Sex scandal school chief faces sack

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A school director accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female student at his school in January faces the sack after an education panel found him guilty of gross misconduct.

The 9-member provincial subcommittee, chaired by Gen Marut Limcharoen, met yesterday to discuss the allegations against Nathaphop Boonthongtho, director of Patong Thanoen Samakkhi School in Bua Yai district.

After a lengthy discussion, it found him guilty of sexual misconduct and resolved to recommend firing him.

The panel’s findings will be forwarded to the provincial education committee, chaired by Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichian Chantharanothai, which will decide the teacher’s fate, Gen Marut said. The provincial panel is expected to discuss the case next Thursday.

Prior to yesterday’s meeting the sub-panel had already questioned a number of teachers at the school, local education officials, the girl’s parents and her friends.

Mr Nathaphop, 51, was suspended pending the probe.

The scandal broke in early January when disgruntled local residents and members of the school committee released copies of Line chat messages found on the girl’s mobile phone.

In the messages, Mr Nathaphop called the girl “darling’’ and “dear wife’’. Local residents also saw him out with the girl on several occasions.

Police have already charged him with taking a minor away from her parents for obscene purposes.

Another figure in the case is a Mathayomsuksa 3 student who formerly dated the girl. He faces the same charge as Mr Nathaphop after the girl’s mother lodged a formal complaint against him.

His mother insisted her son had done nothing wrong but said she was aware he and the girl had been “intimate” a year earlier.