Gun threats force a major Hat Yai school to send up to 4,500 students online after ex-South African teacher Pieter Johannes Dreyer targets staff. Police discovered he fled to Malaysia before his dismissal as a bitter employment dispute flew off the rails.
A major Hat Yai school will close its classrooms next week after a former South African teacher posted online threats implying he would shoot administrators and teachers. Hatyai Wittayalai School has ordered up to 4,500 students online on August 10-11 as police investigate Pieter Johannes Dreyer. The former English teacher posted images of firearms and ammunition during a bitter dispute involving corruption and employment claims. However, police discovered he had already crossed into Malaysia through Padang Besar on July 19. His former condominium is now vacant, while immigration officials have been alerted should he return to Thailand.
Police in southern Thailand are investigating a former South African teacher accused of threatening a shooting at a major Hat Yai school. The case has triggered emergency security measures and forced thousands of students online.
Images of firearms and ammunition accompanied the threatening messages. Pictures of school administrators were also posted. However, immigration records reveal a crucial twist. The former teacher had already crossed into Malaysia weeks earlier.
Police identified the man as Pieter Johannes Dreyer, a former contract English teacher at Hatyai Wittayalai School. He worked in the school’s English Program before a bitter dispute with administrators. That battle had already spilt across social media before the latest threats appeared. In response, police are now investigating his movements and the disturbing LINE posts.
Police trace former teacher to Malaysia after Hat Yai school gun threats spark fears among staff
Hat Yai Police Station began checking Mr Dreyer’s whereabouts on Saturday, August 8. Officers examined immigration records and visited his former Hat Yai residence. Notably, immigration records showed he had departed Thailand on July 19, 2026. He crossed through the Padang Besar checkpoint into Malaysia at precisely 2.39 pm.
Separately, officers went to the condominium where Mr Dreyer previously lived. Building management told investigators that his former unit was vacant. Police then confirmed his departure through Padang Besar in Sadao district, Songkhla Province. Crucially, that journey occurred before the school formally terminated his employment.
The latest investigation centres on threatening messages posted through the LINE application. According to the school, they appeared in an open chat called “Yorwor Matter”. The group has approximately 5,000 members. Mr Dreyer used the LINE name “Kru Peter”, according to information provided to investigators.
The posts implied that firearms would be used to shoot school administrators and teachers. In parallel, photographs showed Mr Dreyer practising with firearms. Other images displayed ammunition. Pictures of school administrators accompanied the threatening messages. The combination immediately raised fears among teachers and other personnel.
School files police report and moves classes online after gun threats target teachers and administrators
Adding to the alarm, deadly school violence had occurred in Nonthaburi Province only a day earlier. Staff feared for their safety and the security of thousands of students. They were also concerned about school property. As a result, Hatyai Wittayalai School took the threats directly to police.
School director Thivichaya Meechuworapong filed a formal report on Saturday afternoon. Hat Yai Police Station registered it as document number 24. The complaint was recorded at 4.21 pm on August 8. Investigators then opened checks into Mr Dreyer’s whereabouts, residence and immigration movements.
At the same time, school administrators made a major security decision. Normal classroom teaching will be suspended on August 10 and 11. Instead, thousands of students will study online on Monday and Tuesday. The school will use that period to reassess and tighten campus security.
As part of this, officials will examine existing protection measures throughout the school grounds. They will also prepare responses to possible security incidents. The measures cover administrators, teachers, other personnel and students. School officials want procedures capable of producing a rapid response if a threat develops.
Immigration Bureau alerted as former teacher’s gun threats escalate bitter dispute with Hat Yai school
On another front, Hat Yai police contacted the Immigration Bureau about Mr Dreyer. Information concerning him has been circulated for monitoring purposes. Immigration officials can therefore act should he appear at a Thai border checkpoint. Protective measures are also being coordinated for people involved in the case.
The threats represent a dramatic escalation of an already public dispute. Mr Dreyer previously released a video containing serious accusations against Hatyai Wittayalai School. The material circulated widely through TikTok, Reddit and other online channels. His accusations targeted the school’s finances, employment practices and treatment of foreign teachers.
