2 Thai Teachers Sentenced To 50 Years For Raping 6 Of Their Students

[sriracha john]

Teachers jailed for 50 years for raping students

Two public school teachers were sentenced to 50-year imprisonment each for gang raping six of their students as young as six years old. The Criminal Court handed down the sentence to Lorn Sorakanit, 59, and Pimol Chumsri, 49, on Tuesday for sexual abuse, molestation and illegal detention of the girls aged between six and eight in June 2006. In its ruling, the court said the girls were so young and innocent that they would not invent the rape stories to convict their teachers. Evidence also prompted court judges to believe that teachers would take turns raping the girls and even force their classmates to watch on many occasions.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=123767

[JetsetBkk]

50 years each? Without parole they will die in jail. Good sentencing.

[Travel2003]

Shocking!

Nothing less then shocking.

Wherever it happens.

Almost unbelievable that they forced the classmates to watch, which makes the story almost unbelieveable.

[sriracha john]

A historical perspective from The Nation's archives....

Published on Aug 16, 2006

School backs accused teachers

Emotional scenes at Bangkok primary where five 8-year-olds were abused

A Bangkok school yesterday held a rite to show support for two teachers accused of raping five primary students. About 1,000 people gathered outside the gates of Prachanukul School in Sai Mai district to show support for Lorn Sorakanit and Pimol Chunsri, who were arrested last Thursday for the alleged serial rape of 8-year-old pupils.

About 30 police were on duty to prevent violence. No outsiders were allowed through the gates, from which banners were hung with messages such as "Who is the real wrongdoer harming our students?" and "The foundation with wrong information oppresses teachers of Sai Mai district".

At 3pm, the school allowed reporters to enter and brought the two teachers to worship before a monk's statue and swear their innocence. When the school director led a ritual to comfort the accused pair, they burst into tears.

Sixth-grade student Yonlada Korkijcharoenkul, who represented the pupils, made a speech on stage in which she said she had no idea whether the teachers were guilty, but to her they were good and kind. After she finished her speech, the accused teachers went upstairs without giving an interview.

The pair were released on bail after parents of the alleged victims sought help from the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Women and Children, which filed a complaint with police. The girls underwent physical examinations, which revealed evidence of rape.

School director Patchanee Khamvit said she believed in the teachers and would wait for the justice system to run its course. She said the school was not protecting the teachers, but that people only had one side of the story and lacked real information. "If it is finally found that our teachers are not the wrongdoers, I will ask the media to apologise to us for damaging the school's reputation," she said.

Police interviewed three of the five girls separately and said the girls insisted they were raped and threatened by the teachers. Maj-General Kamronwit Thoopkrajang, commander of the Division for the Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women, said the police had been considering withdrawing the teachers' bail.

After they were released on bail, the alleged victims' parents said they received many threatening calls from anonymous people asking them to drop the case, he said. "We have only two witnesses to question and then we can conclude the [investigation phase] of the case," Kamronwit said.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin has set up a fact-finding committee and sent social workers to the school to look after the alleged victims and their parents.

The two teachers have filed a libel suit against Paveena, Kamronwit and the mother of a girl who was allegedly raped. They accused the three of incriminating them as rapists. According to the suit, the teachers said Paveena might be displeased with them as a result of the last election, when Paveena was a candidate for the Sai Mai constituency and they were ballot officers at a poll booth.

=============================================================================

Published on Aug 17, 2006

Forensics plea rejected

Court orders rape suspects to undergo DNA testing by police, not Pornthip

The Criminal Court yesterday rejected the request of two teachers accused of raping some of their students to let renowned pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand conduct DNA tests on them instead of forensic police.

"We might petition directly to Khunying Pornthip," said Kingkeaw Yommuang, the attorney of the two teachers from Prachanukul School in Bangkok's Sai Mai district.

Lorn Sorakanit, 58, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, who were arrested on suspicion of serial rape of eight-year-old students, have been ordered to undergo forensic tests at the police's forensic department. However, the suspects want Pornthip, acting Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, to hold the test for them instead because they do not believe in the fairness of the police in the Division for Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women.

The court declined the defendants' petition and ordered them to meet forensic police.

The defence lawyer said his clients might ask police for a new investigating team because they suspect that their case was being treated improperly. "Police have given [media] interviews that they already had enough evidence for the case but when we met the police today, they said the investigation had not been completed yet." "It shows that police might not have enough evidence to prove the suspects' guilt," the lawyer said.

Lorn said he knew Pavena Hongsakul, President of the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children, who took the alleged victims to the police station to file their complaint. He showed reporters a photo of him taken with Pavena when she presided over the funeral of his daughter.

The two teachers earlier said Pavena was trying to incriminate them as she might harbour a grudge against them as a result of losing the last election, when Pavena was a candidate for the Sai Mai constituency and they were ballot officers at a polling station. But Pavena denied that she had ever known Lorn before.

Lorn and Pimol went to the Division for the Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women for further inquiry and ran into the grandmother of one of the alleged victims. The angry grandmother walked up Lorn to condemn him and tried to attack him before the lawyer and police stepped in to stop her. "I can't stand this anymore, how could they do that with the small girls and right in the school," she told reporters in tears.

Parents of the alleged victims said they needed the police to cancel the suspects' bail because after they were released, the parents received many life-threatening calls from anonymous people asking them to drop the case. Police traced the calls and found they were made at public phone booths in the school's community.

Anan Siriphassaraporn, deputy clerk of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, criticised the principal of Prachanukul School for the assembly that the school held on Tuesday for co-teachers and students to show support for the two accused teachers. "What the school did might put pressure on the girls and their parents," he said.

