Chiang Mai pub closed over beating of army general's son

Actresses Lakana Wattanawongsiri, centre, and Benchasiri Wattana, right, and a lawyer hold a press conference at a hotel on Sunday to deny any involvement in the beating of a son of an army general at Malin Sky pub in Chiang Mai. (Photo by Cheewin Sattha)

CHIANG MAI - Police have ordered the closure of Malin Sky pub in the wake of a violent pub brawl in which a son of an army general was brutally beaten by a group of guards over use of the pub’s washroom which TV celebrities were using.

Meanwhile, police investigators have obtained useful information from a key witness that would shed light on the incident.

Issarajnuwat Wankawisan, 23, a fourth-year student at Payap Univerity and son of an army general, was assaulted by a group of guards at Malin Sky pub in tambon Chang Puak in Muang district at 11pm Friday.

Mr Issarajnuwat told police he had gone to the restaurant and pub alone. When he went to the washroom, he claimed he was blocked by four male security guards and told to wait while five or six actors and actresses used the bathrooms. He said he protested as the washroom was public space.

Media reports said the celebrities in the group included Channel 3 actor Mark Parin and his colleagues Nattaporn “Taew” Tameeruks, Nittha “Mew” Jirayungyurn and Lakana "Aum" Wattanawongsiri.

The student claimed that when the actors left the bathrooms, one of them ordered the guards to assault him.

The student, who is a son of Maj Gen Witthaya Wankawisan, commander of the 38th Army Circle, was later taken to Lanna hospital where he is being treated for a broken nose, two fractured teeth, a fractured jaw and some problems with his left eye.

But one actress visiting the pub on that night said the men were not the guards of anyone in her group and they were hired by the pub to provide safety and ensure their privacy.

On Sunday, a police investigation team went to Lanna hospital to interrogate the injured student about the incident, but the victim was not ready to give testimony due to his condition.

The investigators interrogated a woman, who witnessed the incident. Nobody was allowed to take her photo for her own safety.

Authorities said the witness has provided useful evidence, Thai media reported.

Pol Maj Gen Montri Sambunyanon, deputy chief of the Provincial Police Region 5, said police would ensure justice for both sides. Currently, authorities have closed the pub and investigated its operating licence.

All involved in the brawl would be brought to justice, said Pol Maj Gen Montri.

The pub operator must explain why closed circuit television cameras were not found when police went to examine footage. Other witnesses confirmed there were CCTVs installed at the pub, said Pol Maj Gen Montri.

Panumas Udomkhantikul, a representative of the Chiang Mai Complex Project, where Malin Sky rented space, visited the injured student at the hospital and apologised to his parents over the brawl.

Ms Panumas said the management of the project decided to terminate the rental contract with the pub.