FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Doubts raised over orphan’s plea for college fund donations

Doubts raised over orphan’s plea for college fund donations

A successful plea for donations has turned into a drama after questions were asked about whether a would-be engineering student is really strapped for money to pay for his education.

Atiwat Witpichitchai has already received more than Bt1.6 million in donations after his aunt went on social media to lament that he was going to miss his chance to study at Kasetsart University’s Engineering Faculty because he could not afford tuition fees.
It costs about Bt36,000 to study at the institute in the first semester, and the new academic year will start soon. 
“Please help to investigate … if this boy is really poor. I’ve received so many tip-offs that he is not in financial difficulty,” a post said on the prominent “Queentogetherisone” Facebook page.
In the face of emerging public doubts, Atiwat said yesterday he had already received adequate funds for his studies and urged kind-hearted people to direct their donations towards other students.
Asked about his financial situation, Atiwat said he would forgive people who had defamed him.
“I can tell you that my aunt tells the truth,” Atiwat said. “But we are not going to take any action against our accusers.”
Lately, many people have gone to social media to rebut details provided earlier by Atiwat and his aunt to raise funds. For example, Atiwat said he had plunged into financial problems after his mother passed away on December 30 last year. But documents, so far, show she succumbed on January 10 this year. 
Questions have also swirled around his father. Atiwat explained yesterday that his biological father left his family when he was just four years old. He said the father, who his aunt said refused to support him financially after the death of his mother, was actually a stepfather. 
He said he welcomed public scrutiny and presented his birth certificate to reporters. 
Atiwat insisted that his stepfather had instructed him to stay away from a food shop – that used to be run by his mother – and also a house where he used to stay with her. “I don’t intend to affect his reputation in any way. But I just provide facts. I would like to apologise if this offends him,” he said. 
Atiwat, widely known as “Cue”, has posted several explanations on Facebook too. For example, he said his cell-phone and watches were bought by his mother. 
All his posts this year that are accessible to media are explanations. 
 

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