=============================================================================

Published on Aug 18, 2006

Pornthip carries out DNA tests

The two teachers accused of raping five primary students yesterday met Pornthip Rojanasunand to ask her to conduct DNA tests on them and to request that a team of forensic experts, psychiatrists and social workers join the investigation.

Lorn Sorakanit, 58, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, believe that only a team sent by Pornthip, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, would conduct an impartial probe. The pair's action follows the Criminal Court's rejection of their request on Wednesday that Pornthip rather than forensic police be tasked with the tests, as her judgement would be fair.

The teachers from Prachanukul School in Bangkok's Sai Mai district were arrested last week on suspicion of the rapes of five eight-year-old girls.

Pornthip said the Central Institute of Forensic Science had tested the teachers so they could feel confident the findings of the forensic police, which could be compared with the results of their tests if necessary. She said that if Lorn and Pimol wanted to prove their innocence, they should let the police investigation proceed without trying to influence its course. In response to the request by the teachers for a team from the institute to join the investigation, Pornthip said the institute had no authority to get involved in the case.

The Justice Ministry previously proposed that police let the Child Protection Foundation take part as a neutral entity, but the suggestion was rejected.

Paveena Hongsakul, the president of the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children, took the alleged victims to file their complaints with Pol Maj-General Khamronwit Thoop-krajang, commander of the Division for Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women.

After the DNA tests supervised by Pornthip, Lorn said he wanted to prove his innocence because his family was living in fear and had had to move out of his home to live with a friend. Lorn plans to petition the National police commander today, asking for a new investigating team. A police source said yesterday that medical tests on the first student to voice charges had found no semen.

A source from the school said there were suspicions about the veracity of the girl's testimony. The girl told police that on July 6 Lorn had raped her before giving her Bt100. But the school had evidence that on that day, she had confessed to her teacher that she stole the money from her mother. Also, on July 21 - the day the girl claimed Pimol raped her - the school had held an event and there were witnesses who could testify that Pimol had been involved in it for its duration.

Officials from the Justice Ministry's Right and Liberties Protection department and representatives of the Education Ministry met Paveena yesterday to discuss how best to help the girls, who are being looked after by her foundation.

=============================================================================

Published on Aug 19, 2006

Parents of 'abused' girls' want transfers

The parents of all nine schoolgirls at the centre of a sexual molestation scandal have submitted a joint request for their children to be transferred out of Prachanukul School.

Six girls have said they wish to attend schools outside Bangkok while the other three want to go to schools in Sai Mai district, where Prachanukul is located.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which runs Prachanukul, is seeking Bt5,000 in emergency student loans for each of the nine girls. Deputy city clerk Anant Siraphassaraphorn said the nine girls underwent rehabilitation and results showed that they were still mentally stable, but the effects of what happened might show up in the long run.

The two teachers accused of raping and molesting five of the girls requested a new team of police investigators. Lorn Sorakanit and Pimol Chunsri said head investigator Maj-General Khamronwit Thoppkrajang told a press conference on Wednesday that they raped the girls even though no charges had been filed against them.

A motorcycle taxi driver surfaced as a key witness after he publicly chastised a mother who claimed a bite mark on her daughter's arm was made by one of the two teachers. Pramote Phiphob said it was his own son who bit the girl last month when the two eighth graders fought.

He said the mother even threatened to sue him after he refused to pay her Bt400 for a bill she advanced after taking the girl to a clinic to treat and dress the wound. He offered to testify in court against the woman for twisting the truth.

=============================================================================

Published on Aug 24, 2006

Teachers to face further charges

Police yesterday pressed four additional charges against two Bangkok teachers accused of raping two pupils. Lorn Sorakanit, 56, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, were charged with sexually abusing two other students of Prachanukul School in Sai Mai district. Their alleged victims are girls aged eight and nine.

The teachers, who have denied any wrongdoing, yesterday reported to police at the Division for the Suppression of Crimes against Children, Juveniles and Women with colleagues and their lawyers. "My colleagues can provide alibis," Lorn said.

The teachers' lawyer Kingkaew Yomemuang said the suspects were released without having to put up any assets as a bond because they turned up voluntarily.

Kingkaew said police had not yet pressed charges against the teachers in relation to a rape claim filed by a fifth student.

In a related development, another lawyer representing the teachers lodged a complaint against Chat Thai Party's deputy leader Chuwit Kamolvisit with the Criminal Court. Chai Tapaphupha accused Chuwit of defaming the teachers when he offered support to Pavena Hongsakul, who helped the alleged victims to lodge complaints, and gave press interviews on Tuesday.

The lawyer said Chuwit's actions suggested the teachers sexually abused the children and that the pair should be suspended. "The suspects are innocent till proven guilty," Chai said. The Criminal Court said it would consider whether to proceed with the case against Chuwit on October 30.

=============================================================================

Published on Nov 4, 2006

'Sex-offence' teachers charged

The Criminal Court yesterday indicted two schoolteachers on eight counts of sex offences for the alleged rape and molestation of six schoolgirls at a school in Bangkok's Sai Mai district.

Lorn Sorakanit, 56, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, pleaded not guilty to all counts. The court set January 22 for a preliminary hearing.

The eight sex offences include statutory rape and sexual molestation. Each count carries heavy penalties as the suspects allegedly committed the crimes against minors.

Both suspects were teachers at Prachanukul School. The offences are alleged to have taken place on several occasions from June 1 to August 10 this year.

