Prominent Lawyer Arrested After Assault on Former MP

An incident of violence outside Thonglor Police Station on September 4 represents conduct that should have no place in modern society. Nattavut Wongniam, a self-proclaimed public law expert and legal consultant, allegedly grabbed and knocked over the bicycle of Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, a former Member of Parliament, pushing him to the ground before verbally abusing him and media personnel who attempted to intervene. This raises the troubling question of why a prominent lawyer would behave so recklessly. Following the incident, Wongniam gave interviews to multiple outlets claiming the video was edited or that he was struck by the bicycle handlebar, despite clear video evidence of what occurred. While Wongniam may contest the charges in court, Somchai has confirmed he will pursue criminal charges for assault and file a civil lawsuit seeking 50 million baht in damages, with the matter ultimately to be decided by the courts. On the social level, there must be clear opposition to all forms of violence, and serious questions must be raised about why Thonglor Police, present at the scene, did not intervene, restrain, or prevent the violence from escalating. Video footage shows police officers walking past while appearing overly deferential to the person who committed the violence. This raises troubling questions about whether something prevented police from doing their duty or whether individual officers lacked proper professional awareness. This incident is deeply concerning because it echoes similar past events, such as the 2012 attack on Varajate Pakirathin at Thammasat University, which arose from intense hate campaigns that eventually manifested in brutal force. If such conduct is not met with swift and decisive action by authorities and the justice system, it amounts to tacit encouragement and endorsement. Police and the judicial process, which should be the foundation for public confidence, risk becoming the opposite. When this occurs, lawlessness prevails, and the rule of law becomes impossible to achieve.