Police are preparing to summon a doctor to acknowledge a charge of molesting an 18-year-old Lao housekeeper in Udon Thani.
The woman, known only as Ms Praewa, was hired by the doctor who is a former public health official to look after his 80-year-old mother at his house in Soi Phon Phisai 2 in tambon Mak Khaeng of Muang district.
Around six months after being hired, she alleged that she was sexually molested and threatened by the doctor, according to police.
The woman earlier asked her brother to file a complaint with Muang district police against the doctor. Due to stress, she became sick and was admitted to a local hospital, where she is receiving ongoing treatment.
Police have said investigators visited the hospital to question her, but she had a fever at the time and could not provide a statement.
Police are preparing to summon the doctor to acknowledge the molestation charge which carries a maximum 10 year prison sentence, a fine of up to 200,000 baht or both.
The doctor has denied the accusations, telling a reporter that he embraced the woman and touched her arms and legs but had no intention to harm her sexually. He said he had apologised to her.
The vice-consul of Laos in Khon Kaen also met with Pol Lt Col Niwat Kunsri, the lead officer in the case, to follow up on its progress.