Arrest of ‘Teacher NEWtsbs’ Unravels 2 Million Baht Scam in Silom.

Bangkok: The Metropolitan Police Bureau has arrested Mr. Pawicha, known as 'Teacher NEWtsbs', a prominent tutor in the Silom area, for deceiving individuals into investing in the opening of a tutoring school. The alleged scam included promises to assist students in obtaining SAT test questions to facilitate their admission into renowned universities, culminating in damages exceeding 2 million baht. According to Thai News Agency, the arrest of Mr. Pawicha, the owner of a well-known tutoring school in Silom, comes after he evaded three arrest warrants. He reportedly misled victims into investing in a tutoring venture and falsely claimed to provide access to SAT exam questions. These exams assess high school students' proficiency in English reading and writing, as well as mathematics, and are crucial for higher education applications. The scheme left many parents defrauded, leading to significant financial losses. Mr. Pawicha was apprehended on the roadside in front of a condominium in Khlong Luang District, P athum Thani Province. During his arrest, he confessed to the charges, explaining that he had initially started as a freelance tutor in 1994 after completing Mathayom 6 with strong skills in mathematics and English. By 2015, he had accumulated enough capital to establish a permanent tutoring school in Silom, which thrived until the COVID-19 pandemic led to its closure in 2019. The financial downturn left him unable to fulfill financial commitments to investors, ultimately resulting in his flight and subsequent capture. Following his arrest, police officers escorted Mr. Pawicha to the Thung Maha Mek Police Station for further legal action.