CHIANG RAI – Police in Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai, arrested Mr. Ekkarach, a 37-year-old taekwondo teacher, after a parent reported that the coach allegedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl who trained at his school.
Authorities also say two other complainants have filed additional reports accusing the same instructor of indecent acts.
According to Chiang Saen Police Station, the arrest followed a complaint from a guardian who came to the station after noticing serious changes in the child’s behavior. The child was described as withdrawn, fearful, and unwilling to attend taekwondo classes at a local academy where the suspect was a trainer.
Police said the guardian later learned the child had been assaulted at the training facility more than once, along with repeated inappropriate conduct over several months. The complaint was filed on January 20, 2026.
On January 28, 2026, investigators and local officials executed an arrest warrant issued by the Chiang Rai Provincial Court. The suspect, identified by police as “Mr. Ekkarach, was taken into custody in Wiang Subdistrict, Chiang Saen District, outside his residence.
He was arrested on a charge related to sexual assault of a child under 13, with allegations involving force and abuse of a position of care. Police said he acknowledged he was the person named in the warrant but denied the allegations during the arrest.
During a search of the bedroom for possible evidence, officers reported finding six 12-gauge shotgun shells and one BB gun resembling a Glock-style pistol. Police said an additional charge was filed for possessing ammunition without permission.
Investigators said the suspect, Mr. Ekkarach, had operated a taekwondo school for more than two years, with about 30 students enrolled.
Officers also discovered that three other victims, all of whom were his students and aged 10-13, had come forward to file additional complaints. They will subsequently bring Mr. Ekkarach to court for prosecution.
