The army has jailed a group of soldiers who were involved in a brawl with air force officers, and ordered their leader to clean and cook for other inmates.
Maj Gen Kukiat Srinaka, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, signed an order on Friday night for the detention of Lt Pichaya Boonserm, chief of the 30th Cavalry Battalion, and 10 subordinates. They were sent immediately from their base in Prachin Buri to a military prison in Sa Kaeo province, an army source said yesterday.
Lt Pichaya will spend 30 days behind bars. He will no longer be eligible for promotion and other benefits this year and has been ordered to clean the compound and cook for other soldiers while in prison.
His two assistants, Sgt Maj Komsan Teehakarn and Sgt Narong Srichainart, were jailed for 45 days, and eight others for 30 days.
The brawl has become a major source of embarrassment for the army and its chief, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who in his role as coup leader and prime minister has warned that he will not stand for bad behaviour of any kind from any citizens.
Lt Pichaya led 20 soldiers in uniform and armed with rifles to attack four air force personnel moonlighting as security guards at the Khlong Pleng nightclub in Pathum Thani province in the early hours of Wednesday.