The Royal Thai Air Force will investigate a pilot officer’s alleged slapping of a woman motorist he claims failed to give a turn signal, after a video clip of the incident drew widespread criticism on social media.
The clip showed a man stopping his car near another car, driven by Wanida Kham-on, then getting out and apparently slapping her twice in the face near an intersection in Tha Li district, Loei province, around 4pm on April 11.
The man returned to his car, drove off and turned left near the local post office.
After the incident, Ms Wanida, 32, filed a complaint with Tha Li police, accusing the man of assaulting her.
Air force spokesman AVM Pongsak Semachai said on Friday the man in the clip was a commissioned officer attached to Wing 23 in Udon Thani, but the incident occurred in Tha Li district, Loei.
The RTAF will set up a committee to look into the incident and coordinate with local police, AVM Pongsak said.
Grp Capt Wisoot Inkham, Wing 23 commander, said the accused officer was Plt Off Ponlakit Chanthapa. The officer had reported to police handling the case and intending to talk with the woman, but she left.
So he gave his statement to the police and left, the commander said.
Plt Off Ponlakit said he had not slapped Ms Wanida, but used his hand to push away her mobile phone. Only parts of the clip were shown, Grp Capt Wisoot quoted the accused officer as saying.
If the probe finds him guilty as accused, he will face punishment, Grp Capt Wisoot said.
Plt Off Ponlakit, a member of Air Squadron 231, said the woman driver had not given a turn signal. He was travelling behind her and had almost hit her vehicle as a consequence. He then stopped his car near hers and warned her about her driving.
The woman used her mobile phone to videotape the incident. He told her not to do it and used his hand to push away the mobile phone twice. He said he had not slapped her as alleged, according to Thairath TV channel.
“The claim that I told her I am a senior military officer is totally untrue. It’s her remark, I confirm that. Besides, she threatened my girlfriend that she would post her clip online.
"I only warned her not to drive her car that way, but she used her mobile phone to videotape me, ’’ Plt Off Ponlakit said.