at the end of last month, after an appeal by Mr Peneakchanasak through the Thai Embassy for further help.
SMRT also said that it offered taxi services for the family while they were here.
A spokesman for SMRT said "it was a surprise to find out through the media on June 12 that (Mr Peneakchanasak) had regarded this amount as compensation."
As police investigations are still underway, the issue of compensation will not be addressed until the investigations are concluded.
In a further development, Mr Peneakchanasak said that his daughter, who weighs about 40kg and was carrying a heavy backpack on that day, had been pushed when she was standing on the platform. He said that she had been standing behind the yellow safety lines, which was also confirmed by SMRT's video footage of the accident. He is now making the distance between the safety line and the edge of the platform an issue in the suit.
Earlier, reports of a $3.4 million suit brought against SMRT by Mr Peneakchanasak on behalf of his daughter made headlines in the media. The money takes into account the 20 pairs of prosthetic legs Nitcharee will need in her lifetime, and $400,000 to cover inflation and other costs.
Claims for pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, future earnings and medical treatment will be made separately from the $3.4 million suit.
The teenager has received about $400,000 so far in donations, since news of her accident was reported.
source : asiaone