A tutor was arrested in Kanchanaburi Thursday after he allegedly duped more than 20 parents out of over 10 million baht. The tutor claimed he could secure placements for the victims' sons in a prestigious Chon Buri school.
Monthon Nimyeesun, 53, was apprehended after fleeing to a resort in the western province, Crime Suppression Division chief Pol Maj Gen Maitree Chimcherd said.
The manhunt was launched after the parents sought help from police. They accused the suspect, who has been a tutor at a cram school for three years, called Ban Som Fah, of conning them.
According to the victims, Mr Monthon allegedly asked parents to pay between 10,000 and three million baht in order to have their son enrolled in the Mathayom Suska 1 (7th Grade) at Chonradsadornumrung School, or Chon Chay, a famous all-male school in Chon Buri.
Mr Monthon allegedly told the parents that their money would be paid to a school executive and a former Chon Buri MP whose connections would guarantee placement in the competitive school.
During questioning, Mr Monthon admitted that he asked the parents to pay him but that he had used the money to pay a school executive.
He also claimed to be in possession of 17 video clips of the executive accepting payment.
However, he denied that a bribe was given to a former MP.
The parents called on Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin to launch a probe into the case and take action against the executive. The parents claim that more than 20 families had paid money to the tutor but their children had still not admitted into the school.
Mr Monthon has been charged with fraud and is being held by the Muang Chon Buri police.
The tutor also made an appeal to the education minister to conduct an inquiry and bring the school executive to justice.
Pol Maj Gen Maitree said that police are looking at the suspect's bank accounts to trace where the money went.
