TAO chief formally charged in teen sex case
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TAO chief formally charged in teen sex case

Security guards at the Criminal Court and police take Wasu Phan-ngoen, head of Ban Mai tambon administration organisation, into the courthouse on Monday. He was allowed court bail. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Security guards at the Criminal Court and police take Wasu Phan-ngoen, head of Ban Mai tambon administration organisation, into the courthouse on Monday. He was allowed court bail. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

A local administration chief in Nonthaburi reported to police on Monday and was charged with dereliction of duty linked to the sex scandal in Mae Hong Son, and a court later granted him bail.

Wasu Phan-ngoen, head of the Ban Mai tambon administration organisation reported to Bang Mae Nang police station in Bang Yai district before he was taken to the Criminal Court, where police applied to detain him.

The court formally approved the detention, and he was then released on bail after his lawyer posted a 400,000-baht cash guarantee.

Police charged Mr Wasu and assistant chief Montha Charoensukwan after investigators found that budget documents were falsified for a trip to Mae Hong Son from Sept 22-24 last year, during which some members, including Chuchart Puangjeen, allegedly bought sexual services from teenage girls.

Ms Montha reported to police on Friday and was also released on bail.

Police had instructed Mr Wasu to report on Saturday, but his lawyer obtained a delay on the grounds he had leg and back pain arising from an accident.

Mr Wasu repeated the explanation for the delay after arriving at the police station on Monday. 

The TAO chief had also tried to report to the court first, but the court said he had bypassed procedure and he was ordered to go to the police station and properly start the process.

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