Bangkok: An English teacher from a college in Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi Province, has been taken into custody following allegations of indecently assaulting approximately five male students. The arrest came after incriminating video clips and images were discovered on the teacher's mobile phone.
According to Thai News Agency, the case unraveled when a college professor noticed an unusual spike in the electricity usage at the director's unoccupied residence. Concerned about a potential break-in, the professor alerted the police, leading to the discovery that a group of male students had been temporarily residing there. Subsequent investigations uncovered that the teacher had engaged in indecent acts with the students.
The teacher, who is at the center of the allegations, stated that he initially discovered the students in the director's residence after observing the irregular electricity usage during a holiday in early June. Upon finding four students leaving the premises, he reprimanded them and later invited some of them for a conversation. During these interactions, inappropriate behavior ensued, leading to the indecent acts at the director's residence and a nearby bathroom.
The accused teacher claimed that the students were curious and voluntarily participated in the acts. He reportedly provided them with small amounts of pocket money or snacks, citing their disadvantaged backgrounds. The students involved were part of a one-year boarding and lodging program at the college, coming from the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center in Surin and Roi Et provinces.
In an initial statement, the teacher expressed regret to the parents and students, attributing his actions to impulse and a lack of self-control. Despite his 11-year tenure as an English teacher, he asserted that this was his first offense.
The police continue to investigate the possibility of additional victims beyond the initial five. Meanwhile, the college has pledged to enforce disciplinary measures against the teacher in line with government protocols.