Chalerm Baffles Nation By Insisting Young Star Did Not Take Drug


Mr. Chalerm Yoobamrung and Ms. Sutatta "Pan Pan" Udomsilpa

BANGKOK: -- The revelation that a rising young actress of a popular teen series had been photographed as she was taking methamphetamine took a dramatic and bizarre turn after a top politician insisted that the actress did not do any drug, contrary to her father′s confirmation that she did.

Pol.Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen, director of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), also told the press that no trace of any illegal drug was found in young actress′s body according to the lab result. He said his agency is no longer treating the 16-year-old starlet as a potential drug abuser.


The controversial photo purportedly showing Ms. Sutatta (right) taking methamphetamines. It has now been dismissed as "doctored" by Mr. Chalerm.

With legal requirement lifted, Khaosod can now report that the young actress in question is Ms. Sutatta Udomsilpa, better known to her fans as "Pan Pan". Khaosod was previously barred from identifying her by real name due to the publishing regulation which prohibits identifying underage criminal offender.

Pan Pan is currently best known for her role in Hormones, the series about group of teenage students coping with various adolescent issues, including the more controversial actions like having sex and smoking in school.

Such frank portrayal instantly distinguished Hormones, which is aired weekly on a cable channel, from the largely conservative mainstream media in Thailand. Perhaps not surprisingly, move does not come without controversy. A member of the media regulatory board expressed his wish to censor the show on the ground of "inappropriate content".

For now, though, Pan Pan is battling a different kind of controversy - out of the silver screen. She has not spoken to the media ever since a photo purportedly showing her taking meth makes an O-shaped mouth to the camera surfaced on the internet, and her father confirmed the photo′s authenticity in a press conference.

She did not speak to the press throughout another press conference convened by Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung neither. In that press event, she appeared with her father, Mr. Surasakdi Udomsilpa, flanked by Mr. Chalerm and Pol.Gen. Pongsapat.

Mr. Chalerm told the press that ONCB has invited Pan Pan for medical check-up at Rama IX Hospital to test for drug, and the lab result showed no residue of methamphetamine in her body system.

"We can now conclude that Nong Pan Pan was never involved in narcotics," Mr. Chalerm said, adding that the controversial photo might have been doctored.

As for her father admitting that his daughter did take drug, Mr. Chalerm hypothesised that Mr. Surasakdi was shocked and confused by the photo, so there might have been some miscommunication.

Mr. Chalerm did not allow the reporters to ask any question, nor let them talk to Pan Pan and her father during the press conference. The young actress herself cried silently with her head bowed down throughout the event. Mr. Surasakdi escorted her out as soon as the press conference was finished.

Before getting in his car, however, Mr. Surasakdi said to trailing reporters that he insisted on what he initially told the press. He repeated apology to the public on behalf of his family.

Full story: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM05Ea3pORGszTXc9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-07-29

Quite bizarre.......... really, truly, astoundingly bizarre.

Hard to believe that after randomly gunning down and executing almost 3,000 men, women and children that there would be any drug users at all left in Thailand. Or would that violent policy have fared better had it targeted people actually involved in drug production and distribution?

I really do wonder if Chalerm actually believes some of the bizarre crap he comes up with. Staking his political reputation on an issue like this. Maybe he is just one of those who believes he can sell ice to Eskimos. This is just too funny.

His "earmedicine has finally reached his head. He has lost it big time.

Chalerm is a disgrace. Ok the kid tried drugs at 16 it would seem the Father handled it and issue over. Well done Dad. I would summize that this girl had her head bowed and was crying because what was happening at the press conference was far more traumatic than trying the drug. Chalerm was publicly humiliating and destroying the integrity of her Father by making him appear an idiot in front of the nation. The girl would have been truly remorseful about that even if not the 'experiment' with a drug. For Gods sake the Father even said as he left that what he originally said to the press was true. Still if Chalerm can lie to the teeth about his murderous son then this farcical show was nothing. He is a total embarrassment.

Why oh why does he need to point all this out anyway, regardless? <deleted> does this have to do with a post at the Ministry of Labor?

