2 Thai doctors attack waiter after alleged sexual assault (video)

Two Thai doctors attacked a waiter at a restaurant in the eastern province of Trat. The doctors claimed that the waiter stared at them while the staff accused one of them of sexually assaulting his girlfriend, who worked as a waitress.

Security camera footage from a restaurant in the Bor Rai district of Trat province showed an altercation that occurred on March 9. Dr Lerluck Sirirup, clad in a grey sleeveless shirt, was observed talking with the waiter, 18-year-old Panupong Saenkham, before abruptly slapping him.

Panupong chose not to retaliate and walked away from Lerluck. However, Lerluck’s companion, sporting a black sleeveless shirt, swiftly approached and struck Panupong in the face. In response, Panupong defended himself by kicking Lerluck’s friend in the chest and delivering a single punch to Lerluck.

The restaurant owner intervened, escorting Panupong into the kitchen to prevent the situation from escalating further.

Lerluck was reported to be a director of the sub-district health promotion centre. His friend was also a doctor but his identity remains undisclosed.

Panupong told Channel 3 that the altercation began when he warned Lerluck not to sexually assault his girlfriend, Panida, who also worked at the restaurant.

Panida revealed that Lerluck insulted her by asking about her breasts and whether she had breast augmentation. Lerluck then asked if she had a boyfriend. She said she was single because that was the rule at the restaurant.

Sexual assault denial

According to Panida, Lerluck asked her to hang out with him and his friends after the restaurant closed but she refused. Lerluck allegedly pretended to stumble to hug and touch Panida’s breasts.

Panupong said Panida told him and the restaurant owner about the incident and stopped serving Lerluck and his friends. Panupong then warned them against further inappropriate behaviour and Lerluck apologised to him.

Panupong believed that he had accidentally put Lerluck’s glass down too hard on the table, causing Lerluck to become angry and slap him, as shown on CCTV footage.

Lerluck denied the sexual assault in an interview with Channel 3 but admitted to hugging Panida while she served him and his friend. He insisted it was nothing more than that.

Lerluck said he did not know that Panupong and Lerluck were in a relationship and had already apologised to Panupong for his actions. Lerluck claimed that Panupong continued to stare at him, so he decided to approach Panupong to clear the air.

Lerluck also admitted to slapping Panupong in the face but did not expect his friend’s reaction.

The restaurant owner and other staff members sided with the doctors, stating that they were regular customers and had never witnessed inappropriate behaviour from the, before. They suggested that Panupong’s jealousy was the cause of the altercation.

Panupong did not report the assault to the police but his mother gathered evidence and hired a lawyer to sue Lerluck and his friend. Panida’s grandmother reported the sexual assault to the Bor Rai Police Station.