Victim speaks up as senior public health official accused of serial sexual harassment

[webfact]

Victim speaks up as senior public health official accused of serial sexual harassment

By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THE PUBLIC Health Ministry is investigating a senior official over an allegation that he sexually harassed a subordinate for years.

“I expect a fact-finding committee to conclude its investigation next week,” the ministry’s permanent secretary Sopon Mekthon said yesterday. “I am also preparing to launch a disciplinary probe.” 

 

The alleged sexual harassment reportedly took place at the ministry’s Office of the Permanent Secretary. 

 

“As soon as we received a complaint from a female temporary employee in early August, we transferred the accused official and launched an investigation,” Sopon said. 

 

He added that he would ensure the alleged wrongdoer was punished. 

 

Sopon advised any official or employee of the Public Health Ministry to come forward if something inappropriate had happened at their workplace. 

 

“Don’t be afraid of speaking up. We will ensure justice,” he said. 

 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the victim in the sexual-harassment case said she had been subjected to groping since 2014, often in front of her colleagues. 

 

“He had threatened to not renew my employment contract if I resisted. He’s my direct supervisor,” she said.

 

The victim, 30, said no one in her unit had tried to stop the supervisor during incidents of sexual harassment. 

 

“There are several other victims in the same unit,” she said. 

 

The victim said she had previously lodged a complaint with a unit at the Public Health Ministry but the sexual harassment had not stopped. She said she could not bear such harassment any longer and had decided to ask a colleague to help secretly install a camera to record the misbehaviour. 

 

Then on Saturday, she lodged a complaint with the Muang Nonthaburi Police Station and produced evidence. 

 

“We will summon the accused official. If he does not respond our summons, we will issue an arrest warrant,” Pol Lt-Colonel Wachiranusorn Kampaeng, an inspector at the station, said yesterday. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323698

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-14

[Thaiwrath]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

He added that he would ensure the alleged wrongdoer was punished. 

With it being a senior official, I doubt the punishment will be as severe as a 1,000 baht fine, probably only 500.

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

“As soon as we received a complaint from a female temporary employee in early August, we transferred the accused official and launched an investigation,” Sopon said. 

 

Did nothing until the victim posted her complaint on social media.

 

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

The victim said she had previously lodged a complaint with a unit at the Public Health Ministry but the sexual harassment had not stopped. She said she could not bear such harassment any longer and had decided to ask a colleague to help secretly install a camera to record the misbehaviour. 

 

 

[leeneeds]

Power, to the lady, 

I hope this deviant behaviour shown to this lady and others is swift and severe,

sexual predators as this need help, by neutering the bastard.

[USNret]

That photo, if legit, is far more than harassment. It is sexual assault. She says there are witnesses & other victims.  If all this is validated, the perp needs some serious prison time where he can learn what it is like to be the victim of sexual assault. 

[dotpoom]

3 hours ago, leeneeds said:

Power, to the lady, 

I hope this deviant behaviour shown to this lady and others is swift and severe,

sexual predators as this need help, by neutering the bastard.

"I hope this deviant behaviour shown to this lady and others is swift and severe,"

    I think you might have put that differently.....she's had enough already?

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“As soon as we received a complaint from a female temporary employee in early August, we transferred the accused official and launched an investigation,” Sopon said.

I'm sure that the people where he was transferred to are feeling very secure. Incompetence, major scale.Just put him on gardening leave while sorted. Imagine your wife gets abused by this guy in his new transfer !

[Lupatria]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He added that he would ensure the alleged wrongdoer was punished. 

Just in case someone missed the weak point in his statement.

[NextStationBangkok]

Seem to have proof, then no arrest ?

 

Is this normal and accepted in the society ?

 

Does Taylor Swift come to witness for her ?

[mtls2005]

Senior official stressed, in hospital.

 

Subordinate charged with defamation.

 

Monies paid.

 

Rinse, repeat.

[wvavin]

This is definitely the norm in all government offices in Thailand. 

[Roger Harris]

Inactive post until the smell goes away.

[Kiniyeow]

This is all just a misunderstanding.  Her breasts were falling out of her blouse and he was just trying to put them back in before someone saw them and she lost face in front of her coworkers.

[hobobo]

Just goes to show that Taylor Swift isn't the only one being groped. Happens everywhere...

[mtls2005]

5 minutes ago, Kiniyeow said:

This is all just a misunderstanding.  Her breasts were falling out of her blouse and he was just trying to put them back in before someone saw them and she lost face in front of her coworkers.

