What is behind the mayor, the girl and the law?

As the scandal involving Ban Phai municipality mayor Premsak Piayura, who is accused of harassing local reporters, slowly unfolded, it seems we have more questions than answers.

Last week, Mr Premsak, a former Thai Rak Thai party member, dominated local media headlines after reporters complained they were forcefully locked inside his office. One reporter, who is 64 years old, had been forcibly stripped to his underpants. The journalists said there were no photographs providing evidence.

According to the reports, the mayor was upset with the journalists’ work, which he said had intruded into his private life without his consent. A report, with accompanying photos, said he was married to a young girl, which he vehemently denied.

Mr Premsak fought tooth-and-nail against the charge. He went to the Prime Minister’s Office to ask that premier Prayut Chan-o-cha use the draconian Section 44 of the interim charter to push for media reform. He even raised the case with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Like many politicians in trouble, Mr Premsak cited a conspiracy theory, that someone wants to tarnish his reputation.

In his strenuous battle, the mayor denied he had harassed the Khon Kaen-based reporters, the same way he denied the incident was a wedding. His staunch denial is more than understandable. How could the mayor, who already has a wife, admit that? As a married man, tying the knot with another woman is against the law, never mind the fact the other party involved in this high-profile case is a 15-year-old girl who under the Thai child protection law is still a minor.

Instead, the embattled mayor explained the photos in question were from a scholarship presentation ceremony — a very casual one — as he wanted to help the girl’s family.

There was a stack of notes worth 400,000 baht and, according to news reports, a car registration document. The girl, with face blurred due to her young age, was not in student uniform, while the mayor looked radiant in a shocking pink jacket.

Yes, many are curious to know if it was really his wedding.

Suppose the wedding report is true, and many are ready to jump to that conclusion. There are issues that need answering, even though there is a grey area that is complicating things.

The law is kind enough to allow a man to marry a minor with the consent of her parents. It’s interesting what the law can do if a man cannot legally marry anyone because of his current status.

Even if the reports have a grain of truth, we may never know all of the facts. It’s not realistic to expect the parents of the girl to come out and say anything. Compromise seems the best way out given the mayor is a veteran politician with power and money. And it seems this is the case here.

The point is, even if the parents of the girl may want to compromise, can they do so legally given the man cannot tie the knot under the law?

With such scandalous photos exposed to the public, Mr Premsak’s demand that this case be treated as a private one is not valid. Like any political office-holder, Mr Premsak should realise the line between private and public life is not clear. And it should and will never be clear.

While those who have accused the mayor are struggling to verify their claims, Mr Premsak has a moral obligation to clear his name as a political office-holder who is supposed to answer to public expectation.

The case is a challenge to the child protection law. We want to know if the law in particular really has teeth, and if law enforcers have a will to find out the truth.