Performer Yuenyong “Aed Carabao” Opakul will be summonsed to report to police next Tuesday to answer a charge of defaming the governor of Suphan Buri province, a senior police officer said on Thursday.
Pol Maj Gen Uthai Kawindechathorn, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 7, said the Carabao frontman would be called in to Song Phi Nong police station, in Suphan Buri, where police would lay the charge against him.
Police decided to press the charge on Thursday after considering all the evidence filed by lawyers for the provincial office on behalf of governor Nattapat Suwanpratheep on Sunday.
The songs-for-life band played at a birthday function for Piyaphot Kiatchusakul, the chief of kamnans, in Song Phi Nong district on Oct 12. The band leader used the stage to rant against the governor, accusing him of lack of respect because Carabao was not invited to play at Elephant Duel day this year, even though he was a Suphan Buri native.
He demanded the governor get up on the stage with him and give an explanation right away.
“Do you know who I am?” Aed Carabao said angrily during the rant.
The governor was one of the guests at the function, but had left before the concert began.
Elephant Duel day is the most important annual fair in the province.
The governor responded with a Facebook post on Oct 13, explaining that no concerts were allowed at the event this year because of the strict social distancing measures in force during a Covid-19 outbreak.
The concert at the fair was arranged by private organisers, not the province, and they decided to skip the concert this year due to pandemic concerns, he said.
The fair was originally set for Jan 18-Feb 1, but rescheduled to March 5-19 due to Covid.
The Carabao singer later posted a message on the Carabao Official Facebook account apologising to the governor for the abuse, which he put down to a misunderstanding.
The governor said he would follow through with his lawsuit to maintain his dignity, despite accepting the apology, and that he continued to be a fan of Carabao.