School wants teen involved in Korat ‘romance’ scandal back in class
A Nakhon Ratchasima teenager who allegedly became entangled in an affair with a school director is being urged to return to classes after skipping the first six days of the new semester.
Nathapop Boonthongtho, 51, director of Ban Patong Thanoen Samakkee School in Bua Yai district, has been suspended pending a disciplinary investigation.
School officials have urged the parents of the unnamed 14-year-old student to send her back to class so she can resume her studies.
A source at the school said the girl was at home after spending last week with relatives in Sakhon Nakhon but “was not ready to come to class”. The source said teachers who were concerned about her emotional state did not intend to raise the scandal with her.
The girl should return to class because it would help her get over the trauma and she needed to keep up with her lessons and take exams, the source said.
Later yesterday, the Nakhon Ratchasima Social Development and Human Security Office officials picked up the girl and her mother to take them to stay temporarily at a provincial shelter because remaining in her village might affect her mental state.
Nathapop has reportedly told police he would meet case investigators at Bua Yai precinct tomorrow.
Police are considering charges of “taking away” a minor under 15 for a lewd act and rape of a minor under 15.
Pol Lt-Colonel Sukree Plangklang of Bua Yai precinct said police had interviewed 20 witnesses but neither Nathapop nor the victim had been questioned.
A school committee brought the scandal to the media’s attention early last week, producing chat messages from the Line app on the girl’s mobile phone.
Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Education Service Area Office 6 then launched a fact-finding probe and determined there might have been wrongdoing.
The matter was forwarded to the provincial education committee to begin a disciplinary probe, which was expected to take 120 days. Nathapop could be dismissed from the civil service without pension in addition to facing criminal charges.
He has not reported for work since the scandal emerged, either at the school or the education office where he was transferred last Monday pending the outcome of the disciplinary investigation.