Policeman charged over temple brawl

CHALONG: Chalong Police have charged a Crime Suppression officer with disturbing the peace following a brawl at a Songkran fair at Wat Karon.

The officer, named by police as “Sgt Maj Bird”, or better known as “Ja Bird”, has not been suspended from duty.

Lt Col Peeranut Chatinkaew, a Crime Suppression Inspector at Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette that he was called to the temple at 12:30 am on April 11 to deal with a fight that had broken out between five men and some local youths.

Witnesses had reported that one of the men had fired shots into the air with a handgun.

When Col Peeranut arrived at the scene the men had already left, leaving four local teens – three boys and one girl – battered and bloody, Col Peeranut said.

The morning after the incident, Karon Sub-District Chief (Kamnan) Winai Chitcheiw, backed by about 50 villagers, delivered a letter to Chalong Police Station Superintendent Col Chalit Kaewyarat demanding that Ja Bird be quickly arrested and justice be served.

Col Chalit told the Gazette that Ja Bird had already turned himself over to Chalong Police. “We have charged him and his accomplices with causing a public disturbance. After being informed of the charges he was released. He has not been suspended from duty as they are only minor charges,” he said.

Col Peeranut added that firearms charges will be brought against the person who fired the gun as soon as police are able to establish who it was.

The injured youths have also been charged with causing a public disturbance and police have arranged a meeting with both sides to investigate who started the fighting and whether any further charges will be brought, Col Peeranut said.