UDON THANI, THAILAND – A former Thai soldier faced court proceedings after allegedly firing a shot at the brother-in-law of a well-known social media influencer in a jealousy-fuelled dispute.
Influencer published footage after months of threats
Prominent online personality Soraya “Aum” Upaiprom (“Aum Punsuk”) released surveillance videos from her family’s property, saying she did so because authorities had failed to stop escalating threats against her relatives and she feared for their safety. The footage showed a 50-year-old soldier entering the grounds with a firearm in June 2023, at a time when no one was inside the house.
Confrontation ended with gunshot but no injuries
The situation escalated again the previous Sunday, when the soldier encountered Aum’s brother-in-law, referred to in reports as “Jack”, outside the residence. After a verbal dispute, a shot was fired; Jack retreated into the house and was not injured, but a vehicle parked in front of the property was damaged.
Investigators suspected a jealousy dispute as the motive. The accused allegedly claimed that Jack was having an improper relationship with his wife, who worked at a medical facility operated by Jack’s spouse.
Arrest warrant and dismissal from the army
After the videos spread online, police and military officials moved quickly. Police issued an arrest warrant on charges of trespassing and attempted murder, and the suspect surrendered a day after the confrontation.
During questioning he admitted firing a shot but denied any wrongdoing and maintained his accusations. His wife publicly rejected the allegations and apologised to the family for the situation, while the Royal Thai Army responded by immediately dismissing the soldier from service.
Disputed backstory and family’s rejection of claims
In police interviews, the former soldier tried to justify his actions, saying his wife had left him with debts of two million baht, around 50,000 euros, and had abandoned their children. He insisted his account was correct and demanded that Jack confirm his version of events.
He also demanded that his wife be barred from contacting their children. The affected family rejected all of these claims as baseless and stressed that there was no foundation for the accusations.
Court to weigh video evidence
With the military sanctions already in place, the case now rested with the judicial authorities. The ex-soldier faced trial on the charge of attempted murder, with the documented video recordings expected to play a central role.
The proceedings were set to show how the Thai justice system would handle the case and what sentence might ultimately be imposed. For the family, the priority was a final, legally binding judgment to restore a sense of security.
Social media pressure sped up the response
The case underlined the growing importance of social media in Thailand’s legal landscape. By publishing the footage, the influencer appeared to generate public pressure that may have accelerated the response by both police and the military.
Experts discussed how such online campaigns could support justice while also raising concerns about privacy and prejudice. In this instance, the release of the videos seemed to help trigger prompt institutional action.
Calls for stronger protection in threat cases
The family had already reported the threats to authorities before the Sunday incident but felt they were not adequately protected. The events pointed to possible gaps in early-warning systems and protection measures for people under threat, especially when the alleged perpetrator had access to weapons.
Specialists in domestic violence and stalking argued that jealousy-driven conflicts carried a high risk of escalation. They said early intervention through authorities, counselling services and professional mediation could help prevent violent outcomes.
Broader debate on prevention and accountability
For months, an armed former soldier had allegedly threatened a family before the situation turned violent, and comprehensive measures followed only after the videos drew wide public attention. This prompted debate over whether the system reacted too slowly and how similar escalations could be avoided in future.
Questions being discussed in Thailand included how to improve protection for those under threat and what role social media should play in uncovering crimes and prompting official action.