Udon Thani school owner denies forced cannabis claim

The owner of a military academy tutorial school in Udon Thani has denied claims that he assaulted a 15-year-old student and forced him to smoke cannabis after the boy's father filed a police complaint.

The 34-year-old father, from Nong Bua Lamphu province, lodged the complaint at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station. Police have accepted the complaint and say they will gather evidence and interview those involved.

Father's account of events

The father said his son had gone to visit friends at a house at about 4pm on August 14. The tutorial school owner and two other people later arrived and accused the teenager and another student of using cannabis and vaping.

According to the complaint, the school owner forced the boy to smoke cannabis. The father also alleged that his son was made to pose in photographs, pointing at cannabis and e-cigarettes, before the images were sent to police.

The teenager said the cannabis and vaping devices belonged to another student at the school. He maintained that he had not used them, but was forced to point at the items for a photograph. He said he was frightened when he was taken to the police station.

Thai media reported that the father also accused the school owner of assaulting his son and other students, although the report did not set out details of the alleged assaults.

Owner disputes allegations

The school owner rejected the accusations, telling the media that he neither assaulted the children nor forced them to smoke cannabis.

He said the boy's father had asked him to check on the teenager while he was at a friend's house. On arriving, he found five children there and suspected they might have gathered to smoke, as some students at his school had previously admitted using e-cigarettes and cannabis.

The owner said he searched the property and found cannabis and e-cigarettes. He claimed all five children admitted smoking cannabis and cigarettes.

He said he photographed the items as evidence and contacted the children's parents to collect them. Some parents allegedly refused, so he took the children to the police station for officers to contact their families.

The owner also questioned why the students had no injuries if they had been beaten. He believed the complaint was driven by dissatisfaction among some parents, adding that he could speak harshly while reprimanding parents and children but wanted to stop harmful behaviour.

School ordered to close

The Udon Thani Provincial Education Official inspected the tutorial school and found it did not hold the required licence. The school was ordered to close immediately, with the owner told to apply for a licence before reopening.

Pictures courtesy of Khoasod

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20 August 2026