Khon Kaen: A probe has declared claims that municipal mayor Premsak Piayura humiliated a reporter by locking him up in a room, stripping off his trousers and taking pictures have grounds.
Provincial governor Kamthorn Thavornsathit revealed the result yesterday after the 15-day probe.
Another team will carry out a disciplinary probe and rule within 120 days as to whether his misconduct violates Interior Ministry regulations, Mr Kamthorn said. If Dr Premsak is found guilty in the disciplinary probe he will face dismissal.
When the result of the Khon Kaen inquiry was revealed, the Ombudsman began preparations to launch a separate investigation into Dr Premsak's conduct, said Raksagecha Chaechai, secretary-general of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Dr Premsak, a veteran politician, served as a Khon Kaen MP before entering local politics. He found himself in strife after he allegedly ordered several municipal officials to strip the trousers off Korsit Kongchom, a reporter for the Thai language Daily News, in front of four other reporters in a locked room at the mayor's offices last month.
The mayor also ordered his subordinates to seize cameras and mobile phones from Mr Korsit and the other reporters in the room.
Earlier, he told them he would make a statement regarding a news story about him and a teenage girl.
The story that was published on the front page of the Daily News on July 26 featured a picture of Dr Premsak and a young girl with 400,000 baht in cash in front of them at the girl's house. The scenario appeared to be a northeastern Thai engagement ceremony.
The pictures went viral. According to the report, the girl is a Mathayom 5 student, indicating she is 16-17 years old. Dr Premsak, 51, is married to a Ms Orathai, a lecturer at Khon Kaen University.
The report angered Dr Premsak, who allegedly ordered his men to strip Mr Korsit down to his underwear and take photos of the reporter, who was allowed to dress again five minutes later. It was seen as an act of revenge for the news story.
Mr Korsit and the other reporters were kept inside the room for about two hours before being allowed to leave.
Following the media reports about the alleged engagement, Dr Premsak claimed he was pictured with the girl because he was helping her family.
Previously, a group of Ban Phai district residents had demanded the suspension of Dr Premsak from any educational role and an investigation into his involvement with the girl.
Srisuwan Janya, president of a group calling itself the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, said aside from Dr Premsak's misconduct involving the reporter, he had previously petitioned the Ombudsman to look into the matter involving the girl.
If Dr Premsak became engaged to the girl it should be seen as an immoral act, Mr Srisuwan said.
On Wednesday, the reporters locked up with Mr Korsit lodged an additional complaint with police against Dr Premsak's six subordinates.