Thai official's behavior at airport causes uproar

[January 11, 2012]  BANGKOK (AP) -- A Thai customs official has been demoted over a YouTube video that shows him hitting an airport security officer while refusing to be patted down.

Footage from a surveillance camera at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport shows the official striding through a security check, fiercely objecting to being searched and then whacking the officer's ears. The official then pointed to his badge and the junior officer bowed apologetically.

The video has a Sunday time stamp and was posted Monday. By Tuesday it had attracted more than 5,000 angry comments.

Customs Department director-general Somchai Poolsavasdi said the official was transferred to an office job during an investigation into his "distressing" behavior. The department released only the official's first name, Sombat.

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[Associated Press]

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