=============================================================================

Published on Nov 20, 2007

Two teachers to hear verdict

The Criminal Court will today deliver its verdict in the trial of two state teachers accused of raping and molesting several young schoolgirls.

Lorn Sorakanit and Pimol Chunsri, of Prachanukul School in Bangkok's Sai Mai district, face long prison sentences if convicted.

They are charged with violating six girls between June 1 and August 10 of 2005.

Both defendants denied the charges. They filed several defamation actions against police, former member of Parliament Pavena Hongsakul, and government forensic scientist Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand.

Both were suspended from their positions following the allegations.

[sriracha john]

Accompanying photo from the first archived article:

School backs accused teachers

Lorn Sorakanit, one of the two school teachers accused of raping their pupils, blesses a student taking part in a rite held in support of the accused yesterday. The two teachers say they are innocent and have filed a suit against their accusers.

The Nation / Aug 16, 2006

[sriracha john]

In court today...

Lorn Sorakanit and Pimol Chunsri

Thai Rath newspaper

Article (in Thai):

http://www.thairath.co.th/online.php?secti...p;content=68886

[sriracha john]

Courts give Thai teachers 50 years for student gang rapes

BANGKOK — Two Thai teachers were each sentenced to 50 years in prison Tuesday for gang raping six of their students, who were as young as six years old, court officials said.

Lorn Sorakanit, 59, and Pimol Chumsri, 49 -- both teachers at a public school on the outskirts of Bangkok -- were convicted by the Thai Criminal Court of sexual abuse, molestation and illegal detention of the six girls.

The girls were aged between six and eight years old when the two teachers began assaulting them in June 2006, the court said.

Parents of the students sought help from Paveena Hongskul, a non-government organisation, to file charges against the teachers in August 2006.

In its ruling, the court said the teachers on many occasions would take turns raping the girls, sometimes forcing their classmates to watch.

Thailand has become the focus of international concerns over sexual abuse of children following a spate of paedophile arrests.

Last week the Supreme Court upheld a 36-year sentence for the former Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Chalerm Promlert, who was convicted of having sex with four underage girls.

*covered in Thaivisa thread*:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=153379

Former Senator Sentenced To 36 Years For Statutory Rape, prior sentence upheld by the Supreme Court on appeal

- AFP

[John K]

I have to agree, the allegations seem too unbelievable. I can’t help but think that this is the lighting of some sort of trumped up fuse to start some sort of action against teachers.

[Big A]

I have to agree, the allegations seem too unbelievable. I can’t help but think that this is the lighting of some sort of trumped up fuse to start some sort of action against teachers.

Trumped up? I know many people around the world are in jail due to trumped up charges, but to frame someone for THIS kind of thing knowing they'd probably never see the light of day again? I really dunno!!

[frodo]

It is very difficult to determine if they did it or not with the poor press coverage and lack of insightful reporting. I am rather curious about this snippet from the Bangkokpost..."In its ruling, the court said the girls were so young and innocent that they would not invent the rape stories to convict their teachers." I would hope the judges didn't make a guilty verdict based on that form of thinking. If so, it is very faulty, especially when I think back to the McMartin case in California many years back. If they are truly guilty of what was described, they deserve the punishment.

[smeagle]

50 years isn't enough, i hope they rot

[LaoPo]

I don't know....

It seems very unlikely to me that two 59 and 49 year old men could 'perform' ''serial gang rape" with six, 6 and 8 year old, girls and force other classmates to watch...

And that on 'many occasions'....

I don't know....

I remember a similar case in my country where teachers were accused also, abusing and raping many children at one particular school.

The whole country was upside down. In the end it was proved that the whole thing was made-up and blown up out of proportions; children were interrogated/questioned by unqualified police men/women and children started to believe the abuse and rape accusations and CONFIRMED that they were abused and raped. (Whilst they were not....).

In the end: all untrue but severe damage was done to everyone involved.

So: I don't know....

edit:

I would like to add that this is about 6 and 8-year old girls and that's extremely young; it's therefore hard to believe that not 1 girl out of six, or even the other girls/classmates forced to watch, didn't run home after the first 'gang rape' and cried and/or screamed to their parents about what happened.

And this 'gang rape' happened on many occasions ?

Very difficult to believe; a witch hunt springs to mind, but again:

I don't know

LaoPo

Edited November 20, 2007 by LaoPo

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

polygraph test on all involved might have helped.

[sriracha john]

It is very difficult to determine if they did it or not with the poor press coverage and lack of insightful reporting. I am rather curious about this snippet from the Bangkokpost..."In its ruling, the court said the girls were so young and innocent that they would not invent the rape stories to convict their teachers." I would hope the judges didn't make a guilty verdict based on that form of thinking. If so, it is very faulty, especially when I think back to the McMartin case in California many years back. If they are truly guilty of what was described, they deserve the punishment.

I can only presume that over the course of this year-long trial that a mountain of evidence was gone through and not just the rationale you cite above, which is admittedly, rather weak, was used for the conviction.

I see something rather telling between the 2nd and last archived stories from the Nation. Initially, the defendents sought Pornthip's assistance in making sure all the evidence was on the up and up... and in the last article, they ended up suing her.... so perhaps her expertly-obtained evidence went against them and was incriminating. That's the big bonus of DNA type evidence... it's very precise and can be very damning to a defendant.

Edited November 20, 2007 by sriracha john

[LaoPo]

It is very difficult to determine if they did it or not with the poor press coverage and lack of insightful reporting. I am rather curious about this snippet from the Bangkokpost..."In its ruling, the court said the girls were so young and innocent that they would not invent the rape stories to convict their teachers." I would hope the judges didn't make a guilty verdict based on that form of thinking. If so, it is very faulty, especially when I think back to the McMartin case in California many years back. If they are truly guilty of what was described, they deserve the punishment.

