Mayor Charged After 'drunken Fight With Police'

[sriracha john]

The 'Don't you know who my father is?' mentality

So many violent incidents occurred this past week alone that the situation has become scary, scary in terms of whether such violence has reached the point of normalcy and we now have to simply live with it.

Among other incidents, a junior cadet student was forced to drink water until he died, officers were gunned down for unfortunate love affairs, and two models were allegedly involved in a fight.

The two most unnerving cases for me, though, are the shooting spree that took place near Thai Market in Pathum Thani and the alleged drunken brawl involving police officers and the mayor of Samut Prakan municipality. The impact that these two cases have is far greater than the persons or victims involved directly in the incidents.

The shoot-out between the gunman and officers <off-topic portion snipped>

The other case that warrants attention is the scuffle between police officers and Samut Prakan municipality mayor Chonsawas Asavahame. He has been charged on various counts, including illegal detention and failing to submit to a sobriety test.

The most depressing part of this whole story is that a certain responsible officer downplayed the issue, saying it was only a minor offence and simply a mistake anyone could have made.

Of course, anyone can make mistakes but for an elected official to be accused of flaunting his power and influence, let alone ordering his men to physically attack a police officer, is a serious transgression.

It should be viewed as such in order to ensure equal treatment and justice for all. No one is above the law, especially if the person is an elected official who must have known better.

But again, cases of rank-and-file officers up against the rich and powerful are nothing new, and if history has taught us anything it's possible this case might somehow end quietly, with only lenient punishment levied on the wrongdoer.

It's true that Thai politicians commit nastier acts, like corruption and other scandals, but law and order must be upheld in all cases. Refusing a sobriety test and being involved in a drunken brawl with policemen cannot be taken lightly.

It's a shame that Police Corporal Prarob Saengnil received a death threat. He is the type of officer Thailand needs - daring enough to stand up for what is right and not being afraid of influential figures.

A good sign, though, is the outpouring of support for officer Prarob, both from fellow officers and the general public, especially Samut Prakan residents. It clearly demonstrates how disgusted a great number of us are with those who think they are endowed with special privileges.

Only when every citizen respects the law as well as understands their rights and responsibilities can society progress.

Only then, can we be assured to live in a civilised society in which no one would dare utter the pathetic line "Don't you know who my father is?"

- The Nation Editorial

[ratcatcher]

Time to kick this BUM out of office(ie AN INACTIVE POST)for sure.

Well, we've had lovely pictures of the pr*cks girlfriends, now here's a picture of the rectum and some other good guys. He's in the yellow shirt, second from left.

I always get a laugh out of these clowns, who when confronted by the law,always turn and say "Do you know who my father is?"

Do you know who his daddy is? He obviously doesn't.

[Steely Dan]

"The most depressing part of this whole story is that a certain responsible officer downplayed the issue, saying it was only a minor offence and simply a mistake anyone could have made."

What it boils down to is the role of the Police; they are not there to uphold the law but to maintain the status quo, namely a feudal society where a rich and powerful elite (sic) can act with total impunity. With this in mind 'Don't you know who my father is?' is the most relevent thing the mayor could have said. I expect the 'responsible officer' was reminded of his true remit before talking to the press.

[sriracha john]

Chonsawas fingerprinted and questioned

Samut Prakan mayor claims video evidence will exonerate him

Samut Prakan mayor Chonsawas Asavahame yesterday denied eight charges related to a May 20 driving incident that include the illegal detention of a police officer.

He reported to Makkasan police where he was fingerprinted, informed of the charges, interviewed for approximately one hour and released. There is no arrest warrant.

Late last Sunday, police at a New Phetchaburi Road checkpoint stopped Chonsawas after he was observed driving erratically. Two aides and three women, including two well-known models, accompanied him.

Chonsawas refused to submit to a breath-alcohol test. Police said the aides then assaulted Sergeant Prarob Saengnil.

Metropolitan Police Maj-General Manit Wongsomboon said Chonsawas was informed of the eight charges.

"Though he is a son of well-known politician, I'm not worried. I'm certain we have enough evidence to charge him," said Manit.

Chonsawas said he would report again to police in seven days. He will produce evidence in his defence including a security video.

He faces up to three years in jail and a Bt6,000 fine if convicted.

Meanwhile, the models, sisters Anchalee and Yossawadee Hassadeewijit, have been charged with brawling.

They told a news conference yesterday they had only defended themselves.

They are alleged to have fought with Napassanant Possawong, the daughter of a well-known gold shop owner at a Thong Lor restaurant on the same night.

Napassanant alleged to Thong Lor police she was assaulted by the sisters. Chonsawas was at the restaurant.

