Former dentistry lecturer at Mahidol University Dolrudee Jumlongras is the only one among 5,000 state scholarship grantees who breached her scholarship contract and left the burden of paying off the debt to her guarantors.
According to Arporn Kaenwong, secretary-general of the Office of the Higher Education Commission (Ohec), only 23 out of the 5,000 scholarship recipients between 1992 and 2005 did not eventually return to Thailand.
In 1993, Dr Dolrudee, better known as Dr Porsche in the United States, won a scholarship to study a Master's degree and PhD at Harvard University. "But only in Dr Dolrudee's case did the guarantors have to pay off the debt for the recipient," Ms Arporn said.
Unlike Dr Dolrudee, most other recipients who chose not to come back to Thailand found better jobs abroad and they agreed to repay three times the scholarship debt as stipulated in the contract, she said.
Ms Arporn said Ohec filed a lawsuit to have Dr Dolrudee declared bankrupt on Sept 24 last year and the matter is now being considered by the Office of the Attorney-General.
Still, the Ohec secretary-general admitted that although the dentist faced bankruptcy, it might not really affect her as she has married an American and has become a US citizen.
Thai laws cannot be enforced against her, except if she returns to Thailand, she said.
"Moreover, in a bankruptcy case, the statute of limitations will expire in three years, so after three years, Dr Dolrudee will be able to return to Thailand," Ms Arporn said.
She said Ohec has suggested Mahidol University seize Dr Dolrudee's assets in Thailand but the university reported that she has no property in the country.
"I still hope Dr Dolrudee will make up her mind and agree to repay the Comptroller-General's Department or come back to teach at Mahidol University," Ms Arporn said.
Although Dr Dolrudee's total scholarship debt amounted to 30 million baht, Ohec and Mahidol University have helped the guarantors by securing a court ruling for a payment of just 10 million baht.
"If she returns to Thailand [before the statute of limitations expires], she would have to take full responsibility for the entire amount of 30 million baht," the Ohec secretary-general said.
Meanwhile, the controversial dentistry specialist who is now working at Harvard University has reportedly contacted one of the affected guarantors, repeatedly saying that she will pay off all debts to her guarantors plus interest.
Padet Poolwithayakit, a dentist in Saraburi who was one of Dr Dolrudee's four guarantors, posted on his Facebook page yesterday a message he said he had received from Dr Dolrudee.
"As I mentioned to you, Pi Pui [brother Pui], Pi Padet [brother Padet] and Aj Araya several times, I will repay all of you the loan plus interest. I'm still looking for a way to find the money to pay you and perhaps it might be better that you hear this directly from me so you can be reassured that I will do as I promised.
"I just talked to Pi Pui and she's aware of my intention and sincerity. Please give me the best number and time for me to call you. Porsche," the message read.
However, Dr Padet also wrote that "she had just replied and confirmed she is not yet ready to pay. I have heard this promise for many years. You must write a payment agreement in the US. Saying things non-specifically like this, I wonder whether she wants to delay the legal process until the statute of limitations expires".
Dr Padet also told the Bangkok Post via telephone that he thought Dr Dolrudee had sent the message to him because she wanted to ease social pressure on her as the issue has attracted a great deal of attention on social media and angry Thais have been bombarding the Facebook page of Harvard University where she currently works.
He said he will file suit against Dr Dolrudee in the US after several Thais there offered to pitch in money to hire a lawyer.
He also asked the Lawyers Council of Thailand to investigate the law department of Mahidol University, claiming it has not done all it could to reclaim the 30-million-baht debt, so all the guarantors should be let off instead.
"If Mahidol University had done its best 10 years ago, this case might have had a different result today," he said.