Businessman Anandadvip "Chai" Jayankura na Ayuthaya has won a new court victory in his see-sawing legal battle with a hi-so rival from Chiang Mai, stemming from an ill-fated concert he helped promote four years ago.
The Criminal Court in Ratchada last week found businessman Jirat "Champ" Petnunthawong, organiser of the ill-fated Sydictive Element New Year party on Patong beach on New Year's Eve in 2012, defamed Chai in a TV appearance after the pair fell out over unpaid concert costs.
Chai said Champ hired him to promote it but left him out of pocket. The court sentenced Champ to one year in jail, without suspension, but released him on 100,000 baht bail as he prepares to appeal.
Chai, who ran a public relations company in Bangkok, laid a complaint with Crime Suppression Division police claiming he was underpaid, the concert was poorly organised and damaged his reputation as a promoter.
He said publicity promised top DJs and performers such as Akon, JFK of Mstkrft, Tiga and Pendulum, performing on the world's largest floating stage. However, media reports painted a less than flattering picture, after headlining hip-hop act Akon failed to show, and VIP guests complained of less than deluxe treatment.
Appearing on the TV show Kon Dang Nang Clear to respond to the claims, Champ said Chai organised the concert incompetently and took advantage. The court found Champ should have known better than to make such character slurs.
The court ruling is the latest in the tit-for-tat legal saga involving the pair. In December 2013, the Civil Court gave Chai an early victory, awarding him damages of 1,738,000 baht, plus interest, in the concert contract row. However, in March last year the Criminal Court upheld a defamation complaint which Champ brought against Chai, for remarks stemming from his police complaint.
In that case, the court sentenced Chai to three years in jail, without suspension. He was released on bail while he lodges an appeal.
Champ also sued TV host Woody Milintachinda and co-host Chalermpol "Jack" Tikumpornteerawong, after they invited Chai on the show to discuss the concert saga.
The court sentenced the pair to one year in jail without suspension. On their show, they compared lavish promises made by the organisers with pictures taken by guests of how the concert actually turned out.
Last week's defeat for Champ comes two weeks after his younger sister, who is embroiled in her own celebrity legal battles, lost a defamation dispute stemming from a row at a city eatery.
The Appeal Court on Sept 1 ruled against Champ's sister, socialite Namwan Petnunthawong, upholding a lower court ruling last March which found Namwan and her mother Ampaipan defamed director Panita "Ning" Tumwattana. The court sentenced the pair to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years, and fined them 75,000 baht.
Ning's husband, Jin Tumwattana, offered a public apology in early 2013 for having an affair with Namwan. Lingering feeling between the two women led to a fight at a city restaurant.
Namwan and Mrs Ampaipan claimed Ning and her sister Nan attacked Namwan at Harvey restaurant, in Thong Lor Soi 9 in Wattana district, on Sept 20, 2013.
Namwan, who published pictures of herself on social media with eye injuries, said Nan struck her in the face with a mobile phone. Nan denied it, and insisted Namwan hit her first.
Ning, who said the claims damaged her reputation, sued Namwan and her mum for defamation, which the court upheld.
Also present at the eatery that day was her long-time friend Chai, whose bad blood with the Petnunthawong family stemming from the concert saga predates her own.
Ning joined Chai on the steps of the courthouse at Ratchada last week to welcome the court ruling. Chai said he had waited a long time for justice, and was relieved the court had found in his favour.
He is still appealing the verdict in the earlier defamation case, and a large civil claim which Champ has brought against him.
Coco spoke of his own demise
Talent promoter and manager to the stars Nirun "Coco" Limsomwong's death last week from a suspected heart attack has shocked his family and friends, who say they had little warning it was coming.
Coco, 42, best known for helping mould superstar Mario Maurer and actress Apinya "Saipan" Sakuljaroensuk during their early career years, collapsed last Wednesday after he complained of shortness of breath.
Relatives took him to Kasemrad hospital in Bang Kae where doctors battled for two hours to keep him alive, without success.
Speaking from his funeral at Thonburi Full Gospel Church, family members said they were stunned by his sudden departure. Coco did not smoke or drink, although he seldom took exercise, they said. He had no known illnesses.
He was manager to more than 200 young entertainers, who have poured onto social media to express their grief.
One young actor said Coco took him to the set of a soap opera the day before as normal, when he complained of feeling unwell. The next morning, Coco's mother called to say he had died.
Talking to the media, Mario said he was clearing his work commitments so he could attend Coco's funeral to say his goodbyes. Earlier, friends of Coco's told the media of an eerie phone call which Coco made a week before his death, in which he spoke of dying and said he hoped Mario and Saipan would attend his funeral whenever the day came.
Coco was involved in legal battles with both Mario and Saipan to court after they left for other talent managers, but appears to have made up since.
Mario said he held no hard feelings towards Coco. "We put aside our grievances years ago. He was a man I respect," Mario said.
Woody flooded with baby offers
TV host Woody Milintachinda says he has been flooded with offers to carry the surrogate child he hopes to raise with his gay partner since going public with news they wanted to start a family.
Woody this month took his partner, Akkarapol "Oat" Japjitjaidhol, before the media to declare they wanted children, preferably twins.
He had asked his close friend, television host and writer Patcharasri "Kalamare" Benjamas Kalamere to carry the pregnancy and give birth to the surrogate child for him.
Kalamere, however, turned them down, saying she would bear children only for her husband of the future, should she get married one day. An academic also chimed into the debate, saying under Thailand's new tough surrogacy laws, only married couples could get surrogacy done.
The surrogate must also be a blood relative, which suggests Woody's only option was to head overseas and try to get it done over there, he said.
Updating his plans last week, Woody said many people had come forward with offers to carry their baby.
"People make contact every day. Some also offer their eggs, even their sperm. We are looking at what to do next," he said.
"I have also talked to my family. We said, Mum, you know the person who raises our kids has to be you?
"Mum wants us to think carefully, as she's already old, but Dad did didn't hesitate. He suppressed a smile, as if he knows a new grandchild is about to arrive.
"If the law [on gay marriage] says we have to wait, we must wait, but relatives have now come forward to say they are happy to carry our child.
"My sister-in-law has offered to raise a child for us. We both cried when we heard the news. She already has two children of her own.
"Next week she's likely to donate her eggs. As for Kalamere, we don't want her help any more. Go and find a husband if you like," he joked, referring to his friend.
Woody Milintachinda and Akkarapol 'Oat' Japjitjaidhol.
