The issue has become a hot topic with "Somrak Khamsing" the former Olympic gold medal hero after a 17-year-old girl filed a complaint accusing Somrak of sexual assault following a visit to a nightclub in Khon Kaen Province. This incident occurred on 10 Dec 2023.
Recently, the Court of Appeals Region 4 in Khon Kaen sentenced him to 1 year and 12 months in prison without suspension for the case of abducting a 17-year-old girl, and ordered him to pay additional compensation of 80,000 baht.
- Bas Somrak Khamsing, also known as Lieutenant Somrak Khamsing, was born on 16 Jan 1973. He is originally from Khon Kaen Province and is currently 53 years old. He has two children who are both well known on social media.
- "Bas Somrak" was born into a poor family as the middle child of three. His nickname "Bas" was chosen to match the nickname of his older brother, who was also a boxer.
- Since Somrak's father was a former boxer, he was trained in Muay Thai from childhood. He first fought at age 7 and toured to fight at various temple fairs. He was invited by Narong Kongnarong, head of Narong Gym, to join the camp. Somrak then fought Muay Thai under the name "Somrak Narong Gym" and became a well-known boxer in the Khon Kaen area.
- Later, he moved to fight in Bangkok and attended Phadungsit Pittaya School, competing in both Muay Thai and amateur boxing. During his second year of secondary school, his father passed away.
- Somrak began competing in amateur boxing representing his school in 1985 at age 12, fighting in the 52-kilogram weight class. After graduating high school from Phadungsit Pittaya, he was recruited by the Navy Club to fight amateur boxing and was enlisted in the navy. He accepted and succeeded in becoming both Thai champion and winning gold at the National Games.
- Somrak first joined the national team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
- Somrak first gained fame as the only Thai athlete to win a gold medal at the 12th Asian Games in 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan, despite almost being disqualified for failing the initial physical test.
- Somrak won gold at the Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai and qualified for the final round of the Olympic Games in 1995.
- Somrak Khamsing became extremely famous as the first Thai national athlete to win a gold medal in amateur boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, making him an instant celebrity and one of Thailand’s superstars.
- Known for his humorous and colorful personality, Somrak entered the entertainment industry, starting with the TV drama "Nai Kan Tom" on Channel 7, playing the lead role alongside actress Namfon Kulnate Priyawatt and several senior boxers.
- Afterwards, Somrak continuously received roles in dozens of dramas and movies and released several songs. This led to perceptions that he was less focused on boxing, with rumors of reduced training or skipping sessions. However, he insisted his skills remained intact and even boldly predicted fight outcomes, sometimes correctly, often accompanied by his catchphrase "Not boasting."
- Currently, Somrak still occasionally appears in entertainment projects. He has run several businesses including a Korean barbecue pork restaurant named "Somrak Korean Grill" and owns the "S. Khamsing" boxing camp. His name remains well known, especially because his daughter, "Best Khamsing," has become famous in the entertainment industry as an actress and influencer, continuing the family presence online.
- Somrak later entered politics, running for the House of Representatives in the 2023 general election in Khon Kaen constituency 11 with the Palang Pracharath Party but was not elected. He was then charged with abducting a 17-year-old girl.
- Recently, the Court of Appeals Region 4 in Khon Kaen sentenced Somrak to 1 year and 12 months in prison without suspension for abducting a 17-year-old girl and ordered him to pay additional compensation of 80,000 baht.
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