Move Forward’s Bangkok MP, accused of sexual misconduct, presents evidence
A Move Forward MP, spared expulsion from the party over alleged sexual misconduct, has said he has no plans to resign, and would instead fight the accusations against him.
Chaiyamphawan Munpianjitt, the MP from the Bangkok metropolitan region, on Friday provided evidence to prove his innocence.
He said the party had not expelled him but had put him on probation.
He said that he had received a directive from the party on Thursday night, and he was determined to prove his innocence with evidence. He said he had submitted the evidence to the party's committee for consideration. Chaiyamphawan said that if the investigation found him guilty of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment, he was willing to apologise and accept the party's decision.
The evidence he presented to the party consisted of a conversation in the LINE messaging app between him and the first complainant, who was a member of his team and accused him of using his authority to sexually harass her. In the LINE conversation, they discuss and agree to have a meal together, in what appears to be a normal conversation. After he won the election, the complainant sent a message to congratulate him.
Regarding the second complainant, who accused him of secretly photographing her, he explained that the photos were taken to create content for his promotion, and the idea for this kind of content had come from the second complainant herself. He said they were not alone when the photos were taken.
With regard to the third complainant, who claimed physical contact bordering on sexual harassment, he clarified that the physical contact was not intended to be of a sexual nature. He said if his behaviour had transgressed boundaries, he was sincerely apologetic. He also acknowledged that if his actions had made the complainant uncomfortable and he had not provided an opportunity for the complainant to express her discomfort, he would apologise once again and promised to be more careful in the future.
Regarding the pressure to resign from the party and as an MP, Chaiyamphawan said that he didn't want to comment on this matter. He urged everyone to examine the evidence presented on Friday and determine whether it constituted sexual harassment or sexual misconduct.
