The case of TV host and actor Akanat “Nott” Ariyaritwikul allegedly assaulting a motorcyclist over a road accident in Bangkok late last year will be heard on May 24 at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, a source at the Office of the Attorney General said on Monday.
The source said public prosecutors indicted the 28-year-old this month on the following charges:
Assault causing harm, punishable by between six months and 10 years in prison; threatening harm someone to compel them to do something, punishable by up to three years’ jail and a Bt6,000 (S$243.20) fine or both; illegal detention, punishable by up to three years’ prison and a Bt6,000 fine or both; and humiliation or bullying someone in public, punishable by up to a month in jail and a Bt1,000 fine or both.
If 25-year-old messenger Kittisak Singto, who has been fined Bt400 for reckless driving causing property damage in relation to the incident, wants to be the case’s co-plaintiff and also file a civil lawsuit for compensation, he must submit the request to the court, the source said.
The case made headlines after a clip went viral of Akanat punching Kittisak in the face and breaking his nose on a Bangkok street on November 4 while trying to force him to apologise for the accident.
Kittisak claimed his motorbike was knocked off balance by a taxi and he crashed into Akanat’s mini sedan.
He said when he could no longer chase the taxi, he returned to the accident scene and was assaulted by Akanat, who ordered him to “kraab” the mini, which he refused to do.
Nott saying “kraab rot ku” (“kneel and wai before my car”) became a popular hashtag on Twitter.
