Bangkok Political Figure Defends Aide's Fire Rescue Role
A Bangkok political figure defended his candidate's actions at a warehouse fire after criticism that the aide impersonated an official while wearing military uniform and briefing media alongside the Prime Minister.
Mongkol Kitti, chairman of the Bangkok Flies group and founder of the Kaokham Party, posted a statement defending an individual against criticism that he impersonated an official while dressed in full military uniform, giving media interviews and following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a beer warehouse fire in Lat Phrao, despite not being a government employee.
Kitti praised candidate Chitpong Kattapong, running for Bangkok district representative with his group, for helping disaster victims and responding to the Lat Phrao warehouse fire from 11:47 p.m. on July 12 to 4:15 a.m. on July 13, 2569.
Kitti explained that Kattapong kept him informed throughout the incident via his secretary, but because Kitti was ill and taking sleeping medication, he did not visit the scene that night, arriving the following morning instead. His secretary authorized Kattapong to provide full assistance on the ground. Kitti stated that Kattapong reported to him from start to finish, and he called on the public to recognize Kattapong as an exemplary citizen.
