Teacher accused of trying to kill pupil

A Thai teacher was today accused of trying to kill one of her 12-year-old pupils to cover up an alleged drug deal.

Panittha Noothong, 46, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly paying one of her pupils to poison the lunch of fellow student Pannika Meesom, police said.

Pannika said she was targeted after seeing the teacher give a man money for a vial of orange powder and then hug and kiss him.

Officers in Suphanburi province said they suspect the orange powder was methamphetamine, an illegal stimulant.

The girl said she was abducted last week by three masked men and her teacher, who beat her up and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident.

The teacher, who has been fired for misconduct, denies the charges.

One of Pannika’s classmates, Numphung Heng, later confessed to having been paid to put herbicide in her food, police said.

Suphanburi province is 60 miles north of the capital Bangkok.