School student in sex case gets bail

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A male Matthayom Suksa 3 (Grade 9) student, accused of raping a 14-year-old girl who had an affair with a school director, was released on bail after reporting to investigators yesterday.

The Nakhon Ratchasima Juvenile and Family Court granted bail to the student, who was also the girl’s ex-boyfriend, after he acknowledged the charge of having sex with a minor at Bua Yai police station yesterday morning.

He was freed after his parents used their positions as state officials as surety.

The charge came after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint with Bua Yai investigators, accusing him of raping her daughter, a Matthayom Suksa 2 (Grade 8) student at Wat Ban Patong Tha Neon Samakkhee School.

The students are minors and cannot be named for legal reasons. The male student had dated the girl who is believed more recently to have been in a relationship with Nathaphop Boonthongtho, 51, a school director who now faces both legal and disciplinary action for sexually molesting the girl and depriving her of parental care.

The student, accompanied by his parents, reported to investigators yesterday after a summons was issued following the mother’s complaint.

He was taken to the Bua Yai Provincial Attorney’s Office for questioning by prosecutors.

The resulting interview, witnessed by child welfare officials, took more than two hours.

The student was later taken to the court in Muang district where he was freed on bail.

He is scheduled to report to the court next month. Meanwhile, Mr Nathaphop denied any wrongdoing on Wednesday when he turned himself in to Bua Yai police, accompanied by his lawyer.

After police questioned Mr Nathaphop, he was taken to court. Investigators had sought to detain him but his lawyer filed a bail request that was granted.

He is also being subjected to a disciplinary probe which is expected to be completed within the 60-day time frame.