I can only presume that over the course of this year-long trial that a mountain of evidence was gone through and not just the rationale you cite above, which is admittedly, rather weak, was used for the conviction.

I see something rather telling between the 2nd and last archived stories from the Nation.

Initially, the defendents sought Pornthip's assistance in making sure all the evidence was on the up and up... and in the last article, they ended up suing her.... so perhaps her expertly-obtained evidence went against them and was incriminating. That's the big bonus of DNA type evidence... it's very precise and can be very damning to a defendant.

Yes, I read that too and wondered also why the teachers would be suing Pornthip about her findings. Many things could have happened with DNA findings on the way from Pornthip's laboratory to the police and at the police station or justice department.

But, let's not forget that the writings in the press don't tell the whole story.

Strange case.

LaoPo

[blaze]

I don't know....

It seems very unlikely to me that two 59 and 49 year old men could 'perform' ''serial gang rape" with six, 6 and 8 year old, girls and force other classmates to watch...

And that on 'many occasions'....

I don't know....

I remember a similar case in my country where teachers were accused also, abusing and raping many children at one particular school.

The whole country was upside down. In the end it was proved that the whole thing was made-up and blown up out of proportions; children were interrogated/questioned by unqualified police men/women and children started to believe the abuse and rape accusations and CONFIRMED that they were abused and raped. (Whilst they were not....).

In the end: all untrue but severe damage was done to everyone involved.

So: I don't know....

edit:

I would like to add that this is about 6 and 8-year old girls and that's extremely young; it's therefore hard to believe that not 1 girl out of six, or even the other girls/classmates forced to watch, didn't run home after the first 'gang rape' and cried and/or screamed to their parents about what happened.

And this 'gang rape' happened on many occasions ?

Very difficult to believe; a witch hunt springs to mind, but again:

I don't know

LaoPo

Well- it certainly demonstrates to the world (those that are watching) that the Thai judiciary is, contrary to international opinion, not turning a blind eye to child sex abuse...

[brahmburgers]

I have to agree, the allegations seem too unbelievable. I can’t help but think that this is the lighting of some sort of trumped up fuse to start some sort of action against teachers.

I don't agree with John K. Granted, none of us know the whole truth, but if appears that the people prosecuting this know a considerable amount. I commemorating the prosecutors who stuck with it and nailed the suspects. Little girls don't just pop up with such sordid allegations. I would hope that all potential victims were encouraged to come forward, and that each little girl was interviewed individually in a non-threatening atmosphere - with their parents there, but with the parents hushed up - so as not to put words in the girls' mouths.

The part about having other kids watch, might have been added later, and whether its true or not is not material to the core allegations.

Again, I commend the professionals who stuck with the prosecutional process and didn't get cowed by threats from the defendants and their supporters. Last year's protestations from school personnel were out of place and now appear wrong-headed. How would fellow teachers and/or school administrators know whether child abuse was going on behind closed doors? It's akin to political parties and gov't heavies automatically denying any allegations of wrongdoing - out of hand - when (if there were indiscretions) it's doubtful colleages or higher ups would or could have known. Sexual predators do their dastardly deeds in private.

I hope the girls get all the mature and loving support possible for their healthy development.

Edited November 20, 2007 by brahmburgers

[John K]

Let me clarify what I meant by trumped up, the rape in front of the class is clearly so far off the wall I find it hard to believe. To say that, someone else is getting benefit from it perhaps to launch an attack on teachers and or the hiring system. As for the actual act, I can’t judge if it happened or not, but if it did happen as advertized then clearly the teachers were out of their right mind.

[mindabenda]

Should the allegations be true might they get off anyway TIT?

[kat]

You are a great archivist on these issues, SJ. Good on you

[kat]

It is very difficult to determine if they did it or not with the poor press coverage and lack of insightful reporting. I am rather curious about this snippet from the Bangkokpost..."In its ruling, the court said the girls were so young and innocent that they would not invent the rape stories to convict their teachers." I would hope the judges didn't make a guilty verdict based on that form of thinking. If so, it is very faulty, especially when I think back to the McMartin case in California many years back. If they are truly guilty of what was described, they deserve the punishment.

I can only presume that over the course of this year-long trial that a mountain of evidence was gone through and not just the rationale you cite above, which is admittedly, rather weak, was used for the conviction.

I see something rather telling between the 2nd and last archived stories from the Nation. Initially, the defendents sought Pornthip's assistance in making sure all the evidence was on the up and up... and in the last article, they ended up suing her.... so perhaps her expertly-obtained evidence went against them and was incriminating. That's the big bonus of DNA type evidence... it's very precise and can be very damning to a defendant.

That is also what is important for me, here. In cases like this, many conflicting details will be brought in to introduce doubt, and the reporting and handling of the case also matter. I agree that there are details that do seem extreme, but that may be because of how it is reported. We don't know how the girls were interviewed, etc., so we can't really comment on whether or not the story was more likely to be distorted and made up by children.

At first, I was concerned that Pornthip was not allowed or enabled to conduct the tests, but if she did and the defendants are now suing her ... well, DNA and signs of rape of a group of girls aged 6-8 years old .... come on

Also, we can't really comment on what is unbelievable, because what is unbelievable for you may not be so far from believable here, especially when there is a tendency toward impunity, and forgiveness because they are "kind and good."

