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Thailand’s First Olympic Winner Sentenced Over Sexual Assault

Olympic boxing gold medalist Somluck Kamsing has received a sentence of three years, one month, and ten days in prison on charges including the attempted rape of a teenager just over a year ago.

Somluck, aged 52, announced his intention to appeal the verdict. The Khon Kaen provincial court granted him bail set at 300,000 baht.

The court issued its decision on Thursday regarding an event that occurred in December 2023 with a 17-year-old girl at a nightclub in the northeastern province.

The court ruled in favor of the teenager’s claims, citing evidence of bruising on her breast and near her genitalia as supporting evidence.

The teenager, who is from Kalasin, claimed in her testimony that Somluck attempted to rape her but was unable to perform sexually, which led him to aggressively rub himself against her.

The judges rejected Somluck’s assertion that he had the girl’s consent, clarifying that her following him to a hotel did not imply her consent to engage in sexual activity.

Moreover, the defense failed to prove any intention of prostitution, as there was no evidence of a monetary exchange.

The incident occurred on the night of December 9, 2023, and Somluck attended a police interview on December 15. He claimed he was unaware of the girl’s age until he questioned her in the hotel room, at which point he ceased his advances.

The court additionally mandated Somluck to pay compensation of 120,000 baht to the teenager and 50,000 baht to her family. His friend, Pichet Chinehantha, was acquitted in the same case.

Somluck briefly stated to reporters on Thursday that he intends to continue defending himself in court. His attorney, Itthisak Atthakornwikrom, indicated that there are still more details to be examined.

Somluck, originally from Khon Kaen, was a Muay Thai competitor before switching to boxing. He won a bronze medal at the 1989 King’s Cup and a gold medal in the 1995 edition.

He achieved a historic victory at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta by winning a gold medal in the men’s featherweight division, marking him as the first Thai athlete to win Olympic gold.

In 2018, Somluck was declared bankrupt due to debts accrued from a failed petrol station venture, totaling approximately 4 million baht.

The Thailand Boxing Association stepped in to assist him with his financial difficulties.

Expressing his appreciation for the assistance, Somluck mentioned his plan to steer clear of high-risk business endeavors and focus more on his acting career, which has included various roles in Thai films and television series.