Governor candidate assaults TV anchorman
SURASAK GLAHAN
Bangkok governor candidate Chuwit Kamolvisit yesterday insisted he is still fit for the top job at City Hall despite brutally assaulting Channel 3 news anchorman Visarn Dilokwanich.
"Don't use this one incident as a standard to judge me," he told a press conference.
It did not mean he was not the right man for the job of governor, or that he would find it hard to work with others if elected, he said.
"The governor's job suits me the best. Why not?" he said. "I have run my businesses without asking for help from anyone."
Mr Chuwit was running second according to surveys by Abac and Suan Dusit pollsters.
Both have previous governor Apirak Kosayodhin of the Democrats far ahead of his rivals.
Mr Chuwit, who made his fortune owning massage parlours, is running as an independent.
 |
 |
| "I lost my temper because he insulted my manliness... However, I actually felt good after doint it" — Chuwit Kamolvisit, Candidate for Bangkok Governor |
"He hit me in the ear and the back of my neck with his elbow. I feel down. He did not stop. He kicked me in the back and the leg." — Visarn Dilokwanich, Channel 3 News Anchorman |
Mr Chuwit appeared as a guest on Thiangwan Tan Hetkarn (Updates at Noon) as a lead-up to Sunday's election. Mr Chuwit said the assault happened right after the live interview finished, when the newsman told him he did not intend to insult him.
Mr Chuwit told Mr Visarn "don't bother", then hit him with his elbow and kicked him in the face after he fell.
"I lost my temper because he insulted my manliness. It's too much to accept. I'm a person who doesn't take abuse from anyone," Mr Chuwit said angrily.
"However, I actually felt good after doing it," he added.
He said he talked casually to Mr Visarn before the show started about a change in his campaign strategy. The conversation should have been off-the-record.
It was unethical for Mr Visarn to capitalise on that conversation by exposing it on-air, he added.
"He talked to me without giving me any respect. A man like me can be killed, but can't be insulted," he said. "[If] you play hard with me, I'll pay you back for what you did."
Mr Visarn said they did not agree that their conversation before the show, when Mr Chuwit admitted he changed his image on his campaign posters to better compete with Mr Apirak, was off-the-record. His on-air questions were not unusual, he said. Mr Chuwit was upset and edgy. He had evaded questions and tried to provoke him.
"After the show, Mr Chuwit walked right up to me and punched me in the face. He hit me in the ear and the back of my neck with his elbow. I fell down. My head hit the floor and my right ear was pressed against the floor. He did not stop. He kicked me in the back and the leg," he said.
Mr Visarn said he did not hit back because he was not a thug. "I am willing to forgive if Mr Chuwit apologises. I am not a resentful man. But a criminal charge is another story," he said.
Mr Chuwit said he accepted he was guilty, but felt his actions did not go too far. He had already offered an apology to Channel 3's editorial team.
The Bangkok Election Committee dismissed the assault as a personal affair.
Mr Chuwit was still qualified to run in the election, chairman of the panel Ping Rungsamai said.
"It is a private affair. He remains an eligible candidate as the criminal complaint has not been finalised," he said.
Mr Visarn filed an assault complaint against Mr Chuwit with Thong Lor police after a medical examination. He was also considering filing a civil lawsuit.
Pol Sub-Lt Thaweesak Thongchana said the charge was not serious and punishable by a maximum one-month jail term and/or a 1,000 baht fine.
The Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association condemned Mr Chuwit's action as unbefitting a public figure running for public office.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Next
