NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Prosecutors on Tuesday indicted rock star Sek Loso in court on firearm charges arising from an incident at a temple in this southern province in December.
The 44-year-old performer, accompanied by his lawyer Mongkholvijit Thanasophon, reported to the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Court, where he was arraigned.
He is charged with unauthorised possession of a firearm, and illegally carrying it and firing shots in a public area.
He is accused of firing nine shots into the air from a handgun, and one shot into the ground, in front of the statue of King Taksin the Great at Wat Khao Khun Phanom in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Dec 29 shortly after playing a concert there.
Prosecutors submitted the indictments to the court, which set March 15 for a ruling. He was ordered to report to provincial probation officials for a background, behaviour and police record report.
Sek was detained in a court cell while his lawyer applied for bail, offering surety of 150,000 baht. The court granted the application and he was released about 11.45am.
On emerging from the court Sek was greeted by a crowd of news reporters. He said he was not depressed by the prospect of the court ruling set for March 15.
Sek, whose real name is Seksan Sookpimay, drew public attention when he streamed a video of himself firing shots into the air in the grounds of Wat Khao Khun Phanom.
Local police later pressed charges of illegal possession of a firearm, carrying it in public and firing shots in public against the singer. The court approved an arrest warrant.
Sek defended his actions in a Facebook post, saying he fired in the air next to a statue of King Taksin the Great to honour the 18th century monarch.
He was arrested at his house in Bangkok's Bang Khen district on Dec 31 following a showdown with police.
He allegedly threatened to shoot police trying to enter his bedroom, where he was holed up. The scene was aired live on the singer's Facebook account.
Police broke the door down and grabbed him. As a result he faces an additional charge of obstructing officers in the performance of their duty. Arresting police also found a handgun in his room.
He faced a fresh charge of drug use after a urine test allegedly showed traces of methamphetamine and ecstasy use. He claimed the results came from his taking bipolar medication and sleeping pills.
Sek earlier underwent drug rehabilitation in 2012 after his now former wife Wiphakorn "Karn'' Sookpimay posted images on Facebook she said showed the rocker using drugs.
In 2016 he was given a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and fined 4,000 baht for assaulting his ex-wife's personal assistant in the Ram Intra area.
Rock star Sek Loso signs an autograph for a supporter as he is met by reporters after being arraigned on firearmcharges and then relesed on bail by Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Court on Tuesday. (Photo by Nujaree Raekrun)