Anchalee admitted her involvement but said it was in defence of her sister, who was about to be struck by Napassanant.

Anchalee showed a "discourteous message" she claimed Napassanant sent to her mobile telephone.

Chonsawas denied involvement in the fight.

- The Nation

=============================

Clearly, the sisters care about each other a great deal and enough that one would want to defend the other:

[sriracha john]

Chonsawat surrenders to police

Ready to fight the 8 charges against him

Samut Prakan mayor Chonsawat Asavahame yesterday turned himself in at Makkasan police station and denied all the eight charges pressed against him. Chonsawat, accompanied by his lawyer, reported to Manit Wongsomboon, commander of Metropolitan Police 1, at Makkasan police station after authorities had issued a summons for him by setting tomorrow as the deadline. The summons was issued after he allegedly refused to take an alcohol breath test and asked his aides to assault a police officer last week. According to Pol Maj-Gen Manit, Mr Chonsawat has denied all the charges and asked the police to postpone his interrogation for another seven days to allow him to prepare his testimony and evidence, including footage from a security camera, to counter police charges. Mr Chonsawat also denied involvement in a related case in which Napasnan Pasawong, daughter of the owner of the famous gold shop Huasengheng, has filed a complaint with Thong Lo police accusing him and two models, Anchalee and Yoswadee Hasdeewijit, of attacking her in a pub.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27May2007_news08.php

==========================================

Let's hope that with Chonsawat's denial, the sisters aren't left swinging in the wind...

[lazeeboy]

Chonsawat surrenders to police

Ready to fight the 8 charges against him

Samut Prakan mayor Chonsawat Asavahame yesterday turned himself in at Makkasan police station and denied all the eight charges pressed against him. Chonsawat, accompanied by his lawyer, reported to Manit Wongsomboon, commander of Metropolitan Police 1, at Makkasan police station after authorities had issued a summons for him by setting tomorrow as the deadline. The summons was issued after he allegedly refused to take an alcohol breath test and asked his aides to assault a police officer last week. According to Pol Maj-Gen Manit, Mr Chonsawat has denied all the charges and asked the police to postpone his interrogation for another seven days to allow him to prepare his testimony and evidence, including footage from a security camera, to counter police charges. Mr Chonsawat also denied involvement in a related case in which Napasnan Pasawong, daughter of the owner of the famous gold shop Huasengheng, has filed a complaint with Thong Lo police accusing him and two models, Anchalee and Yoswadee Hasdeewijit, of attacking her in a pub.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27May2007_news08.php

==========================================

Let's hope that with Chonsawat's denial, the sisters aren't left swinging in the wind...

nice camel toe on the left

[ratcatcher]

Chonsawat surrenders to police

Ready to fight the 8 charges against him

Samut Prakan mayor Chonsawat Asavahame yesterday turned himself in at Makkasan police station and denied all the eight charges pressed against him. Chonsawat, accompanied by his lawyer, reported to Manit Wongsomboon, commander of Metropolitan Police 1, at Makkasan police station after authorities had issued a summons for him by setting tomorrow as the deadline. The summons was issued after he allegedly refused to take an alcohol breath test and asked his aides to assault a police officer last week. According to Pol Maj-Gen Manit, Mr Chonsawat has denied all the charges and asked the police to postpone his interrogation for another seven days to allow him to prepare his testimony and evidence, including footage from a security camera, to counter police charges. Mr Chonsawat also denied involvement in a related case in which Napasnan Pasawong, daughter of the owner of the famous gold shop Huasengheng, has filed a complaint with Thong Lo police accusing him and two models, Anchalee and Yoswadee Hasdeewijit, of attacking her in a pub.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27May2007_news08.php

==========================================

Let's hope that with Chonsawat's denial, the sisters aren't left swinging in the wind...

nice camel toe on the left

Looks more like a camel tail to me!

Not a katoey eh?

Edited May 27, 2007 by ratcatcher

[sriracha john]

Auto centre searched to incriminate Chonsawas

Police searched the Vattana Auto Sale and Service company in Bangkok's Huai Khwang area yesterday for evidence to tie Samut Prakan mayor Chonsawas Asavahame and two aides to the alleged assault of a Makkasan police officer.

Police stopped Chonsawas at a checkpoint on New Phetchaburi Road nine days ago after he was observed driving erratically. Two aides and three women, including two well-known models, were said to have accompanied him.

Chonsawas allegedly refused to submit to a breath test, and police said he then assaulted Sergeant Prarob Saengnil.

Colonel Chakkri Khamkong, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police Division 1, took a search warrant yesterday afternoon to the Vattana company compound, which includes a Pure petrol station, showroom and garage - which was where the alleged assault and detention of Sergeant Prarob occurred.

