CHIANG MAI: The Chiang Mai Subdistrict Court has handed a 14,500 baht fine to a senior judge and ordered that his driving licence be suspended for six months after he caused a traffic accident while driving under the influence of alcohol.
A clip shared on social media on Dec 31 showed a driver running into a rescue operation car at Saeng Tawan intersection in tambon Chang Klan of Muang district. The man claimed he was a judge.
On Wednesday, prosecutors at the court indicted Charnsak Somprayot, a deputy chief justice of Region 5, on charges of reckless driving, refusing to take a breathalyser test, and failing to stop to help a damaged party, according to the Office of the Judiciary.
The court ruled that he violated the Land Traffic Act and fined him 29,000 baht for drink-driving.
But since he confessed and compensated the damaged party, the court halved the fine and suspended his licence.
The Office of the Judiciary is waiting for the outcome of a probe by the Office of the Chief Justice Region 5 before considering whether to take further action. The judge can appeal with Appeal Court Region 5.