I say good for Thailand for sticking through this, and FINALLY going after homegrown sex offenders. However, it is EXTREMELY important to conduct a fair and transparent judicial process, otherwise they are shooting themselves in the foot, and doing more damage to the safety of children.

[alaina]

A historical perspective from The Nation's archives....

Thanks for posting about this with the background. I was wondering about this case since it happened soon before the John Karr deportation. Many teachers were talking about this case as an example of Thai hypocrisy about sexual abuse between Thais and how foreigners are treated differently.

To speculate about this case as a teacher, I think that the teachers probably were indeed guilty and that in no way implies that I think that the Thai judiciary system makes sound judgments. It is difficult to make judgments about the case when the details have not been released (and probably shouldn't be.)

In schools, it is common practice for administration to cover it up. I saw it happen with a foreign teacher that molested students a few years ago, so it's not an issue with protecting only Thai teachers. The schools believe that they are protecting their reputations.

With children as young as six, they can say untrue things without intending harm. Kids will say things like they had ice cream for lunch (when the canteen does not even have ice cream) or that they drove a car (the word, "in" got lost somewhere.) If an adult shows too much interest in these statements, the kids will continue to parrot those statements. They can say some outlandish things, but they are in the realm of what the kids think about and I don't imagine that they would have enough understanding to come up with anything like a rape. Also, most people that are around kids this age know that when they just parrot back these stories without details or context that they aren't true.

Before anyone mentions, yes there have been instances of "sexual molestation hysteria" in the West. (Take a look at the link to see the kinds of stories the kids told in one case.) Kids that were questioned were in these cases were questioned in an incredibly incompetent manner. I'm not crediting Thai authorities with competence, but the cultural differences would probably not compel Thais here to accidentally coerce kids into saying something bad happened when it didn't. The kids in the West in the 80's felt compelled to say that they were molested because the people asking wanted to believe that they had been. Not many Thais that I know want to hear about bad things that actually did happen!

[Johpa]

Well- it certainly demonstrates to the world (those that are watching) that the Thai judiciary is, contrary to international opinion, not turning a blind eye to child sex abuse...

I would hope that this one convoluted story would not lead anyone into making that false judgment. The sexual abuse of students by teachers, especially in the rural areas, is still common and rarely is acted upon by the legal authorities.

[kat]

A historical perspective from The Nation's archives....

Thanks for posting about this with the background. I was wondering about this case since it happened soon before the John Karr deportation. Many teachers were talking about this case as an example of Thai hypocrisy about sexual abuse between Thais and how foreigners are treated differently.

To speculate about this case as a teacher, I think that the teachers probably were indeed guilty and that in no way implies that I think that the Thai judiciary system makes sound judgments. It is difficult to make judgments about the case when the details have not been released (and probably shouldn't be.)

In schools, it is common practice for administration to cover it up. I saw it happen with a foreign teacher that molested students a few years ago, so it's not an issue with protecting only Thai teachers. The schools believe that they are protecting their reputations.

With children as young as six, they can say untrue things without intending harm. Kids will say things like they had ice cream for lunch (when the canteen does not even have ice cream) or that they drove a car (the word, "in" got lost somewhere.) If an adult shows too much interest in these statements, the kids will continue to parrot those statements. They can say some outlandish things, but they are in the realm of what the kids think about and I don't imagine that they would have enough understanding to come up with anything like a rape. Also, most people that are around kids this age know that when they just parrot back these stories without details or context that they aren't true.

Before anyone mentions, yes there have been instances of "sexual molestation hysteria" in the West. (Take a look at the link to see the kinds of stories the kids told in one case.) Kids that were questioned were in these cases were questioned in an incredibly incompetent manner. I'm not crediting Thai authorities with competence, but the cultural differences would probably not compel Thais here to accidentally coerce kids into saying something bad happened when it didn't. The kids in the West in the 80's felt compelled to say that they were molested because the people asking wanted to believe that they had been. Not many Thais that I know want to hear about bad things that actually did happen!

As I said earlier, a lot depends on how the children were interviewed, which we are not privy to based on the details of this reporting. However, earlier on it was reported that all of the girls showed signs of PHYSICAL rape, and that is a bit hard to manufacture all at once or randomly (such as prior household abuse).

Secondly, we simply don't know how a lot of the more extreme details - such as raped in front of the class - are actually translated or reported so that it is slightly off in description. What we do have is a culture of impunity, a pattern of vindictive and corrupt accusations (as seen on the side of the defense, as they alluded to Pavenna), and physical evidence that was both reported (physical signs of rape), and alluded to (the defendants wanting to sue Pornthip).

And yes, as Johpa mentioned, if you keep your eye on these kinds of cases, it is not uncommon at all. What is different in this case is that it actually gained prominence in the public eye.

[sriracha john]

Lorn was actually sentenced to 68 years in prison, Pimol got 51...

School teachers Lorn Sorakanit, 59, (second from left) and Pimol Chunsri, 49, (third) are accompanied by gurads to the Criminal Court for judgement yesterday.

Teachers jailed for raping pupils

Prosecutors detail a catalogue of crimes against girls as young as 6

Two schoolteachers were sentenced to 50-year jail terms yesterday for the serial rape of young students in Bangkok's Sai Mai district.

The Criminal Court ruled on a case filed by public prosecutors against Lorn Sorakanit, 59, and Pimol Chunsri, 49, for taking schoolgirls, under 15, away from their parents for lewd acts, illegal detention and rape.

