Thai actress suspended, beauty queen removed over soup attack
A production company suspended a Thai actress and the organiser of a beauty pageant cancelled a transgender beauty queen’s title following their alleged involvement with two suspects in the hot soup attack on an LGBTQIA+ university student in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok.
Officers from Khlong Luang Police Station arrested two LGBTQIA+ university students from Bangkok University, 22 year old Rasipa “Preme” Sajjawan and 19 year old Chakatphon “Oshi” Washirawan, following the soup attack on the victim named Andrew on February 7.
The attack attracted public attention, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community. The case gained even more traction after Andrew and other victims of the two attackers came forward to give media interviews.
Andrew and his friends shared their story on the Channel 3 news programme Hone Krasae, stating that the soup attack was not motivated by financial issues, as previously reported. They suspected jealousy was the real cause of the brutal assault.
According to Andrew’s friends, Preme had feelings for another LGBTQIA+ university student named Kla.
She cared for Kla, frequently taking him out for meals and buying him gifts. However, Kla later became close with Andrew, which angered Preme.
False accusations and assaults
Aside from Andrew, other victims of Preme appeared in the interview to reveal the violent treatment they suffered.
One victim stated that Preme sold e-cigarettes and hired her to deliver them to customers. Preme later accused her of stealing the products and demanded compensation at six times their value.
She also physically assaulted the victim and allegedly planned to force her to drink cyanide or bathroom cleaning liquid.
Another victim said that Preme bought him several gifts but later demanded repayment in cash when their relationship did not develop.
Even though he paid the requested amount, Preme and her friends still attacked him.
All of the victims insisted that Preme was never alone during the physical assaults. She was usually accompanied by her friends, who sometimes actively participated in the attacks.
Preme’s transgender friend, Raksak “Pare” Sakijai, was recently stripped of her title as Miss Teen Trans Phetchaburi due to her alleged involvement in the attack.
In an interview, Pare insisted on her innocence, stating that although she was present at the scene, she did not take part in the soup attack.
Major gang member
Preme’s female friend, Kanyaphat “Pimgel” Srichan, was suspended from working in the entertainment industry yesterday, February 10.
Her production company, Jumdee Film Production, announced her temporary dismissal and pledged to conduct a further investigation into her involvement in the attacks.
The series in which Pimgel played a leading role was scheduled to air on February 14. It remains unclear whether the production team will cut her scenes or postpone the broadcast.
Some victims claimed that Pimgel was a key figure in Preme’s gang. One alleged that she hit a victim with her flipflops, while others reported that she threatened them, boasting that her father was wealthy and powerful and that no one could take legal action against her.
As of now, Pimgel has not yet clarified her stance to the media and has set her social media profiles to private since the controversy emerged.
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