PUBLISHED : 27 Feb 2024 at 04:00
NONTHABURI: Authorities yesterday raided a special childcare centre in Sai Noi district to rescue seven autistic children after reports of unsafe and unsanitary conditions there.
Activist Kanthat Pongpaiboonvej, also known as “Kan Jomphalang”, and the complainer, identified as Apantree, 30, yesterday joined the task force for the raid on the two-storey townhouse called Baan San Rak, which claims to be a branch of the Thailand Autism Development Centre.
They were accompanied by Pongpat Saengpitoon, senior social developer of the province’s Social Development and Human Security Office; Warin Weerasunthorm, director of the province’s Children’s and Family Homes division; and Parin Nitad-aek, Sai Noi district chief.
Seven of the ten children under the centre’s care were present during the raid. One of them appeared naked.
The caregiver on duty refused to cooperate with the investigation and was unable to show a valid childcare licence to authorities.
According to a source, the centre is not registered with the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.
Mr Kanthat said that the place was taking care of ten autistic children — one girl and nine boys. Some of them are boarding there, with their parents or guardians paying fees of 20,000–30,000 baht a month.
Ms Apantree, a former assistant at the centre, earlier made the complaint with Mr Kanthat regarding the mistreatment and squalid living conditions at the centre.
According to her, the children lived in a single bare room without bedding, fans or an air conditioning system. They were also frequently restrained from drinking plenty of water to limit their toilet activities, she alleged.
All the children were sharing one toothbrush, which she was told to clean using the bidet sprayer. The children also suffered physical abuse as they were slapped and had their ears clipped, Ms Apantree said.
Ms Apantree quit on the first day of the job, on Feb 17, and sent the photos and videos she took of the children’s living conditions to Mr Kanthat.