Thai Singer Tik Shiro Sentenced to Prison for Fatal Drunk Driving Incident: Accountability for the Rich and Famous in Thailand
A Thai court has sentenced a well-known singer, Manasawin Nantasen, also known as Tik Shiro, to two years in prison for causing the death of two people in a drunk driving incident. The 64-year-old singer, who was often compared to Michael Jackson, hit a stationary motorbike on a bridge in Bangkok, resulting in the death of a 28-year-old woman and the critical injury of her 21-year-old brother, who later died in the hospital. The court found Manasawin guilty of drunk driving resulting in loss of life and revoked his driver's license.
Despite the singer's remorseful actions, such as attending the victims' funeral and compensating their families, the court handed down the two-year prison sentence. This case has drawn attention in Thailand, where influential figures are sometimes perceived as escaping accountability for their actions. In a separate incident involving a celebrity, rock musician Sek Loso was released from prison after serving time for drugs and illegal firearm possession.
The case of Manasawin Nantasen highlights the issue of accountability for the rich and famous in Thailand. Instances where influential individuals have avoided legal consequences, such as the Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya's hit-and-run incident in 2012 and the acquittal of a former Pheu Thai MP's son for a fatal shooting in a nightclub in 2001, have raised concerns among the public. Despite the sentencing of Manasawin, the perception of impunity for the wealthy and well-connected remains a contentious issue in the country.