Saengchai Sunthornwat () (June 12, 1943 – April 11, 1996) was a Thai journalist, lawyer and writer. He served as director of MCOT before his death.

Early life

He was born on June 12, 1943, in Prachin Buri Province. He was a son of Pradit and Bunyuen Sunthornwat. He finished secondary school from

Triam Udom Suksa School Triam Udom Suksa School ( th, โรงเรียนเตรียมอุดมศึกษา, ; lit.'university-preparatory school') is a state school in central Bangkok, Thailand. It admits upper-secondary students (''mathayom'' 4–6, eq ...

, bachelor's degree from

Thammasat University Thammasat University (Abbreviation, Abrv: TU th, มธ.; th, มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์, , ) is a public research university in Thailand with campuses in Tha Phra Chan area of Phra Nakhon District near the ...

and did his masters degree from a university in the United States. He married Watcharee Sunthornwat with whom he had a son, Isara Sunthornwat.

Career

He had a job in law as well as restaurants in the United States. In 1982, he started his career in journalism by writing columns for ''Phim Thai'' and ''Daily News''. In 1983, his column about the English language, "Fud Fit For Fai" became popular. He returned to Thailand in 1983, where he worked as the director of MCOT between 1993–1996.

Assassination

Saengchai Sunthornwat was killed by a gunman who fired on his car as he was driving to his suburban Bangkok home on April 11, 1996. Sunthornwat was aged 52. Ubol Bunyachalorthon was charged with masterminding the death, but was shot and killed before being convicted.

Honours

Order of the Crown of Thailand - 3rd Class (Thailand) ribbon

Commander of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (1983)

In popular culture

* ''

Modernine TV MCOT HD (in Thailand called Channel 9 MCOT HD th, ช่อง 9 เอ็มคอตเอชดี) is a Thai free-to-air television network launched on 24 June 1955 and owned by MCOT. History The channel was originally launched as Chan ...

'' discussed Saengchai Sunthornwat on ''TimeLine'', 23 June 2015, in "Light ... of victory".

References

Saengchai Sunthornwat Saengchai Sunthornwat Saengchai Sunthornwat Saengchai Sunthornwat Saengchai Sunthornwat Saengchai Sunthornwat Deaths by firearm in Thailand 1943 births 1996 deaths 20th-century journalists Saengchai Sunthornwat {{Thailand-journalist-stub