BANGKOK: A former bodybuilder pleaded guilty to seven charges in a Thai court on Thursday, including driving under the influence of alcohol, insulting policemen and barging into a traffic police booth.
A video of 34-year-old Mekin Ayuwattanamongkon’s actions that day, was shot by Sgt-Major Pawit Boonmasungsong, a traffic policeman.
The video clip went viral on many social network platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, with several television stations also broadcasting the footage.
The video shows Mekin, with a woman riding pillion – both without helmets – parking his bike in front of a police booth at an intersection.
He even revved the engine of his bike, causing a loud noise, said Pawit, adding that the woman tried to calm him down but to no avail.
The suspect then gets off the bike and enters the police booth. He is seen showing police the middle finger and challenging them to charge him, saying he has money to pay the fine.
In the clip, Pawit is heard telling Mekin that another policeman is on his way with a breathaliser to handle his case, but the suspect continues to yell at and challenge the police.
It is learnt that after the second policeman arrived and tested the Mekin, it was found that his alcohol level was over four times the permissible level.
Police spokesman Pol General Wirachai Songmetta said that Mekin was slapped with seven charges including insulting police officers, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a helmet, failing to arrange a helmet for a fellow-rider as well as entering a police booth without permission.
Wirachai said traffic police booths were prohibited areas because accidents could happen if somebody went into it and interfered with traffic control boards.
He also praised Wiwat for being calm and not getting provoked by the insults.
Wiwat said he had radioed another policeman to deal with Mekin, as he was busy with the traffic.
He said he knew Mekin was drunk from the very first moment he talked to him.
Mekin said he worked in the Silom area and had drinks after work and continued drinking at the house of a friend.
He left the house at 6pm and was heading to another place when he was stopped by traffic police.
