Director accused of rape claim cover-up

Education Minister Trinuch Thienthong has ordered an investigation be sped up into the alleged sexual assault of a Prathom five (Grade 5) female student by a boy at a school in Phetchabun.

The order came in response to reports that the school’s director initially told the 11-year-old girl to say nothing, even to her parents, about the incident in which she claims to have been molested by a 12-year-old student in Wichian Buri district on June 21.

The female director allegedly told the girl to keep quiet for the sake of the school’s reputation, before also suggesting the girl would not get pregnant, said the mother of the girl.

The boy is said to have later confessed to the crime and his parents had offered the family of the girl 10,000 baht in compensation.

Ms Trinuch, however, said the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has launched a probe into the behaviour of the school’s director and stressed the ministry’s commitment to protecting students’ safety.

The school’s director was transferred to an active post at the provincial primary education service area office for seven days.

On Monday evening, the girl’s parents filed a complaint with Wichian Buri police and the 11-year-old was subsequently taken to Wichian Buri Hospital to look for physical signs of sexual assault.

Reports said these could take up to 15 days to process.

The girl’s parents said they learnt of the incident on June 23 after hearing their daughter consulting with relatives about the matter.

The girl’s aunt told reporters that more than 30 villagers gathered at the school to question the director, who denied attempting to silence the girl but would say no more.

The aunt added that the boy had been accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour five times in the past two years before his attack on the victim.