Thai party apologises as sexual misconduct cases mount against executive

Prinn Panitchpakdi, 44, a former deputy leader of Thailand's Democrat party, facing allegations of sexual misconduct and rape, offences he has previously denied, leaves a police station in Bangkok, Thailand, April 17, 2022. Picture taken April 17, 2022. THAI NEWS PIX/Tananchai Kaewsowattana/Handout via REUTERS

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The leader of one of Thailand's biggest political parties apologised on Tuesday over the conduct of a former executive accused by more than a dozen women of sexual abuse in what some activists have called the country's first "MeToo" moment.

Prinn Panitchpakdi, 44, resigned as deputy leader of the Democrat Party last week and was charged on Saturday with sexual abuse and rape after complaints were filed against him by five women separately.