A Khon Kaen mayor might be fired after allegedly forcing a male reporter to remove his pants as punishment for running a story in the Daily News. This happened in his office in front of four other reporters, who were reportedly confined to the room — supposedly for all running photos of his alleged marriage to a 17-year-old teen.
Dr. Premsak Piayura, the 51-year-old mayor of Ban Phai municipality, will be investigated for the accusation, and will immediately be pulled from his position if found guilty, said Kamthorn Thawornsanit, Khon Kaen’s governor.
The story, published in Daily News on Monday, reported that Dr. Premsak, “married a Mathayom 5 school girl and that he paid THB400,000 and a Toyota Vios car as a dowry” after photos of what looks like a Thai wedding ceremony went viral on social media.
ABOVE: A photo of Dr. Premsak’s alleged wedding ceremony published on Daily News
The story was picked up by several Thai publications. Dr. Premsak responded that he was just “trying to help the girl’s family because they were in trouble,” according to Thairath.
On Tuesday, Dr. Premsak allegedly called a news conference in his office to talk about the scandal, but when five reporters entered the room, Premsak allegedly had them locked in, took their cameras and mobile phones. According to them, Dr. Premsak condemned them for running the photos and kept them for two hours.
Dr. Premsak reportedly asked who worked for Daily News because the publication “wrote a lot” about the story. Local reporter Korsit Kongchom, 64, identified himself, and Dr. Premsak allegedly ordered his staff to take his trousers and took a photo of the senior reporter while half-naked.
“I wonder how you would feel if I shamed you with your photos,” Dr. Premsak allegedly said, according to Manager.
Korsit filed a police complaint against the mayor yesterday. He was accompanied by the four other reporters who are his witnesses.
The investigation against Dr. Premsak is being conducted.
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