Among the accusations were claims involving corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. Mr Dreyer also accused the institution of embezzling teachers’ salaries. Furthermore, he claimed administrators fabricated flood damage reports to obtain government subsidies. The school rejected the accusations.
Mr Dreyer also targeted employment practices affecting foreign teachers. He claimed maternity leave entitlements were revoked while three foreign teachers were pregnant. Additionally, he accused the school of widespread racial discrimination. He claimed all 22 foreign teachers worked without adequate legal protection.
Former teacher attacks school and agencies online before Hat Yai school issues a five-point rebuttal
Beyond the school, his criticism extended to relevant government agencies. Mr Dreyer accused officials of allowing people with corruption histories to return to positions. He also described himself as engaged in a legal dispute with Hatyai Wittayalai School. Moreover, he claimed the corruption network extended beyond the institution.
During his online campaign, Mr Dreyer announced what he called a “dead man switch”. He described it as an automated system for releasing evidence publicly. He said the material would be released should any incident occur against him. That declaration became another element of his escalating dispute with the school.
Hatyai Wittayalai School responded publicly on July 20. Director Mrs Thivichaya signed a detailed five-point statement rejecting Mr Dreyer’s accusations. The institution said he had recorded and distributed defamatory and false information. It said the material had caused serious damage to the school.
First came the dispute over delayed salary payments. Foreign teachers were normally paid on each month’s final working day. In November 2025, that date was Friday, November 28. Yet severe flooding struck Hat Yai and surrounding areas during the same period.
School blames flood damage for delayed salaries as dispute widens to social security contributions
Flooding affected several areas between November 21 and November 28. According to the school, water damage affected documents and its database system. Accordingly, salary processing was delayed. Administrators described the disruption as an unavoidable force majeure event.
Despite the disruption, the school said it accelerated outstanding salary payments. Officials expected the process to be completed by December 2. Likewise, salaries would be paid without deductions for flood-related leave or absences. Administrators said they understood the hardship caused by the flooding.
A second battle involved social security contributions. Mr Dreyer was insured under Section 33 of Thailand’s social security system. Workers normally contributed 5% of eligible wages under the arrangement described by the school. The maximum monthly contribution was 750 baht.
Following the flooding, the Ministry of Labour reduced contributions in officially declared disaster areas. Rates for employers and insured workers were temporarily lowered to 3%. By that stage, the school had already paid contributions at 5%. Officials said they had not yet received notification of the reduction.
School denies withholding social security funds as salary increase demand was key to the dispute
In its defence, the school denied withholding the resulting difference. It also denied misappropriating the money for institutional or personal gain. According to administrators, the 1,800-baht difference was subsequently returned to Mr Dreyer. That repayment was made on April 20, 2026.
More significantly, the school identified salary demands as the principal employment dispute. Mr Dreyer sought an increase from 33,000 baht to 35,000 baht monthly. The school refused. Administrators said his signed employment contract explicitly fixed his monthly salary at 33,000 baht.
According to the institution, both parties voluntarily entered that agreement. Mr Dreyer had read and reviewed its terms before signing. He had also acknowledged the conditions. Clause One specifically established the 33,000-baht monthly salary.
Under that contract, payment was due on each month’s final working day. The school maintained it had paid Mr Dreyer fully and correctly. Nevertheless, he requested an additional 2,000 baht monthly. Administrators said they could not simply approve that demand.
Hatyai Wittayalai School operates under the Office of the Basic Education Commission. Its expenditure is therefore governed by regulations covering public funds and school income. Temporary employees must satisfy performance evaluation requirements before salary changes can proceed. Relevant education authorities must also approve increases.
Salary increase required official approval. Performance bond and flood claims fuelled disagreement
For that reason, administrators said they could not independently raise Mr Dreyer’s salary. The school maintained its refusal protected government interests and complied with Ministry of Finance regulations. It rejected suggestions that the decision represented improper employment treatment.
