Mayor takes the law into his own hands

Makkasan police are seeking an eyewitness account from restaurant staff to determine whether Chonsawas Asavahame, mayor of Samut Prakan Municipality, had been drinking prior to brawling with police officers at a road checkpoint last Sunday night.
The account by owners and staff of Ana Garden in Wattana district will counter Chonsawas' statement that he was not drunk when he refused to undergo a breath test and later scuffled with a police officer at a gas station checkpoint. It will also determine whether two of three models - who were later seen in the same car driven by Chonsawas at the gas station - assaulted a woman who had filed a complaint with Thonglor police. Lt-Colonel Srisuk Phrommee, a Thonglor station officer, said Yossawadee and Anchalee Hassadeewijit, the sister models, would be summoned for questioning for their alleged assault on Naphassanant Phasawong at the pub, as well as over whether they had been drinking with Chonsawas in the pub. Srisuk said the account contributed by the restaurant staff would be sufficient for police to take action against both models and Chonsawas. Police artists have finished the sketches of two unidentified men who, along with Chonsawas, allegedly locked up Corporal Prarob Saengnil. The sketches will soon be made public. A group of 20 Samut Prakan locals yesterday gathered at Makkasan Police Station to give moral support to the officers and Prarob in particular. They carried banners with messages condemning Chonsawas and demanding that he resign. One banner said: "We are ashamed of Chonsawas for his abuse of power." The group said another 100 supporters would go to the station today in support of the officers and Prarob.
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