Former Olympic boxing gold medallist faces charges over minor abduction, attempted rape

KHON KAEN — 20 October 2026, The Court of Appeal Region 4 sentenced former Olympic boxing gold medallist Somrak Khamsing to one year and 12 months in prison without suspension in a case involving the taking of a 17-year-old girl, while increasing compensation to 80,000 baht.

The court amended the lower court’s ruling, overturning the conviction for attempted rape and retaining the offence of unlawful removal of a minor. The prison sentence is not suspended.

The case stems from an incident on 10 December 2023, when Somrak was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl whom he had met at an entertainment venue.

The lower court had sentenced him to a total of four years and eight months in prison. After taking into account his cooperation with the proceedings, it reduced the sentence to two years, 13 months and 10 days, according to the original report. It also ordered him to pay 50,000 baht in compensation to the victim’s relatives and 120,000 baht to the victim, plus 5% annual interest from the date of the offence.

Somrak was subsequently granted temporary release pending appeal, with bail set at 300,000 baht by Khon Kaen Provincial Court.

He arrived at the Court of Appeal Region 4 at around 09:30 on 20 October, accompanied by more than 10 friends who came to support him. He did not speak to reporters before going in to hear the ruling.

Under the appeal court’s revised ruling, the compensation amount was increased to 80,000 baht. The report said Somrak had previously deposited 120,000 baht with the court.

Somrak is one of Thailand’s most celebrated athletes. On 4 August 1996, he won gold in the men’s amateur featherweight boxing event at the Atlanta Olympic Games in Georgia, United States, becoming the first Thai athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.

The appeal ruling marks a dramatic development in the case. The prison sentence is not suspended.