Stepson beater surrenders, faces two charges

PHITSANULOK - Police have pressed two charges against the man who was caught on video assaulting his five-year-old stepson at a school in Muang district and will oppose his bail plea after the suspect surrendered on Monday.

Pongsak Sahaisook, 28, reported to Muang Phitsanulok police station after he was caught on camera beating the boy on Nov 15 and fled to Bangkok. He was accompanied by a lawyer and his elder sister.

Police charged him with assault and domestic violence.

A one-minute video clip shows the boy standing close to Mr Pongsak's motorcycle in the school's car park. Mr Pongsak is seen hitting the boy, who falls to the ground, and then stomping on him. Witnesses then intervened and stopped the man. The incident was captured by the school’s CCTV camera. The footage was shared online and sparked public anger.

The native of Chon Buri said he was stressed because of the family's financial problems. He attacked his stepson in the fit of rage when he was teaching the boy to read but he did not comply and now he regretted it.

The boy, who was born with cleft lip and palate, has learning disabilities, according to his mother. He suffered knee and head injuries from the incident.

“I want to apologise to my family and society for my violent behaviour. I’d like the public to forgive me. I will be a new person and will never do this again,” Mr Pongsak said.

“I accept all the charges against me,” he said, adding he planned to offer an apology to his wife’s parents in person.

Mr Pongsak said after the incident he went to a friend’s house in Bangkok, then visited his mother to apologise her and decided to surrender to police.

Muang Phitsanulok station chief Pol Col Songpon Sungkasem said the charges laid against the stepfather carry a combined six-month prison term and/or a fine of 6,000 baht if he was found guilty. Police will oppose his bail plea because he escaped after the attack and the case drew much public attention.