BANGKOK — Thailand’s first Olympic gold medalist in boxing, Somluck Kamsing, has been sentenced to a little over three years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault against a minor. The provincial court in his hometown of Khon Kaen delivered the sentence on Thursday, handed down after Somluck, 52, was found guilty of multiple charges, including the abduction of a minor aged between 15 and 18, as well as conducting an indecent act against the minor by force, and attempted rape.

The incident took place in December 2023 when Somluck allegedly took a 17-year-old girl from a bar in Khon Kaen to a hotel room. Initially, the court had sentenced him to four years and eight months but reduced the duration to three years, one month, and ten days after acknowledging his cooperation during trial proceedings, despite him persistently denying all allegations.

In addition to his prison term, the court mandated Somluck to pay compensation of 120,000 baht (approximately $3,525) to the victim, along with 50,000 baht (around $1,470) to the victim’s guardians. Somluck expressed his intention to appeal against the ruling when speaking to the media.

Before his involvement in this legal situation, Somluck was celebrated for his athletic achievements. Starting his career in traditional Muay Thai, he made a successful switch to the boxing world and secured a gold medal in the featherweight category during the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta. He has two children and has faced various challenges after retiring from the sport, including a failed gas station venture and a divorce.

In the years following his boxing career, Somluck has made sporadic returns to the ring for exhibition matches but has since gained popularity in the entertainment industry as a character actor in several Thai television programs.