A Thai Senator has accidentally shot and killed his personal secretary with a sub-machine gun at a restaurant in the country's north, media reports citing officials said late on Monday.
The incident reportedly happened when Senator Boonsong Kowawisarat was dining with his secretary Chanakarn Detkard and four others at a restaurant in the northern Phrae province on Sunday night.
The Senator is said to have taken out an Uzi 9mm sub-machine gun when the group was waiting for their food to arrive. The gun reportedly went off by accident as the lawmaker was attempting to put it back in its case.
Officials said Detkard suffered bullet wound to the stomach and died on the way to hospital. They said Boonsong had permission from the Interior Ministry to own such a weapon, but added that it is not yet clear why the Senator took it with him to the restaurant.
Police have not yet arrested Boonsong, who is the Senate representative for northern Mae Hong Son province, as he is protected by parliamentary privilege.
Nevertheless, Bangkok Post quoted local police officials as saying that Boonsong will soon be charged with causing death by negligence. The charge could fetch him up to ten years' jail as well as a fine of 20,000 baht.
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