PUBLISHED : 31 Jul 2024 at 13:07
KHON KAEN: Olympic boxing gold medallist Somluck Khamsing expressed confidence he could prove his innocence when he arrived at court on Wednesday for the first hearing of charges of sexual assault brought against him.
Mr Somluck, 51, and his close aide Pichet Chinaehantha, accompanied by their lawyer, arrived at Khon Kaen Provincial Court on Wednesday for the examination of evidence and witness lists.
The two men have been indicted by prosecutors.
Mr Somluck is accused of colluding in taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 years from their parents or guardians, taking a minor to perform an indecent act regardless of whether consent was given, attempted rape by use of force and committing an indecent act in violation of Sections 80, 83, 91, 276, 283 and 319 of the Criminal Code.
Mr Pichet, 47, faces two counts – colluding to deprive a minor aged 15-18 years of parental care and colluding in taking a minor for an indecent act.
He allegedly drove the motorcycle that took Mr Somluck and the girl from the Suksant Khon Kaen pub to the Mantrawalee Hotel, according to Thai media.
A complaint was filed against Mr Somluck in early December by a 17-year-old girl. She said she met him at a pub in Muang district of Khon Kaen and he took her to a hotel room where he allegedly assaulted her.
Somluck turned himself in shortly afterwards to answer charges. He issued a public apology to the victim and her family but denied all the charges and was released on bail.
Mr Somluck appeared relaxed when he arrived at the court on Wednesday. He said he had complied with all conditions, had evidence proving his innocence and was confident he would be acquitted.
“Based on information I received, I am the third person who has been treated in this way. But I will not go into details. I have faith in the justice process,’’ the former Olympic boxing hero said.
Initially trained in Muay Thai, Mr Somluck won the Thailand’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, in boxing, at the Atlanta Games in 1996.