After hearing the evidence, the court yesterday announced both men were guilty as charged and sentenced Lorn to 68 years and three months, while Pimol received a 51-year jail term. However, since the law only allows a maximum of 50 years jail, each got 50-year terms.

The public prosecutor said both defendants committed crimes on many separate occasions from June 1 to August 10 in 2006, and that they had taken turns raping the girls, sometimes forcing their classmates to watch.

Lorn took six-year-old Kuk (not her real name) to a school toilet to molest her and, on a separate occasion, took Oui (not her real name) to detain and rape her. Lorn later raped and molested Kuk another five times. Lorn also raped seven-year-old Noi (not her real name) and her younger sister Noon (not her real name), aged six.

Pimol molested and raped Kuk while the girl was not in a condition to resist on four separate occasions. Both men together lured five girls, aged seven to eight, away from their parents to molest and rape them.

Police arrested the teachers on August 10 last year, after which they were temporarily suspended from work at school, but they maintained their innocence, denying all charges against them until the Criminal Court found them guilty yesterday and handed them the maximum imprisonment.

The case came to the public's attention after Pavena Hongsakul, president of the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children, took the victims to police to file their complaint.

Later, the teachers accused Pavena of trying to incriminate them as she might harbour a grudge as a result of losing the last election when Pavena was a candidate in the seat of Sai Mai and they were ballot officers at a polling station. Pavena denied she had ever known Lorn before.

Lorn and Pimol sought bail last night to lodge an appeal, but were held in custody as their application was submitted after 5pm.

- The Nation

========================================

For once, let us hope that someone who has already been CONVICTED of a crime and SENTENCED to a lengthy prison term is NOT granted bail.

[LaoPo]

A historical perspective from The Nation's archives....

Published on Aug 16, 2006

School backs accused teachers

Emotional scenes at Bangkok primary where five 8-year-olds were abused

A Bangkok school yesterday held a rite to show support for two teachers accused of raping five primary students. About 1,000 people gathered outside the gates of Prachanukul School in Sai Mai district to show support for Lorn Sorakanit and Pimol Chunsri, who were arrested last Thursday for the alleged serial rape of 8-year-old pupils.

About 30 police were on duty to prevent violence. No outsiders were allowed through the gates, from which banners were hung with messages such as "Who is the real wrongdoer harming our students?" and "The foundation with wrong information oppresses teachers of Sai Mai district".

At 3pm, the school allowed reporters to enter and brought the two teachers to worship before a monk's statue and swear their innocence. When the school director led a ritual to comfort the accused pair, they burst into tears.

Sixth-grade student Yonlada Korkijcharoenkul, who represented the pupils, made a speech on stage in which she said she had no idea whether the teachers were guilty, but to her they were good and kind. After she finished her speech, the accused teachers went upstairs without giving an interview.

The pair were released on bail after parents of the alleged victims sought help from the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Women and Children, which filed a complaint with police. The girls underwent physical examinations, which revealed evidence of rape.

School director Patchanee Khamvit said she believed in the teachers and would wait for the justice system to run its course. She said the school was not protecting the teachers, but that people only had one side of the story and lacked real information. "If it is finally found that our teachers are not the wrongdoers, I will ask the media to apologise to us for damaging the school's reputation," she said.

Police interviewed three of the five girls separately and said the girls insisted they were raped and threatened by the teachers. Maj-General Kamronwit Thoopkrajang, commander of the Division for the Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women, said the police had been considering withdrawing the teachers' bail.

After they were released on bail, the alleged victims' parents said they received many threatening calls from anonymous people asking them to drop the case, he said. "We have only two witnesses to question and then we can conclude the [investigation phase] of the case," Kamronwit said.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin has set up a fact-finding committee and sent social workers to the school to look after the alleged victims and their parents.

The two teachers have filed a libel suit against Paveena, Kamronwit and the mother of a girl who was allegedly raped. They accused the three of incriminating them as rapists. According to the suit, the teachers said Paveena might be displeased with them as a result of the last election, when Paveena was a candidate for the Sai Mai constituency and they were ballot officers at a poll booth.

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Published on Aug 17, 2006

Forensics plea rejected

Court orders rape suspects to undergo DNA testing by police, not Pornthip

The Criminal Court yesterday rejected the request of two teachers accused of raping some of their students to let renowned pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand conduct DNA tests on them instead of forensic police.

"We might petition directly to Khunying Pornthip," said Kingkeaw Yommuang, the attorney of the two teachers from Prachanukul School in Bangkok's Sai Mai district.

Lorn Sorakanit, 58, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, who were arrested on suspicion of serial rape of eight-year-old students, have been ordered to undergo forensic tests at the police's forensic department. However, the suspects want Pornthip, acting Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, to hold the test for them instead because they do not believe in the fairness of the police in the Division for Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women.

The court declined the defendants' petition and ordered them to meet forensic police.

The defence lawyer said his clients might ask police for a new investigating team because they suspect that their case was being treated improperly. "Police have given [media] interviews that they already had enough evidence for the case but when we met the police today, they said the investigation had not been completed yet." "It shows that police might not have enough evidence to prove the suspects' guilt," the lawyer said.

Lorn said he knew Pavena Hongsakul, President of the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children, who took the alleged victims to the police station to file their complaint. He showed reporters a photo of him taken with Pavena when she presided over the funeral of his daughter.

The two teachers earlier said Pavena was trying to incriminate them as she might harbour a grudge against them as a result of losing the last election, when Pavena was a candidate for the Sai Mai constituency and they were ballot officers at a polling station. But Pavena denied that she had ever known Lorn before.

