Satriwithaya 2: Leaked audio clip under investigation

02 เมษายน 2557

Where did Satriwithaya 2 band members get the idea to approach businessmen like Tan Passakornatee to fund their trip to the Netherlands? The answer may lie in an audio clip posted to YouTube.

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A photo from the Facebook page of Tan Passakornatee shows a man listening to an audio clip which is said to be a conversation between the school's director and members of the band on how than could raise money for a trip abroad. Mr Tan criticised the students who approached him but forgave them since they were still young.

Obec steps into school row

Director faces probe over band funds

Lamphai Intathep

The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) will investigate a leaked audio clip which sheds new light on a controversy concerning Satriwithaya 2 School's efforts to seek business funding for its marching band.

The clip is said to be a conversation between the school's director and members of the band as the band struggled to raise funds to go overseas for an international competition.

Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng said Obec would consider whether those identified in the saga should face a disciplinary probe.

Mr Chaturon spoke after the 21-minute audio clip surfaced on YouTube.

The talk involved three people, two men and a woman. One of the men is believed to be Mr Pacharapong Trithepha, the school director.

The man believed to be Mr Pacharapong urged those in the clip to seek funds from businessmen. He said at least 8-9 million baht was likely to flood in once they won their first international trophy.

The school director could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The school has been in the news for nearly two weeks after members of its marching band, Max Percussion Theatre, appealed for a donation from Tan Passakornatee, an owner of Ichitan Group Co Ltd, to support their travelling expenditure of 3.1 million baht.

The students travelled to compete in the Color Guard Nederland (CGN) in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on March 25-29.

They competed in the Class of the Marching World Class and won the top prize. They were the only entrant in that class.

The students said their school sought a budget from Obec to support their travel to the Netherlands but were turned down.

Obec argued the school's marching band did not pass the criteria, as the marching band had never won a national contest.

The story has drawn ire from the public who see it as inappropriate for students to seek funds from businessmen.

Mr Pacharapong, the school director, last Friday denied any involvement in efforts by the school to seek funds to help send the band abroad.

Somkiat Boonrod, an assistant to Obec’s secretary-general, said the school director would be invited to clarify the matter within two days.

Meanwhile, Mr Tan posted a message on his Facebook page saying the students should take this matter as a lesson.

The students were wrong to seek money from him but they should be forgiven because they have not yet reached full maturity.