Thai senior politician, Prawit Wongsuwon, got into trouble recently for slapping a woman journalist while she asked about the recent appointment of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Thailand's new prime minister.
Prawit, 79, was caught on camera hitting Duangthip Yiamphop, ThaiPBS broadcaster, as he left the building. Yiamphop had asked “Did you see the PM voting at the Parliament? How did you feel?” He is heard asking in the video: "What are you asking? What? What?"
ThaiPBS made a formal complaint and the parliament said in a statement that it would investigate the incident.
Senior Thai politician Prawit Wongsuwan is under investigation after he slapped a journalist from @ThaiPBS. pic.twitter.com/IKrojs5NyC
— DW News (@dwnews) August 23, 2024
Prawit was Thailand's army chief in the early 2000s. He was a key figure under the military-backed government. He was also one of the architects of the 2014 coup that ousted Paetongtarn's aunt and the then prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Prawit served as deputy prime minister under the military-backed government. If found guilty of a serious ethical violation, Prawit could face suspension as an MP or a lifetime ban.
The Thai Journalists Association also condemned Prawit for using "violence against a journalist". It said it “considers his actions to be threatening and harassing toward the rights and freedom of the press”.
ThaiPBS alleged that Prawit's actions are threatening journalism.
Meanwhile, Prawit apologised to Duangthip, saying he "did not have any bad intention".
In 2018, the National Anti-Corruption Commission registered launched a graft investigation against him over his collection of luxury watches. Later it was dropped.