Lorn and Pimol went to the Division for the Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women for further inquiry and ran into the grandmother of one of the alleged victims. The angry grandmother walked up Lorn to condemn him and tried to attack him before the lawyer and police stepped in to stop her. "I can't stand this anymore, how could they do that with the small girls and right in the school," she told reporters in tears.

Parents of the alleged victims said they needed the police to cancel the suspects' bail because after they were released, the parents received many life-threatening calls from anonymous people asking them to drop the case. Police traced the calls and found they were made at public phone booths in the school's community.

Anan Siriphassaraporn, deputy clerk of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, criticised the principal of Prachanukul School for the assembly that the school held on Tuesday for co-teachers and students to show support for the two accused teachers. "What the school did might put pressure on the girls and their parents," he said.

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Published on Aug 18, 2006

Pornthip carries out DNA tests

The two teachers accused of raping five primary students yesterday met Pornthip Rojanasunand to ask her to conduct DNA tests on them and to request that a team of forensic experts, psychiatrists and social workers join the investigation.

Lorn Sorakanit, 58, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, believe that only a team sent by Pornthip, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, would conduct an impartial probe. The pair's action follows the Criminal Court's rejection of their request on Wednesday that Pornthip rather than forensic police be tasked with the tests, as her judgement would be fair.

The teachers from Prachanukul School in Bangkok's Sai Mai district were arrested last week on suspicion of the rapes of five eight-year-old girls.

Pornthip said the Central Institute of Forensic Science had tested the teachers so they could feel confident the findings of the forensic police, which could be compared with the results of their tests if necessary. She said that if Lorn and Pimol wanted to prove their innocence, they should let the police investigation proceed without trying to influence its course. In response to the request by the teachers for a team from the institute to join the investigation, Pornthip said the institute had no authority to get involved in the case.

The Justice Ministry previously proposed that police let the Child Protection Foundation take part as a neutral entity, but the suggestion was rejected.

Paveena Hongsakul, the president of the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children, took the alleged victims to file their complaints with Pol Maj-General Khamronwit Thoop-krajang, commander of the Division for Suppression of Crimes against Children and Women.

After the DNA tests supervised by Pornthip, Lorn said he wanted to prove his innocence because his family was living in fear and had had to move out of his home to live with a friend. Lorn plans to petition the National police commander today, asking for a new investigating team. A police source said yesterday that medical tests on the first student to voice charges had found no semen.

A source from the school said there were suspicions about the veracity of the girl's testimony. The girl told police that on July 6 Lorn had raped her before giving her Bt100. But the school had evidence that on that day, she had confessed to her teacher that she stole the money from her mother. Also, on July 21 - the day the girl claimed Pimol raped her - the school had held an event and there were witnesses who could testify that Pimol had been involved in it for its duration.

Officials from the Justice Ministry's Right and Liberties Protection department and representatives of the Education Ministry met Paveena yesterday to discuss how best to help the girls, who are being looked after by her foundation.

=============================================================================

Published on Aug 19, 2006

Parents of 'abused' girls' want transfers

The parents of all nine schoolgirls at the centre of a sexual molestation scandal have submitted a joint request for their children to be transferred out of Prachanukul School.

Six girls have said they wish to attend schools outside Bangkok while the other three want to go to schools in Sai Mai district, where Prachanukul is located.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which runs Prachanukul, is seeking Bt5,000 in emergency student loans for each of the nine girls. Deputy city clerk Anant Siraphassaraphorn said the nine girls underwent rehabilitation and results showed that they were still mentally stable, but the effects of what happened might show up in the long run.

The two teachers accused of raping and molesting five of the girls requested a new team of police investigators. Lorn Sorakanit and Pimol Chunsri said head investigator Maj-General Khamronwit Thoppkrajang told a press conference on Wednesday that they raped the girls even though no charges had been filed against them.

A motorcycle taxi driver surfaced as a key witness after he publicly chastised a mother who claimed a bite mark on her daughter's arm was made by one of the two teachers. Pramote Phiphob said it was his own son who bit the girl last month when the two eighth graders fought.

He said the mother even threatened to sue him after he refused to pay her Bt400 for a bill she advanced after taking the girl to a clinic to treat and dress the wound. He offered to testify in court against the woman for twisting the truth.

=============================================================================

Published on Aug 24, 2006

Teachers to face further charges

Police yesterday pressed four additional charges against two Bangkok teachers accused of raping two pupils. Lorn Sorakanit, 56, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, were charged with sexually abusing two other students of Prachanukul School in Sai Mai district. Their alleged victims are girls aged eight and nine.

The teachers, who have denied any wrongdoing, yesterday reported to police at the Division for the Suppression of Crimes against Children, Juveniles and Women with colleagues and their lawyers. "My colleagues can provide alibis," Lorn said.

The teachers' lawyer Kingkaew Yomemuang said the suspects were released without having to put up any assets as a bond because they turned up voluntarily.

Kingkaew said police had not yet pressed charges against the teachers in relation to a rape claim filed by a fifth student.

In a related development, another lawyer representing the teachers lodged a complaint against Chat Thai Party's deputy leader Chuwit Kamolvisit with the Criminal Court. Chai Tapaphupha accused Chuwit of defaming the teachers when he offered support to Pavena Hongsakul, who helped the alleged victims to lodge complaints, and gave press interviews on Tuesday.

The lawyer said Chuwit's actions suggested the teachers sexually abused the children and that the pair should be suspended. "The suspects are innocent till proven guilty," Chai said. The Criminal Court said it would consider whether to proceed with the case against Chuwit on October 30.

