Ex-Khon Kaen teacher dies before child sex appeal

A former teacher from Khon Kaen, convicted in three cases involving sexual offences against girls, died in Bangkok Special Prison before the Court of Appeal was due to rule in one of the cases on 11 September 2026.

Corrections officials informed judges at Criminal Court courtroom 609 that Pichai Manadee had died while in custody. The court postponed reading the appeal judgment and ordered prison authorities to produce documents formally confirming his death.

Court awaits official proof of death

The appeal hearing concerned case number A.113/2568, brought by prosecutors from the Office of Special Litigation, Criminal Case Division 4.

Pichai charges included taking a child aged under 15 away from parents or guardians for indecent purposes, raping a child under 15 who was not his spouse regardless of consent, taking a child away for indecent purposes, and inducing or encouraging a child to behave improperly.

The court did not read the Appeal Court ruling after prison staff reported his death. It will first examine the formal evidence supplied by the Department of Corrections.

Three cases brought lengthy prison terms

On 27 March 2025, the Criminal Court found Pichai guilty of taking a child under 15 for indecent purposes and raping a child under 15.

He was originally sentenced to five years for each offence. The terms were reduced by half after his guilty plea was considered beneficial to the proceedings, leaving two years and six months for each count, or five years in total.

The court refused to suspend the sentence, citing the victim's age, Pichai's experience as a retired civil-service teacher, and his previous record for sexual offences.

That sentence was ordered to run consecutively with penalties in two earlier cases: one year and 15 days for indecent acts against a child aged over 15 but under 18, and inducing or encouraging a child to behave improperly or commit obscene acts; and 12 years for raping a child under 15.

Arrest followed Khon Kaen resort investigation

Pichai was arrested on 17 May 2024 after the Pavena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women and police from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division expanded an investigation into a Khon Kaen resort.

The investigation concerned allegations that girls aged under 15 and under 18 had been brought to the resort for commercial sex. Officials assisted three girls: one aged 12 and two aged 17. The girls told investigators that Pichai had paid for sex, leading to the prosecution.

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12 September 2026

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