Doctor turned fugitive: Boon Vanasin’s descent from fame to infamy

14 Sept 16:02 Key points summarised by AI

Hospital tycoon Dr. Boon Vanasin, 86, has become an international fugitive, accused of scamming over 240 investors out of at least 7.5 billion baht through fictitious healthcare projects.
Leveraging his esteemed reputation as co-founder and former chair of Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG), Dr. Boon allegedly lured investors with promises of high returns and THG shares, issuing fraudulent cheques that later bounced.
THG has vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged fraud, stating Dr. Boon resigned in August 2022 and the purported projects were entirely fake and unrelated to the company.
Dr. Boon, along with eight alleged accomplices including his wife and daughter, faces multiple charges including public fraud, money laundering, and issuing fraudulent cheques, with several accomplices already arrested.
This scandal follows prior controversies, notably a 2022 fine and ban for misleading investors about COVID-19 vaccine procurement and his past connection to the Alpine Golf Course scandal.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.