Khon Kaen school deputy caught for soliciting mid-term bribes

A school deputy director in Khon Kaen has been apprehended by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on the grounds of soliciting tea money from parents for mid-term admissions. The arrest was a result of a parent’s complaint against the deputy director.

The school director, according to the complaint, is associated with a school under the Khon Kaen Primary Educational Service Area Office 1, located in the Mueang district, and had asked for an illicit payment of 20,000 baht (US$540) for admission.

The parents, who were the victims, managed to negotiate half the price to 10,000 baht (US$270), given their child was already literate. They were instructed to make the payment in cash, however, they were not informed about its purpose or final destination.

Responding to this, the NACC formulated a strategy to apprehend the deputy director using marked banknotes. Right after the transaction was concluded, the NACC and the police confronted the suspect. He was then charged under Section 149 of the Criminal Code for demanding, accepting, or agreeing to accept a bribe, and under Section 157 for wrongfully exercising duties as a state official.

Further investigation on his computer led to the exposure of more bribery instances involving him and other parents. Following this, the deputy director was escorted to the Mueang Police Station for further legal procedures.

Prateep Juthasorn, the Deputy Secretary-General of NACC Region 4, mentioned that the police are expected to compile their evidence within 30 days before submitting a summary to the NACC.

Preliminary findings show that about 70 students had been accepted mid-term to the school this academic year. Of these, 60 students were found to have paid tea money, reported Bangkok Post.

Prateep added that most victims were pressured into retracting their statements. He further explained that the school has connections with a political figure.