Fight provoked by groping of friend
SEVEN YOUNGSTERS arrested for assaulting a rival young man during a Songkran brawl in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Muang district on Saturday claim the victim was drunk and had groped a female friend of theirs before they attacked him, police said on Sunday.
Muang Nakhon Ratchasima superintendent Pol Colonel Patiyuth Singsomroj said Wiroj Chanhom, 25, Kiattisak Rongsantia, 22, Sopon Boonprasert, 20, Watcharapong Trongchat, 23 and three others whose names have been withheld be cause they are under 18 are among the nine people accused of attacking Athisak (last name withheld), 25.
The two elusive suspects were Peerapong Maoseub, a suspect in a knife assault on another man on March 26, and another man identified only by the nickname “Keng Lek”, Patiyuth added.
The seven men arrested on Sunday reportedly confessed to the assault but claimed that Athisak was drunk and groped their female friend before running away. They gave chase and attacked him in the middle of Jom Surangyat Road, Patiyuth said.
Athisak, who sustained a severe concussion from the beating, has regained consciousness but would remain under close medical surveillance, he said.
The incident was caught on camera and the video clip went viral on Thai social media resulting in heavy criticism of the youths’ thug-like behaviour, which alarmed people near by and caused traffic jams.
