FORMER Democrat Party deputy leader Prinn Panichphakdi was today (Sep. 29) sentenced to six years in jail, but this reduced to four years, plus told to pay 2 million baht compensation to his sexual harassment victim Mrs. Hathairat Thanakitamnuay, or Anna, wife of wealthy protester Mr. Thanat Thanakitamnuay, or Hiso Luknut, Matichon newspaper and Workpoint TV said this evening.
Thanat, scion of the family that controls Noble Development Plc, a leading property developer in this country, had joined street protests against former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha where he got injured in one eye after being hit by an object at one such rallies, praised his wife for her courage.
Hathairat was a Ruam Thai United Party’s councillor candidate in the Bangkok gubernatorial election but withdrew from the race after filing these charges against Prinn.
Thanat wrote on his Facebook page: “Thank you Ann, you are so amazing,
“Want to share what we learned from this, the weight of the plaintiff’s testimony is the most important, despite this being something terrible that she wants to forget but had to memorize out of the necessity to fight for others. In the process of injustice you don’t have to be a victim and don’t have to be the sole witness in your case.
“We did not go there to appeal to the court but were there to point out the flaw in the law that shifts the burden of proof to the person who has been harmed.
“This led to her feeling as if she was the defendant rather than the plaintiff.”
Last month Bangkok South Criminal Court sentenced Prinn to two years and eight months in jail without parole on charges of subjecting an 18-year-old student to indecent exposure at a restaurant in 2021.
This was the first sexual misconduct case filed against him and after that other women too followed suit.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Former Democrat Party leader Prinn Panichphakdi, right, and Mrs. Hathairat Thanakitamnuay, left. Photo: Matichon
Insert: Mr. Thanat Thanakitamnuay. Photo: Sanook.com
Front Page: Prinn Panichphakdi. Photo: Thai Rath
Also read: Prinn get 2 years, 8 months in indecency case
Prinn vows to fight cases, looking to countersue for defamation
Prinn bailed out in new sexual misconduct case filed in Petchaburi
Prinn released on bail in three cases filed against him
Democrat Party deputy leader denies sexual misconduct allegations, quits party posts
Jurin firm on not quitting as scandal rocks party
Juti slammed for ignoring sex scandals allegedly surrounding Democrats
Thanat hits back at MP who doubts he was blinded in one eye at protest
Blinded but fighting on: Thanat joins today’s protest parade
Wealthy protester’s wife files rape charges against former deputy party leader
2 Replies to “Ex-Democrat deputy leader gets 4 years’ jail in sexual harassment case”