Ex-senior official punished for sexually harassing air crew and passengers
A former senior government official was given on Wednesday a suspended 15-month prison term and a Bt15,000 fine for sexually harassing an air hostess and two female passengers on a Thai Airways flight two years ago.
The Criminal Court suspended Charnchai Phijitphakdeekul's imprisonment for two years because of his long years in civil service and owing to the fact that he had received a royal decoration. The air hostess accepted the verdict but said she was disappointed with the twoyear suspended prison term. She said she had not discussed with the other two women whether they would jointly appeal against the verdict. The court was unconvinced by Charnchai's defence that his contact with the three women was a result of his seat being too small. He was convicted on three counts of sexual molestation and sentenced to a fivemonth prison term for each count, and fined Bt15,000. According to the prosecution report, Charnchai, a former chairman of a leading food supplement company at the time of his crime, touched the hostess's hands and breasts while she bent over to collect his food tray. Chairnchai also caressed the hips and thighs of the two female passengers in the aisle. The Nation
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