Watch: Thai MP to be investigated for slapping reporter

A Thailand parliamentary investigation has been formally requested into veteran politician and former army chief Prawit Wongsuwon after he hit a journalist last week.

The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader struck the ThaiPBS reporter on the head last week after she asked him a question about the new prime minister.

A PPRP party spokesman said Prawit knew the journalist well and has apologised, saying he “was teasing her as someone who he is close to”. Thai PBS have demanded that Prawit “take responsibility for his alleged attempts to intimidate a reporter”.

The Thai Broadcast Journalists Association and the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand have submitted a letter to the lower house speaker to start investigating whether Prawit’s action violated the MP’s ethics conduct.