More children speak of football team abuse

Five more children aged between 10 and 13 are taking legal action against their school football coach and a team sponsor who have been charged with sexually abusing two of their teammates.

The children and their families travelled from Udon Thani to meet Pavena Hongsakula, chairwoman of the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children, on Tuesday about their legal action.

The suspects — Somchai (surname withheld), 43, a coach who was also a civil servant attached to a district agricultural office, and Maj Somyot (surname withheld), 64, a retired military officer– were arrested by the police Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) on Dec 15 after the victims’ parents sought help from the…