In a two-hour search, police examined five security cameras and looked for other evidence.

Chonsawas, who arrived an hour after the police, said he fully cooperated with the investigation.

Chakkri said officials wanted to check for more evidence - such as the nametag Prarob claimed to have lost at the scene. They also wanted to check if security camera footage had been edited.

Chakkri said police would issue an arrest warrant for one identified aide reportedly involved in the assault and warrants for the two models, who allegedly assaulted Napassanant Possawong, the daughter of a well-known gold shop owner, at a Thong Lor restaurant earlier the same night.

The models, sisters Anchalee and Yossawadee Hassadeewijit, will hear charges against them on Friday.

Chakkri said Chonsawas had promised to accompany his aide and the sisters when they present themselves to the police this week.

- The Nation

============================

Yossawadee will hopefully be out of the water before Friday's hearing and will inform her sister in time.

[TAWP]

Hopefully she will have found her arm by then...

[Old Man River]

But this is NOT a story about old elite.

Bureaucrats, who rose to power through their service, are not any more immune from police and newshounds than politicians.

We are talking about families and clans, btw, not individuals.

Maybe they have better control over their offspring, maybe they are better at damage control, maybe they are just generally better behaved, but somehow they don't get in the news for assaulting police and asking everyone: "Do you know who my father is?"

I couldn't agree more. Anyone who quotes gossip from "overseas sources" about an entire group of people are making a gross generalization about a group of people they have never met and probably never will meet.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Police file eight charges against Chonsawas

Makkasan police Wednesday filed eight criminal charges against Samut Prakan Municipality Mayor Chonsawas Asavahame with the public prosecutor.

Two of his aides were also named in some of the charges which arose from an incident with police on New Phetchaburi Road on May 21.

The prosecutors will announce on July 25 whether the charges warrant being brought to court.

Chonsawas is facing eight charges: resisting officials' instructions without good reason; failing to submit to a driving ability test and a breath test for alcohol; reckless driving; causing damage to property; obstructing an official against his will by applying physical force; inciting three men to use physical force to obstruct an official attempting to do his duty; illegally detaining an official; and insulting an official performing his duty.

The last four charges were also to apply to his two aides, Sakul Pramulchai and Pratya Chaiyakul.

- The Nation

=====================

No updated word on Yossawadee or her sister... but she looks to be holding up ok:

[Grover]

nice camel toe on the left

^ Have a look at the expression on her face. It's as if she is saying "have a look at this, boys"

[Grover]

I await other developments on this important story.

[stumonster]

No updated word on Yossawadee or her sister... but she looks to be holding up ok:

not much there to hold ?

Is he still Mayor ?

[Scott]

The photos in this thread are too distracting. I had something I wanted to say and now I can't remember what it was!

[bulmercke]

All charges in this case will eventually be dropped.

None of them will go to jail or even be fined.

TIT

[samran]

keep the inuendo out of this thread please.

[sriracha john]

Yossawadee seems much happier now that she's not been mentioned in the 8 charges against the mayor....

In fact, she's almost bursting out with exhuberance... almost beyond what is considered acceptable here.... almost...

[qualtrough]

Yossawadee seems much happier now that she's not been mentioned in the 8 charges against the mayor....

In fact, she's almost bursting out with exhuberance... almost beyond what is considered acceptable here.... almost...

In pre-PC days she would have been known as a carpenter's delight! Having said that, she could still chew crackers....

Edited June 21, 2007 by qualtrough

[sriracha john]

Yossawadee seems much happier now that she's not been mentioned in the 8 charges against the mayor....

In fact, she's almost bursting out with exhuberance... almost beyond what is considered acceptable here.... almost...

In pre-PC days she would have been known as a carpenter's delight! Having said that, she could still chew crackers....

In Americanese that's called a woodie... what Britism is carpenter's delight? As for chewing crackers, does that refer to not removing her from your bed for doing so?.... or does it mean she's savoring your nuts?

[stumonster]

for all the glitz she is showing in these arty photo's

she has a very sad taste in men.

[sriracha john]

As for male companionship... err... this is her most famous magazine cover, which was a real trailblazer and set the tone for almost the entire Thai magazine industry for the past several years.

Image Magazine

Februrary 2004

[qualtrough]

In Americanese that's called a woodie... what Britism is carpenter's delight? As for chewing crackers, does that refer to not removing her from your bed for doing so?.... or does it mean she's savoring your nuts?

No, no, no! Carpenter's Delight=Flat as a board. As for crackers, your first guess was right.

[sriracha john]

In Americanese that's called a woodie... what Britism is carpenter's delight? As for chewing crackers, does that refer to not removing her from your bed for doing so?.... or does it mean she's savoring your nuts?

