(23 July) Division of
Special Investigation (DSI) is seeking arrest warrants on charges of fraud and computer crime for 3
individuals who identified themselves as rectors of the so-called ?World Peace University?
(WPU).
The ?University? has drawn much attention from the public, and the laws enforcement
agencies, after it emerged that it has been giving out honorary degrees to many recipients, even
though the establishment is not registered as a proper university.
There are also reports
that the WPU charges the ?graduates? some money in return for these degrees – the allegation denied
by the directors of the WPU.
The WPU has previously clarified to the media that their
degrees merely served as ceremonious certificates handed out to individuals who had committed noble
deeds, and that they had no intention to advertise their degrees as legitimate academic
titles.
However, the DSI remains unconvinced. Pol.Maj.Gen. Sakkapol Sukparn, an official at
the DSI, insisted that the 3 WPU directors – Mr.
Sawasdi Banterngsuk, Mr. Suppanat Donchan, and Mr. Rewat Chatrivisit – clearly violate the laws
because they try to imitate an educational establishment and misled people into making payments for
the fake degrees, hence the charge of fraud.
As for the computer crime charge, Pol.Maj.Gen.
Sakkapol said that the WPU has been advertising and disseminating misleading information on the
internet.
He said the DSI has sufficient evidences of wrongdoing and he expected the court
would approve the arrest warrants for the 3 WPU directors in near future.
