NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A probe has found a local school director guilty of having an affair with a Mathayom 2 (8th Grade) student, education officials said yesterday.
Supphaphongsa Chantharang, deputy director of the Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Education Service Area 6, said the probe panel found Nathaphob Thongboontho, 51, director of Ban Patong Tha Neon Samakkhee School in Bua Yai district, had an intimate relationship with a 14-year-old student.
The panel's findings were based on witness accounts, he said.
Mr Supphaphongsa said a report would be sent to the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Education Office's committee today so it can proceed with setting up a new panel to decide on disciplinary action against Mr Nathaphob.
The committee is chaired by the provincial governor.
The student would have to provide a statement to the new panel, while Mr Nathaphob could end up being sacked, he said.
The investigation was launched following a complaint lodged by Praiwan Haithong, the mother of an ex-boyfriend of the girl.
She also lodged a complaint with Bua Yai police, accusing Mr Nathaphob of sexually abusing the girl.
Line messages and photos passed between the director and the student were also produced.
In the messages, both called each other: thee rak (my love) and the girl was also referred to by the director as mia ja (my wife).
Mr Nathaphob, who had lived in the district with his 20-year-old wife for four years, was later transferred to work at the primary education service office.
His wife eventually left him after the scandal broke.
Bua Yai police chief, Kharom Boonsud, yesterday said Mr Nathaphob was issued with a summons and was expected to acknowledge a charge of child abduction for obscene purposes by today.
If he fails to report to investigators, a warrant will be sought for his arrest from the Bua Yai Provincial Court.
Pol Col Kharom said several witnesses have also been questioned.
If the investigation finds Mr Nathaphob had sex with the student, he will also face a rape charge regardless of whether the sex was consensual or not, he said.
Although the parents of the student did not file a complaint, police can prosecute the suspect regardless, Pol Col Kharom said.
Legal action could also be brought against her parents for condoning the illegal act as their daughter was under 15 and still under their responsibility.
Mr Nathaphob could not be reached for comment, while the girl's mother said her daughter had since married the director.
According to a source at the school, Mr Nathaphob was earlier accused of sexually harassing a Prathomsuksa 6 (6th Grade) student while serving as director of Wat Ban Nong Waeng School in tambon Non Thong Lang in the district.
He managed to avoid serious action in that case by paying 200,000 baht to the student's parents. He also had his salary cut by 5% for two months by a disciplinary panel looking into the accusation.