BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has launched a fact-finding investigation into an alleged scam involving a fake study trip to China that left 62 students and eight teachers stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with reported losses of approximately 2.4 million baht.
Education Minister Prasert Chanthararuangthong said the investigation was expected to be completed within seven days. The main suspect is reportedly an OBEC civil servant holding the position of senior professional-level official. The proposed trip was supposed to take students to Xi’an Jiaotong University in Xi’an, China, from October 15 to 26. However, the group arrived at the airport only to discover that the promised educational trip would not take place.
The 11 schools involved are mostly located in central Thailand. Parents reportedly paid approximately 40,000 baht per student, with the money transferred into a bank account belonging to an outside individual rather than an OBEC official. Authorities have examined the money trail. Prasert said preliminary findings suggested that one or two OBEC personnel might be involved. The main suspect had allegedly displayed similar behaviour in the past before the issue resurfaced.
The minister stressed that the alleged scheme was a private undertaking and was not organised by the Ministry of Education. He ordered officials to complete the investigation promptly, pursue disciplinary action to the fullest extent if wrongdoing is established, and work to recover the money and compensate those affected.
Authorities are also examining whether the funds remain recoverable, with an initial assessment expected by Friday.
