Police in Udon Thani have detained a 62-year-old man who threatened his estranged wife with a firearm, openly confessing to having affairs with 52 women across 52 communities.
Officers from Mueang Udon Thani station responded on Monday to reports of an intoxicated man threatening his wife at their home in tambon Nong Na Kham. The suspect, Prayong Khammuekchik, a retired municipal driver, confronted his 59-year-old wife Phissamai Khammuekchik, from whom he separated three to four years ago over his multiple affairs. The couple, who have three children, never officially divorced.
Ms Phissamai said Prayong arrived drunk, demanding reconciliation while brandishing a firearm. She previously allowed him a three-month trial with strict conditions, including not cooking or doing laundry for him. He lasted only three days before leaving, but returned intermittently in a drunken state, threatening to set fire to the house.
The dispute involves property division. Ms Phissamai is willing to divorce but wants to keep two houses where she lives with their children, while Prayong can have two houses in Nong Sai village.
Prayong admitted drinking at a temple fair and acknowledged his infidelity, claiming he had one affair in each of Udon Thani municipality’s 52 communities. “If there were 100 communities, then I would have 100 affairs. But I don’t have them anymore,” he said, insisting all relationships had ended and that he only used the firearm to threaten, not to harm.
Police charged Prayong with disorderly conduct while intoxicated and seized the firearm for examination. Prayong reportedly thanked his wife for calling the police before being taken into custody.
