Bangkok: "Lawyer Kaew," also known as Dr. Montchai Jongkairattanakul, recently held a press conference to address allegations of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old female student. During the press conference, he admitted to impulsively hugging, kissing, and caressing the victim, expressing deep regret for his actions.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident came to light after chat messages between Lawyer Kaew and the young woman, the daughter of a close acquaintance, suggested a romantic relationship. Lawyer Kaew admitted to the behavior and apologized, but emphasized that there had been no formal complaint against him and that a monetary figure was involved in resolving the matter. He expressed his willingness to accept any outcome from the case or the Lawyers' Council.
The allegations against Lawyer Kaew claimed that the incident occurred on September 12th, while driving from a shopping center in the Rama 3 area to a restaurant near the Ramintra Expressway. He was accused of sexually assaulting the woman by touching her breasts and groping her in the car. Lawyer Kaew denied these specific allegations but admitted to inappropriate conduct later in the evening.
During his press conference, Attorney Kaew acknowledged driving with the woman, talking, and dining together, including taking photos and feeding each other at the restaurant. He argued that the woman would not have remained in his company if a serious incident had occurred beforehand. However, he confessed to losing control after leaving the restaurant, attributing his actions to being in close proximity to the woman and a lack of self-control.
Lawyer Kaew also addressed the ongoing text message conversations with the woman, which he claimed showed a friendly relationship. He stressed that there were no messages alleging physical abuse and that communication continued normally after the alleged incident. He clarified that an apology he sent via LINE was for disappointment in their relationship, not an admission of abuse.
The issue escalated when the opposing party demanded a monetary apology, initially asking for as much as 10 million baht. Lawyer Kaew admitted to offering 1 million baht in an attempt to resolve the matter and protect his family and reputation. He explained that negotiations were conducted in good faith, and he was not trying to evade responsibility.
Amidst the controversy, Lawyer Kaew expressed shock and distress over images of himself and his daughter being posted on social media by the woman's father, whom he considered unrelated to the case. He questioned the father's decision to resort to social media rather than filing a police report.
In a final emotional statement during the press conference, Lawyer Kaew, with tears in his eyes, expressed his willingness to face any legal consequences and the decision of the Bar Association. He admitted his mistake, acknowledging his thoughtless and inappropriate actions, and offered sincere apologies to all parties involved. He also shared that he had consulted with a prosecutor to help mediate the situation and emphasized his intent was only to calm the other party and not act emotionally.