Senator Accidentally Kills Aid

Mae Hong Son Senator Boonsong Kowawisarat accidentally shot and killed his personal secretary with a gun in a restaurant in Phrae province, according to police.

The senator and his secretary, Chanakarn Detkard, were traveling to Bangkok when they stopped at a restaurant in tambon Mae Keng. While waiting for their meal he pulled out a gun he was carrying. He told police the weapon accidentally discharged and his secretary was shot in the stomach.

Boonsong said he was so shocked that he could not take his secretary to the hospital and the restaurant’s owner had to take her. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police have yet to arrest or charge the senator as he is protected by parliament privilege while the House is in session. However, police say he will be charged with causing death by negligence which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and 20,000 baht fine.

There were no further details as to why the senator was carrying the weapon or whether he knew the gun was loaded.

According to Thailand defense attorney Thakoon Chantararang Si, provided the shooting was accidental rather than intentional, there may not have been any crime committed. However, death caused by negligence would be prosecuted according to the Thai Penal Code sentence which provides that “whoever commits an act by negligence and thereby causing death to the other person, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding ten years and fine not exceeding twenty thousand baht.”