This guy needs shutdown by any means and removed from the public scene. Such a fool and bad presentation of his country.

I look at this 2 ways. Somebody from the "upper class" gets busted so the drug test gets a false reading, even though all the evidence including an unforced confession indicates otherwise; a scenario which is so indicative of the corrupt nature of this society and its so-called leaders. And Mr Corruption shows up to help.

OR somebody sold the idiot child a fake drug deal. But as her intention and belief to be using meth was still there, and documented, it does little to help her case.

Edited July 29, 201312 yr by OzMick

I'd like to say I'm speechless . . . but this doesn't surprise me at all anymore . . . how sad for Thailand.

Zoom in to his eyes on the photo. Rumour had it he was still drunk or badly hungover at the press conference, his eyes certainly look like piss holes in the snow!

I guess someone has not made an arse of himself lately and he had to show his form was still good

Getcha-off Chalerm can get his sons off murder. What's a little drug use to a man of his standing and credibility?

Edited July 29, 201312 yr by OzMick

Thailand hypocrisy and circus maximus.

The controversial photo purportedly showing Ms. Sutatta (right) taking methamphetamines. It has now been dismissed as "doctored" by Mr. Chalerm

There are 2 ways to read that second sentence

What a ridiculous farce. Does this man really believe that we buy this crap!

I think it's disgusting. A teen starlet and her plas getting ripped to the t*ts on Billy and they didn't even have the decency to give me her phone number.

Hard to believe that after randomly gunning down and executing almost 3,000 men, women and children that there would be any drug users at all left in Thailand. Or would that violent policy have fared better had it targeted people actually involved in drug production and distribution?

I don't think the extrajudicial killings were as random as you claim.

I really do wonder if Chalerm actually believes some of the bizarre crap he comes up with. Staking his political reputation on an issue like this. Maybe he is just one of those who believes he can sell ice to Eskimos. This is just too funny.

Plus it's way outside of his new portfolio.

His strong and vitriolic reaction to his demotion move two weeks ago indicated well that he's realized he has been demoted, and moved to a low ranking ministry.

Surely he would be well aware that it would be best to keep a low profile.

Zoom in to his eyes on the photo. Rumour had it he was still drunk or badly hungover at the press conference, his eyes certainly look like piss holes in the snow!

Indeed he is still blitzed or badly hungover. Never seen so many bad attributes all found within one person.

That fool also undermined her father's attempt to make her accept responsibility, grow and perhaps move on from this. This is planting a seed that when she screws up in life, there is no need to ever accept responsibility. Like a proper Elite.

Edited July 29, 201312 yr by aTomsLife

Anthony Weiner is looking for a new campaign manager...

Amazing Thailand. I amm absolutely speechless. And here I though Chalerm could not sink any lower.

What has this whole debacle to do with Chalerm anyway? I thought he was now Minister of Labour or something…..

I don't know what her life is like at home but I would assume if it is close family one then the parents would have a better idea if she was using or not. They would notice the changes in her. For a father to come out and make a public statement that is a huge thing and not something a parent would do lightly. Is Chalerm interfering in a private family matter and what is in it for him.

He needs a new girl for his stable what better way to score than to find her innocent

Dad earned a lot of plaudits by saying the television company's publicity machine was wrong that the photo was staged as his daughter had admitted to him she had taken the drug. How does he feel now having presumably been bullied into taking part in the Chalerm Show where he was made a fool of ?

Chalerm is an old friend and with friends like that he doesn't need enemies.

What a society, where the the elite think they can excuse everything away.

meth and politrics......clearly not a match.............?????????????????? is it?

Maybe the old fart is on a promise of some off screen fun and games.

I really do wonder if Chalerm actually believes some of the bizarre crap he comes up with. Staking his political reputation on an issue like this. Maybe he is just one of those who believes he can sell ice to Eskimos. This is just too funny.

Political reputation? What political reputation? The man has always been a dangerous idiot and remains the same.

Chalerm Baffles Nation...

Above says it all.