23-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Prinn Panitchpakdi, a former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison without suspension for sexual harassment of an 18-year-old female student in 2021, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
Deputy spokesman Kosolwat Inthuchanyong revealed that the sentence was pronounced by the Bangkok South Criminal Court on August 10.
The prosecution presented evidence to the court that Prinn had enticed the student to meet him at a rooftop restaurant in Soi Sukhumvit 11, where he sexually molested her in 2021. The victim filed a complaint with Lumpini police in April 2022.
The court found Prinn guilty and handed down a sentence of two years and eight months in prison without suspension.
This case is the first of several similar cases filed against Prinn. Kosolwat stated that the Bangkok South Criminal Court is set to deliver a judgement in a second sexual harassment case against him on September 25.
In addition, the examination of witnesses is ongoing in several other cases filed against Prinn.
Following the revelation of the first case, Prinn resigned from his position as deputy leader of the Democrat Party, where he was in charge of the party’s economic team. He vehemently denied the allegations.
Prominent lawyer Sittra Biabangkerd brought attention to more cases against Prinn, leading complainants to file charges with the police. Sittra claimed that as many as 10 women had been sexually harassed by Prinn, with at least five of them experiencing rape, while others were subjected to sexual molestation.
