Ex-senior official gets more sentence for molesting stewardess

On May 3, 2006, the lower court sentenced Chanchai Pichitpakdeekul, a former C-8 official and president of Advanced Spirulina Biotechnology Co, to 15 months in jail and a Bt50,000 fine.

The jail term was suspended for two years on grounds that Chanchai, 72, was a decorated official who deserved a second chance.

Air hostess Chutiporn Jamrasritthirong, 31, sued Chanchai for sexual harassment during a flight from Bangkok to Dubai on September 25, 2003.

The lawsuit stated that he had asked Chutiporn to serve him alcohol many times and grabbed her hands and breast as well as touching two female passengers' hips while they were passing. The three women filed complaints to Thai police but Chanchai claimed the seating area was so narrow that he unintentionally touched them.

The Appeal Court said the evidence was sufficient to find Chanchai guilty while the lower court's punishment was suitable to his offence and the threat he made to the stewardess after the harassment.

To ensure he would not do that again, the Appeal Court added a 20-hour social service order and placed him on probation for one year in which he must report to officials every three months.

Chutiporn said she was pleased with the verdict and urged women who were sexually harassed to step up and fight for their rights and integrity.