(I understand your post, mine is sort of reinforcing that message.)

 

Yes, why was she dressed up as a "nurse" unless "she was asking for it"?

 

Someone should be charged with Computer Crimes for posting the video.

 

I'm sure the victim(s) can/will be "blamed".

[scorecard]

27 minutes ago, wvavin said:

This is definitely the norm in all government offices in Thailand. 

 

And it's not only sexual harassment, plenty of other officers regularly verbally abused and emotionally abused. 

 

Saw this a couple of years back in the road tax renewal office, several young staff (M and F) verbally abused for the whole 90 minutes we sat in the office, abused by an older dragon woman. Including dragon woman smacking a couple of the staff across the back of their heads.

 

Waiting customers all horrified. 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2017 by scorecard

[Thaimike370]

Fire him, not move him sideways.

[gandalf12]

Why has he been transferred? He should at the very least be suspended without pay until the situation is clarified and appropriate actions started

[scorecard]

Just now, Thaimike370 said:

Fire him, not move him sideways.

 

Should be:

 

- Fire him.

- Charge him with assault.

- Charge him with sexual harrassment.

 

Plus the investigators should be responsible to firmly establish further details of this low-lifes overall activities and full details of how many others he has abused.

 

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

 

Did nothing until the victim posted her complaint on social media.

 

 

 

 

Which part of this didn't you understand? No mention at all of social media.

 

'She said she could not bear such harassment any longer and had decided to ask a colleague to help secretly install a camera to record the misbehaviour. Then on Saturday, she lodged a complaint with the Muang Nonthaburi Police Station and produced evidence.'

[mikebell]

This case encapsulates much that is wrong in Thailand.  A figure of authority feels able to perform such an assault in front of witnesses in the firm belief he will escape with impunity.  And you know what, he is probably right.

[KKr]

2 hours ago, dotpoom said:

"I hope this deviant behaviour shown to this lady and others is swift and severe,"

    I think you might have put that differently.....she's had enough already?

another TV member on the blocked list :-(

[sandemara]

6 hours ago, leeneeds said:

I hope this deviant behaviour shown to this lady and others is swift and severe,

????  A bit tough on the victims?

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Which part of this didn't you understand? No mention at all of social media.

 

'She said she could not bear such harassment any longer and had decided to ask a colleague to help secretly install a camera to record the misbehaviour. Then on Saturday, she lodged a complaint with the Muang Nonthaburi Police Station and produced evidence.'

 

Okay, she went to Amarin TV and not to social media. That doesn't change the fact that her original complaint was ignored.

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, wvavin said:

This is definitely the norm in all government offices in Thailand. 

Correct; and not just offices.   My Wife was a Nurse for 25 years and says she and her colleagues were constantly preyed upon by Doctors and Managers, most married men who expected the Nurses to kow tow to their sexual requirements.   Anyone who complained was ignored by the authorities or was 'transferred'' to another Hospital.

[TKDfella]

While it does happen in say, UK, women have, in theory, equal rights. However, in Thailand even in theory they don't 'In Theravada Buddhism, it is impossible for a woman to be a bodhisattva, which is someone on their way to Buddhahood. Bodhisattva can be a human, animal, serpent, or a god, but is never a woman...'. Since Thailand is mainly Theravada women automatically lose equality...shame but there it is.

[Mac98]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

(I understand your post, mine is sort of reinforcing that message.)

 

Yes, why was she dressed up as a "nurse" unless "she was asking for it"?

 

Someone should be charged with Computer Crimes for posting the video.

 

I'm sure the victim(s) can/will be "blamed".

Maybe he was just claiming items 5 and 6 on a 10-item scavenger hunt?

[Wake Up]

8 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

With it being a senior official, I doubt the punishment will be as severe as a 1,000 baht fine, probably only 500.

I am willing to accept your bet. How much are you willing to risk?

[Thaiwrath]

3 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

I am willing to accept your bet. How much are you willing to risk?

Another one not too conversant with the English language.

In my post, I fail to see where any bet was mentioned.

You should have gone to Specsavers ?

[Wake Up]

8 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

Another one not too conversant with the English language.

In my post, I fail to see where any bet was mentioned.

You should have gone to Specsavers ?

Understand you just want to comment negatively with no desire to show a belief in your words. Easy to spout off and easy to attack. If you change your mind about putting some risk in your Thai bashing opinion then let me know. Maybe take your own advice on Specsavers or find a place worthy of your domicile. Cheers.