Former Olympian demands justice from RTA over adultery case

A former national shooting team member sought justice from the Royal Thai Army (RTA) after winning a lawsuit against her husband for adultery with a female sergeant. Despite filing a disciplinary complaint nine months ago, progress has stalled.

At 10.30am today, September 10, former national shooting athlete, 50 year old Jarintorn Daengpiam, addressed a press conference at the coordination centre of Narissorn Saengkaew, a district councillor in Bang Khen, Bangkok.

Accompanied by Kanthas Phongphaiboonwet, also known as Guntouch “Gun” Jompalang, Jarintorn requested assistance in seeking justice from the RTA. She discovered that her husband, a 57 year old colonel, had taken a 24 year old female sergeant to a hotel under the pretext of discussing personal problems.

Jarintorn filed a lawsuit for adultery, which she won. However, her disciplinary complaint against both individuals has seen no progress over the past nine months. She fears she won’t receive fair treatment since the female sergeant had submitted evidence in court, including a police report, countering the adultery allegations.

Jarintorn, married to her husband for 20 years with two children, expressed her frustration over the situation.

“My family was destroyed by the intrusion of a third party. This female sergeant has insulted my dignity. I apologise to my superiors and my unit, but I am here to seek justice.”

The Saraburi Juvenile and Family Court ruled on July 19 this year that Jarintorn’s husband and the female sergeant were indeed having an affair. The court ordered the couple to divorce and mandated the husband to pay 1.2 million baht (US$35,430), while the female sergeant was ordered to pay 600,000 baht (US$17,700). The case is currently under appeal.

Despite the court ruling, both individuals continue to serve in the military. Jarintorn’s husband was transferred to a cavalry unit and had his pension reduced as a disciplinary measure following the court’s judgment. Jarintorn has consistently filed complaints through the Army Secretariat, providing all necessary documentation, including the court’s verdict, but has yet to see any action taken.

The incident began in 2023 when Jarintorn’s husband was transferred to a military dog centre in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima. Two months later, the female sergeant was also transferred to the same location.

Jarintorn noticed unusual behaviour, such as her husband arranging for the sergeant to receive driving lessons and buying her a watch. Suspicions grew when she observed her husband preparing for the Army Veterinary Department’s anniversary event in Nakhon Pathom with the sergeant by his side. Confronting him led to a public argument, prompting Jarintorn to secretly install a GPS tracker on his car.

The tracker revealed that her husband took the sergeant to a love hotel in Ban Pong district, Ratchaburi. Armed with this evidence, Jarintorn proceeded with the lawsuit.

Jarintorn urged military officials to consider the impact of such situations on their own families. She demanded the female sergeant be dismissed from the service as per the highest disciplinary action, leaving her ex-husband’s fate to the discretion of his superiors.

Gun Jompalang stated that at 3pm, he would accompany Jarintorn to follow up on the disciplinary complaint at the RTA headquarters, reported KhaoSod.

Jarintorn, a former national shooting athlete, competed alongside renowned marksman Jakkrit Panichpatikum in events such as air rifle, prone rifle, and standard rifle. She brought honour to Thailand by winning a gold medal in the 1993 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore and was once ranked eighth in the world. She also represented Thailand in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, USA.