Boxer Somluck cleared of girl's rape, gets 2 years for lewd abduction

KHON KAEN - The Appeal Court on Tuesday cleared Olympic medallist boxer Somluck Kamsing of attempted rape, but sentenced him to two years in prison for abducting a minor for lewd purpose. 

He was later granted release on bail pending a further appeal to the Supreme Court.

Appeal Court Region 4 dismissed an attempted rape charge filed against the retired boxer.

It upheld his conviction and prison sentence on another charge of taking way a person under 18 to commit a lewd act, but reduced the term  from three to two years. He was also ordered to pay an additional 80,000 baht compensation to the girl, plus a 5% interest rate, taking the total financial compensation for the victim to 200,000 baht.

The exact ruling of the Appeal Court was one year and 12 months in court terms. One month under the Criminal Code is 30 days, not a calendar month.

The Supreme Court later granted Somluck conditional bail with 300,000 baht cash surety. He is not allowed to leave Thailand.

Somluck said he was ready to move on in the court battle and would leave his fate with the legal process.

A lawyer for the plaintiff, Athiwat Neammeesri, said the girl would also appeal the judgement to the Supreme Court. His client insisted she did not stay with Somluck by consent after their meeting at a pub, as the boxer claimed and argued in court. 

Somluck, now 53, was the first Thai athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, taking the featherweight title at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the United States.

He has lived a flamboyant life since he became a star. The boxer was accused of sexual assault by the 17-year-old plaintiff in 2023. The two met in a nightspot in Muang district of Khon Kaen, his home town.