No, no, no! Carpenter's Delight=Flat as a board. As for crackers, your first guess was right.

ahhh ok... that's good to know. Thaivisa is a never-ending, international learning experience... Thank you.

While she indeed is petite in the bra cup size... my second guess for the crackers comment would be quite an experience as well...

[Lorin]

for all the glitz she is showing in these arty photo's

she has a very sad taste in men.

At least she has good taste in money, plus from the pictures of that guy that I seen, he consider handsome by Thai standards...

[sriracha john]

VIDEO:

Yo and A Hussadeewijit, models and actresses, defend themselves from the scandal of assaulting hi-society girl.

(in Thai)

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/n...ar&cateid=8

Edited July 1, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Samut Prakan mayor hit with six more charges, avoids police

Police filed six more charges yesterday against Samut Prakan Municipality mayor Chonsawas Asavahame, in addition to charges of refusing to take a breath test for alcohol and illegally detaining a police officer.

Police will now send a second warrant to Chonsawas to hear the new charges, which now total eight.

Meanwhile, a group of Samut Prakan residents gave morale support to the 'bullied' Makkasan police officer.

Chonsawas and two aides allegedly detained and assaulted Lance Corporal Prarob Saengnil, after Chonsawas was stopped for speeding and erratic driving and asked to take a breath test at a New Phetchaburi Road checkpoint last weekend.

Police have already sent a warrant for Chonsawas to hear the charges but as of late yesterday he had yet to show up.

Makkasan Police superintendent Colonel Jeerasak Khamkhong said more witnesses had been interviewed yesterday and they helped confirm that the alleged assault took place. So, police would now issue a second warrant for the son of former deputy interior minister, Vatana Asavahame, to hear the six additional charges.

The charges include obstructing authorities attempting to do their job by use of physical force; using three men to obstruct an official against his will by applying physical force; causing damage to property; reckless driving; failing to submit to a driving ability test and insulting authorities in their attempt to perform their duties.

Meanwhile, a group of 20 people representing residents of Samut Prakan's six districts went to give morale support to Prarob at noon yesterday.

They also carried signs that read, "We, Pak Nam residents, feel ashamed of Chonsawas' decision to spend his free time bullying officials instead of developing the city...we want justice for the police officers who were bullied."

Metropolitan Police division 1 commander Maj-General Manit Wongsomboon said Thong Lor police also had a physical assault case filed by a gold-shop owner's daughter against two female models thought to be with Chonsawas on the same night.

Makkasan police had contacted their colleagues at Thong Lor to see if the two cases were related.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

In the newest edition of FHM Magazine, the sisters give a very revealing interview concerning the events in this thread.

I haven't read all of it yet, so in the interim, I'll offer these photographic excerpts from their interview:

Edited July 9, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

nothing new on the sisters, but.....

Asavahame family faces big election challenge

The Asavahame clan, long dominant in Samut Prakan politics, is facing its biggest political challenge in the provincial administration organisation (PAO) election on Sunday as its arch-rival enjoys solid support from local voters, political observers said. The Aug 5 election will decide the political fate of the Asavahame family whose reputation is in tatters because several of the family members have been accused of involvement in various scandals in recent years. Veteran politician Vatana Asavahame is himself fighting corruption charges for possessing illegal land title deeds linked to the corruption-plagued Klong Dan waste treatment plant project. His two sons, Poolpol and Chonsawat, are also facing police charges. Poolpol has been charged in a physical assault case while Chonsawat, who is also the mayor of Sumut Prakan municipality, is facing a lawsuit for refusing to take an alcohol breath test and assaulting a police officer and resisting police arrest.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/31Jul2007_news10.php

============================================================

Sounds like such a nice family....

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Chonsawas, aides indicted

Samut Prakan Municipality mayor Chonsawas Asavahame and his two aides were yesterday indicted on three criminal charges relating to his much-publicised brawl with a policeman in May after refusing to undergo a breath test for alcohol.

Along with Chonsawas, Sakul Pramoolchai and Pratya Chaiyakul have been indicted for obstructing police duties, insulting police and the coercion of officers. All three men pleaded innocent.

The public prosecutors yesterday refused their request to postpone the indictment hearing, saying their request to have more witnesses re-interviewed had no grounds, and ordered them to appear before the Criminal Court today at 10am.

According to the indictment, Chonsawas refused to take an alcohol test after being pulled over by Makkasan traffic policeman Pol Sgt Prarob Saengnil on New Phetchaburi Road. He later allegedly drove into a petrol station where his aides locked up the officer.

- The Nation

================================

what about the sisters????