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Published on Nov 4, 2006

'Sex-offence' teachers charged

The Criminal Court yesterday indicted two schoolteachers on eight counts of sex offences for the alleged rape and molestation of six schoolgirls at a school in Bangkok's Sai Mai district.

Lorn Sorakanit, 56, and Pimol Chunsri, 48, pleaded not guilty to all counts. The court set January 22 for a preliminary hearing.

The eight sex offences include statutory rape and sexual molestation. Each count carries heavy penalties as the suspects allegedly committed the crimes against minors.

Both suspects were teachers at Prachanukul School. The offences are alleged to have taken place on several occasions from June 1 to August 10 this year.

=============================================================================

Published on Nov 20, 2007

Two teachers to hear verdict

The Criminal Court will today deliver its verdict in the trial of two state teachers accused of raping and molesting several young schoolgirls.

Lorn Sorakanit and Pimol Chunsri, of Prachanukul School in Bangkok's Sai Mai district, face long prison sentences if convicted.

They are charged with violating six girls between June 1 and August 10 of 2005.

Both defendants denied the charges. They filed several defamation actions against police, former member of Parliament Pavena Hongsakul, and government forensic scientist Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand.

Both were suspended from their positions following the allegations.

Great job, Sriracha John and without this info it would have been impossible to have an idea of what's going on !

I didn't know that Mrs. 'MP' Pavena Hongsakul is/was very famous in Thailand/Bangkok and that she ran for Bangkok Governor in 2004, which btw she lost. She also founded the Pavena Foundation* for women and children in need.

* http://www.pavena.thai.com/emain.html

Although I have no reasons to doubt the good will and intentions of the Pavena Foundation, I'm worried about this sentence and the so called: 'Success Stories':

"The results from the special task force leaded by MP Pavena Hongsakul are spectacular. The activities are well received and assisted by the public and the press, as well as all related and non-related government and non-government organizations. There are lot of cases reported and there are lot of 'leads' for help namely prostitution, rape, physical abuse. We take prompt action to help the victims, free the victims and bring the criminal to the law."

Success Stories

Pavena's 'special task force' achievement are widely acknowledge by the Thai public since the operation has first started in 1996. On many occasions, victims felt more secure to 'speak' to MP Pavena herself rather than reporting the event to the police. They felt that MP Pavena's response is more immediate, by passing lot of 'red tape' and most importantly MP Pavena is a women who through year of works has always a perception of 'helping the needy'. No doubt that Thai Public greatly renown her works. In operation, Pavena's 'special task force' almost always is welcome in all levels. Nevertheless, ocassionally there are some 'resistance', but after a tough decision from MP Pavena, resistant has alway given in without any casualty.

Report of job done from the opreation for the month of January 1999

Cases be reported from the people for help is 873 cases Rescued 643 ÃÒÂ

We have classify the cases into the following

1. Rape or Sexually Abuse 45 cases

2. Torture 89 cases

3. homeless, begger, and drug addict 62 cases

4. Child Prospitution 112 cases

5. AIDS Victims 78 cases

Total 643 cases

From: http://www.pavena.thai.com/emain.html

It seems to me that IF someone accuses somebody else of one/more of the above -sexual- crimes (true or false) and contacts the foundation, there's very little chance the accused gets a fair trial.

Very scary since the foundation is a system-within-another-legal-system with a founder who is extremely powerful.

I would be scared to death if someone would accuse me of something I didn't do and walk to this particular Foundation and point a finger at me....

PS: SJ, just saw your last post but didn't read it yet.

LaoPo

[sriracha john]

Thank you to kat, alaina, and LaoPo for the compliments. I hadn't realized this case hadn't been reported on in thaivisa previously as it was extremely huge at the time (as the numerous articles attest to) so I felt obligated to provide as much a picture of the situation as possible.

LaoPo... I would just say this about this particular case and acknowledging that I do not know specifically what the DNA evidence showed in the case, but presuming it played a crucial role in their conviction:

I do know that DNA is apolitical.

[LaoPo]

Thank you to kat, alaina, and LaoPo for the compliments. I hadn't realized this case hadn't been reported on in thaivisa previously as it was extremely huge at the time (as the numerous articles attest to) so I felt obligated to provide as much a picture of the situation as possible.

LaoPo... I would just say this about this particular case and acknowledging that I do not know specifically what the DNA evidence showed in the case, but presuming it played a crucial role in their conviction:

I do know that DNA is apolitical.

Thank you Sriracha John ! Much appreciated.

WHAT can we say ?

We know so little but it this particular case I have a 'sour' feeling, despite the so called DNA 'evidence'. But that's just based upon what I have read and the newspapers did not write very much.

You did !

LaoPo

[Scott]

I find the whole story difficult to believe, but hopefully the Courts have been fair in what they have done. It's difficult to believe that this could go on for this amount of time without kids, especially that young not going home and saying something. Physically, they must have been suffering from damage as well as other symptoms.

I would also like to know about the DNA evidence. Did they find sperm in one of the victims that was tested.

For this to go on for as long as it did with as many victims as there were and in a school means that someone was very remiss in the supervision of these students.

[brahmburgers]

The more I read up on the conviction, the more I concur with it - though I think the sentence is light.

They've deeply traumatized several little girls - horrible emotional scars they'll carry the rest of their lives.

It's the tip of the iceburg of child rape situation in Thailand - the lion's share perpetrated by Thais.

Death would have been more commensurate for Lorn, who appears to be the more sinister of the pair.

As it is, may they suffer every day they're in custody. And hope they don't get out on bail or get pardonned.