Somluck thanks Gen Prawit for bankruptcy help

Capt Somluck Kamsing (right) expresses gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon for assisting in his bankruptcy case at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation in Bangkok on Monday. (Thai PBS photo via the Thailand Boxing Association)

Thailand's first Olympic boxing gold medalist Somluck Kamsing on Monday called on Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to thank him for helping him with a bankruptcy case.

Capt Somluck and senior representatives of sports organisations met Gen Prawit at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation to express gratitude to the deputy prime minister for coordinating help in his capacity as chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.

On the occasion, Gen Prawit thanked the Thailand Boxing Association for helping Capt Somluck with his financial troubles and said the issue ended happily and Capt Somluck's family would have a happy life again.

Gen Prawit also warned Capt Somluck not to get himself into trouble again.

Capt Somluck, 45, said he was glad that the sports communities did not abandon him, adding he often ran into financial problems because he overestimated his capability.

He thanked Gen Prawit and senior officials of the Thailand Boxing Association for solving his problem and said his bankruptcy case would end positively.

"I am happy today and will not do any risky business again. I would like to have a peaceful life and make a living being an actor," he said.

Pichai Choonhavajira, president of the Thailand Boxing Association and chairman of Bangchak Corp, said Capt Somluck could start his life all over again and his problem was not too complicated. Capt Somluck could also be a presenter of Bangchak Corporation Plc, Mr Pichai said.

On Aug 9, the Central Bankruptcy Court froze the assets of Capt Somluck and his wife pending the bankruptcy case.

Earlier reports said he had a debt of about 4 million baht due to his failed petrol station business in Chaiyaphum province.

He is the first Thai athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, in the featherweight boxing competition in the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996.