A school director in Ubon Ratchathani has been transferred to pave the way for an investigation into a sexual assault on a five-year-old kindergarten student after six months of little progress.
“We’re not at ease with this issue,” insisted Thanu Wongchinda, assistant to the secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec), commenting on a complaint he had received about alleged misconduct by school and local education officials.
Obec officials were sent to the area on Thursday to gather information first-hand and the school director has been transferred to work at the Ubon Ratchathani education office for Zone 3, Mr Thanu said
Lawyer and human rights activist Ronnarong Kaewphet, who petitioned the Obec to speed up the investigation, said he suspected some school staff had neglected students, which led to the alleged rape of the girl by two boys.
The local officials, attached the Zone 3 office, are also alleged to have dragged their feet in the case.
A new team of investigators from Bangkok is needed, Mr Ronnarong suggested, adding the victim’s family raised doubts about the behaviour of the school director and authorities handling the case.
“We’re afraid there may have been an attempt to interfere with the investigation to help somebody escape the law,” said Mr Ronnarong, who also leads a justice-seeking advocacy group.
The girl was allegedly raped by another student from the same class and a second grade (Prathom 2) student.
Her grandfather said he petitioned the officials to look into the alleged wrongdoing on Jan 7 after the school director refused to meet him several times and teachers denied the incident had happened.
A doctor who examined the girl “phoned me and said she was raped”, the grandfather said.
