Ex-Teacher Child Abuser Dies in Bangkok Prison

An ex-teacher and defendant in child sexual abuse cases died while in custody at Bangkok Special Prison after a scheduled appeals court hearing. On September 11, 2569, the appellate court had been set to rule in case number Or. 113/2568 against Pichai (surname withheld), a retired teacher, charged with abducting children under 15 from their parents for sexual abuse, committing indecent acts against children, and enticing minors into immoral conduct. Pichai was arrested on May 17, 2567, following an investigation that led police to a resort in Khon Kaen where he and resort operators were trafficking children under 15 and 18 for sexual services. Three child victims—one aged 12 and two aged 17—were rescued.

The trial court convicted him on March 27, 2568, sentencing him to five years for child abduction and five years for indecent assault. With mitigating factors for his confession, the sentence was reduced to four years and 12 months total, with separate concurrent sentences from two other cases—one for 1 year and 15 days of abuse against a child aged 15–18, and another for 10 years and 24 months of abuse against a child under 15. When the appeals court convened on the scheduled date, prison officials informed the judge that Pichai had died in custody. The court ordered documents confirming his death to be presented and postponed the appellate verdict pending investigation into the death.