[Cool Teen Sites]
Tuesday, 23 January, 2001, 14:22 GMT
Thai senator in sex allegations
Child prostitution is a problem in Thailand
Police in Thailand are investigating allegations that a prominent 65-year-old senator had
sex with underage girls, local media said.
Local reports said Chalerm Promlert - the Senate deputy speaker - faces allegations of
violating an anti-prostitution law that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.
Mr Chalerm, who denies the allegations, turned himself into a police station in the
Bangkok suburb of Pathum Thani on Tuesday.
He is accused of having sex with four schoolgirls aged between 13 and 16 at a
"seedy" and "short-time" motel in a Bangkok suburb.
We have both evidence and witnesses to prove that this senator committed the crimes
A senior metropolitan police officer, Major-General Withoon Siripak, told The Nation
newspaper that they had a strong case against Mr Chalerm.
"We have both evidence and witnesses to prove that this senator committed the
crimes," Mr Withoon was quoted as saying.
Calls for resignation
The senator's colleagues were divided over whether he should resign immediately or fight
the allegations.
"I hold that a person remains innocent until proven guilty," Senator Vichit
Poonlap told the Bangkok Post.
Some senators said the credibility of the newly-independent upper house had been damaged
by the scandal.
Wallop Tangkhananurak and Montri Sinthaweechai, both children's rights activists, told The
Nation newspaper that they would campaign for Mr Chalerm's removal from the Senate