Jail, dismissal for Navy drill sergeant over ‘semen incident’
A Navy drill instructor found to have forced new conscripts to drink his semen is being detained for 30 days before he is dismissed from service, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) announced on Saturday.
Petty Officer Thaksin Nogokpilai of the Royal Thai Marine Corp’s Security Regiment in Chonburi was slapped with 30-day detention for causing serious damage to RTN’s reputation, Navy Vice Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin said.
He added that once the detention period is complete, the officer will be dismissed from service as per RTN regulations.
The detainee’s two supervisors, meanwhile, have been ordered to observe the military-style “thamrong winai” punishment, which includes shaving their head, doing menial work and walking long distances dragging heavy weights or running with weights.
Thaksin’s immediate superior is being punished for 15 days, while the supervisor above him is getting seven days.
The incident occurred in October last year during a training session for a group of new conscripts at Chonburi’s Sattahip naval base.
A video clip of the incident went viral on social media and was picked up by Thai mainstream media, leading to a public outcry, which forced the Navy to investigate.
RTN offered an apology to the conscripts and their families but is maintaining that it respects human rights and has no policy of using violence in training.