KALASIN: A 45-year-old physical education teacher at a school in Kuchinarai district accused of raping a 13-year-student surrendered to police yesterday,
Wachira: Denies all charges
Wachira Phanomkaen, accompanied by a lawyer, reported to Pol Lt Col Thitiphan Nitithamsaraphon, deputy chief investigator at Kuchinarai, to hear two counts -- raping a girl aged less than 15 years, and depriving her of parental care for lewd purposes.
During questioning, Mr Wachira denied all charges, although police said he seemed to be stressed.
Pol Maj Gen Suwan Chiewnawinthawat, chief of Kalasin police, said investigators would take the suspect to Kalasin Provincial Court to apply to detain him for another 12 days and would oppose bail.
Although the suspect had surrendered initially, they feared he might interfere with the investigation if he was released on bail.
Pol Maj Gen Suwan said the case drew public attention because the suspect was alleged to have preyed on the hopes of a student who dreamed of becoming a runner to trick her into going to his room where he raped her.
The sexual abuse came to light when the plight of a 13-year-old Mathayom Suksa 1 (Grade 7) student in Kuchinarai district of this northeastern province was posted online.
The physical education teacher allegedly asked for a massage, which the girl refused, then assaulted her when she passed out after drinking water laced with a sedative.
The girl awoke in a painful state of undress and went home and told her parents what happened. They took her to file a complaint with police at Kuchinarai station, but there had been no progress in the case until her family sought help from the Pavena Hongsakula Foundation for Children and Women.
Ms Pavena visited the girl and her family on Monday and then went to the police station to follow up on the case.