A senior executive of the American Insurance and Assurance Company (AIA), identified as Thanakrit Wichiansamut, was assaulted and seriously injured by a group of young men at a restaurant in a community mall in Muang district of Chiang Mai Thursday night.
Three other company employees, including a woman, were also injured, but less seriously than the executive, who required emergency surgery after he sustained a subdural haematoma as a result of the beating.
One of the company’s staffers reportedly told the police that they went to the restaurant for a dinner to celebrate the promotion of Thanakrit, placing him in charge of all AIA branch offices in the northern region.
Seated at the next table was a large group of about 20 young men. Some of them approached the AIA staffers to express their dissatisfaction with the company’s services, prompting some staff members to try to mollify the situation and nothing untoward happened.
After finishing the celebration, Thanakrit and the AIA staffers headed towards the parking lot where the young men were waiting. An argument erupted again and some company staffers quickly escorted Thanakrit to the toilet, only to be pursued and assaulted by the men.
It is alleged that some of the assailants used wine bottles to strike at the AIA staffers, including Thanakrit.
Pol. Col. Pratchaya Titla, the superintendent of Muang district police, said some of the assailants are living in the neighbourhood of the community mall and that he will summon them to the police station today for questioning.
So far, no charges have been filed against any either side.
