Bail granted to woman's attacker

The attack took place after the woman, Somjit Plainao, 51, appeared reluctant to return his wristwatch that was accidentally dropped on a Bangkok footpath last week.
Somjit was quoted as saying that she indeed found the wristwatch and the teenager confronted her.
“He asked about the wristwatch. But before we really talked, he hit me,” Thongpleaw Chata quoted Somjit as speaking yesterday.
Thongpleaw is the village head of Moo 3, Ban Huai Pai in Khon Kaen’s Chonnabot district. He visited Somjit after learning that she was assaulted in Bangkok and returned to her home province for recuperating.
Somjit, 51, had been working as a cleaner at CentralWorld through arrangements by her employer, PCS.
She has been receiving treatment under the Social Security scheme. Stitches and swelling in her face were still clearly visible days a week after the attack took place.
Her attacker turned himself in to Pathumwan Police Station on Tuesday night after video clips showing the attack were posted on a website and widely viewed.
The station’s deputy superintendent Lt Colonel Panom Chuathong said the teenager was stressed and crying all during the night he spent at the station.
“His aunt was with him,” Panom said.
Juvenile Observation and Protection Department director general Tawatchai Thaikhiew said such an attack was considered a public offence and police could take action even if the victim did not file a complaint.
“If there are recordings of the attack, state officials can act,” Tawatchai said.
According to Thongpleaw, Somjit has not filed any complaint because she wanted to the whole issue to end.
“After police called her, she became very stressed,” Thongpleaw said.
According to her neighbours and relatives, Somjit has been working for the PCS for decades.