Actor Methee Amornwuthikul swings wild punches at fellow Puea Thai Party official over election expenses row
Rage at those he accused of shaming his beloved Puea Thai Party prompted actor-turned-red shirt Methee Amornwuthikul to turn his action-movie fighting into reality in front of a shocked crowd yesterday morning. The victim later filed an assault complaint against the actor at Bang Rak Police Station.
Protest 'humiliated' party
The events were sparked after Adisarat Thampitak, director of Puea Thai Party's Election Centre in Surat Thani, led a 15-strong group to party headquarters to protest they hadn't been paid Bt800,000 spent on campaign materials for the August 30 by-election in Surat Thani.
Upset by the move, the soap-opera hard man confronted 53-year-old Adisrat and asked, "Why are you doing this? Who hired you? If you have a problem with someone, you talk to that person -- don't humiliate the whole party. Are you trying to pick a fight?"
Struggle turned into fight
Adisarat replied he had no intention to cause trouble, only to get the money the party owed them.
Methee then struggled with Adisarat over a microphone before punching him in the face and several times in the stomach as the shocked crowd of media members, party officials and onlookers watched. Methee then retreated to the party office to "cool down", leaving the astonished Adisarat with a slight head wound, a scratched left wrist and a missing wristwatch. "I've been helping the party all along -- I never expected this," he told reporters.
Head wound, police investigate
Adisarat, who received three stitches for his head wound at Lertsin Hospital, vowed to press charges against the actor. Police said it would take about a week to gather evidence.
Officials at the Election Centre in Surat Thani were commissioned to produce campaign materials for candidate Sompol Wichaidit, younger brother of Puea Thai party leader Yongyuth. After Sompol lost, they say they tried twice to collect the Bt800,000 campaign expenses but made no progress.
Methee explained his version of the fracas later in the day. He had gone to take the microphone off Adisarat as the protesters were causing a nuisance. But Meethee said he feared an assault from Adisarat so decided to attack first.