Anupong seeks report on complaints about Premsak

 

“I will contact the Khon Kaen governor regarding Premsak’s case,” Anupong said yesterday when asked if Premsak should be suspended from duty to prevent him from interfering in ongoing investigations against him. 

The mayor is accused of having a relationship with a schoolgirl and also of ordering the partial stripping of a reporter. 

The Interior Ministry oversees local administrative bodies including municipal bodies. 

Anupong said he would comply with laws if the governor recommended action against Premsak. 

In response to the governor’s order, a fact-finding committee has been set up to look into Premsak’s allegedly questionable behaviours. Results of the probes are expected within two weeks. 

Pictures started to circulate last month that suggested Premsak was either engaged or married to a Mathayom 5 student. When five reporters questioned Premsak for answers about the pictures last week, he had his subordinates pull down the pants of a male reporter. 

The reporters then lodged complaints with police against Premsak, who on Monday filed a counter-complaint. 

Following the stripping incident, several media organisations condemned Premsak. The mayor then lodged complaints with police against some other reporters too. 

Police yesterday summoned five reporters including Khon Kaen Association of Mass Media president Lt Colonel Pisit Charncharoen over a picture showing they received Bt5,000 from former senator Rabiabrat Pongpanich. These reporters said the amount was a donation to an Aids fund. They said the money had nothing do to with their decision to question Premsak. 

Pisit has already lodged a defamation complaint against Premsak. 

Khon Kaen Police deputy superintendent Tawan Suttawarat said he would summon Premsak over the complaint filed by Pisit too. 

Meanwhile, Dejkamron Singkleebutr, a provincial councillor in Khon Kaen, said Premsak should be investigated for a donation of Bt100,000 to a school, which led to a sign that said “Room of Bro Dr Prem” being erected in front of a room at the school. 

“If the money came from his municipality, it’s wrong to suggest that the donation came from him,” Dejkamron said. If the money came from Premsak’s own pocket, the donation should still be investigated because it may have been given during an election campaign.