Police on Friday detained for questioning a male teacher at Suankularb Wittayalai School suspected of posting video clips and pictures of himself having sex with several teenage boys on the internet.
Pol Maj Gen Supaset Chokechai, chief of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), told the Bangkok Post on Friday that the suspect was brought to the division's offices at Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road where he was questioned for several hours. He was brought there from a building on Phaya Thai Road about 3pm on Friday.
Pol Maj Gen Supaset said his unit have had not yet pressed any criminal charges against the suspect because they were gathering relevant evidence and contacting witnesses. They expect to seek court approval for a warrant to search the teacher's house and arrest him shortly.
Pol Col Olarn Sukkasem, a TCSD superintendent who is overseeing the case, also said an investigation team was gathering evidence and talking to witnesses in order to seek search and arrest warrants from the court.
Pol Col Olarn said the probe was being conducted by the TCSD as the detainee is suspected of violating Section 14 of the Computer Crime Act.
Under the act, legal action will be brought against those who allegedly import any obscene content onto a computer system that is accessible by the public and share or forward the obscene content, he said.
The TCSD looked into the case after video clips of the teacher having sex with several teenage boys went viral and were widely shared online, drawing a massive amount of criticism.
Meanwhile, the appearance of the videos prompted school director Withoon Wong-in to raise the case with the Educational Zone 1 Office, which immediately ordered the transfer of the teacher later identified as Sarot Meephai to the main office pending an investigation by a special panel set up by the school, Amnuay Chanhom, deputy director of the school, said.
Mr Sarot, who teaches biology to Mathayom 6 students (Grade 12) at the top public school, one of the country's prestigious all-boy secondary schools, admitted to having sex with boys, but claimed he bought their services on the internet, Mr Amnuay said.
On Thursday, a message was posted on the Facebook page "Nakrian Suankularb" alleging an inappropriate act involving a schoolteacher.
Many clips of sexual acts involving the teacher and male students from several schools were posted on Twitter by a user named k@uhbbjhbj. The account was later found to belong to Mr Sarot and was later closed down.
The teacher admitted using his apartment in the Pinklao area to have sex with boys, he said. However, Mr Sarot denied having sex with any Suankularb Wittayalai students.
Mr Amnuay said Mr Sarot also denied posting sex clips online. He said the school has set up a panel to investigate the teacher. It is expected to take about 15 days, said Mr Amnuay.
Students at Suankularb Wittayalai have been advised to inform the school if they have been sexually abused by the teacher.