Another flashpoint concerned a 5,000-baht performance bond. Mr Dreyer challenged the deduction. The school countered that the requirement was explicitly included within his employment contract. It said both sides voluntarily accepted the provision when his employment began.
Under the school’s explanation, the bond guaranteed contractual performance and protected against losses caused by breaches. Foreign teachers also carried responsibilities for curriculum delivery. A mid-term resignation could therefore disrupt teaching arrangements. The school said the guarantee protected against such disruption.
A fifth dispute concerned flood damage estimates. Mr Dreyer accused the school of overstating damage caused by the November flooding. Administrators flatly rejected that accusation. They described the disputed figures as preliminary estimates prepared immediately after the disaster.
At that stage, officials had limited time to report damage to senior officers. Numerous government procedures would still follow before financial assistance could be approved. Significantly, the school said it received no funding based on the disputed initial estimate.
School threatens legal action before firing teacher who had already crossed into Malaysia days earlier
The July 20 statement ended with a warning. Hatyai Wittayalai School said it would pursue legal action against people intentionally damaging its reputation. It also warned against deliberately distorted information targeting the institution or its personnel. Administrators pledged to pursue available legal action fully.
Three days later, the employment battle reached another turning point. Hatyai Wittayalai School issued an order terminating Mr Dreyer’s contract on July 23. The termination took effect on July 24. The school said he had breached or failed to comply with employment conditions.
But the police investigation has now established a striking timeline. Mr Dreyer was already outside Thailand when the termination order was issued. His immigration record shows he crossed into Malaysia on July 19. That departure occurred at 2.39 pm through Padang Besar.
In fact, he departed one day before the school issued its five-point rebuttal. He also left four days before administrators issued his termination order. By July 24, when his dismissal became effective, he had been outside Thailand for five days.
The supplied police information records no subsequent return to Thailand. Even so, the later LINE messages transformed an employment dispute into a security investigation. They contained implied threats against administrators and teachers. Firearms, ammunition and pictures of school personnel appeared with the messages.
Thousands move online as Hat Yai school tightens security after threats and recent Nonthaburi violence
Against that backdrop, school officials moved rapidly. Friday’s deadly school violence in Nonthaburi was fresh in the minds of personnel. Staff feared for themselves and their students. They also feared damage to property. The school therefore decided normal classes could not continue while security was reviewed.
From Monday, students will remain away from the campus. Classes will instead be delivered online throughout August 10 and 11. During the shutdown, officials will inspect security arrangements and prepare stronger safeguards. They will also review possible responses to emerging threats.
Hatyai Wittayalai School is one of southern Thailand’s largest secondary schools. It operates under the Office of the Basic Education Commission within the Ministry of Education. The institution is located in Hat Yai district, Songkhla Province. It provides education across six secondary grade levels.
Importantly, the school has approximately 4,000 to 4,500 students. The two-day online order therefore affects thousands of children and families. Teachers must also switch lessons away from normal classrooms. Security personnel and administrators will use the period to reassess campus protection.
During the review, the school intends to strengthen measures against possible incidents or risks. Officials also want response procedures capable of being activated immediately. Those arrangements cover administrators, personnel, students and school property. Parents and other stakeholders are being kept informed through official channels.
Police and immigration maintain monitoring as school urges caution over online claims and misinformation
Meanwhile, the school has urged its community to treat online information cautiously. Students, parents and staff were asked to rely on official sources. They were also asked to examine facts carefully before forwarding information. The institution warned that unchecked claims could create misunderstandings or panic.
For police, the investigation now has two clear geographical points. One is Hatyai Wittayalai School, where the threats caused immediate security fears. The other is Padang Besar, where immigration records show Mr Dreyer departed Thailand.
Investigators have also eliminated his former condominium as his current Hat Yai residence. Management told police the unit was unoccupied. In addition, immigration officers have been alerted through coordination with Hat Yai Police Station. Monitoring arrangements remain active should Mr Dreyer appear.
Police have not ended the case because the former teacher is recorded outside Thailand. Instead, they are continuing to examine the threatening LINE material. Protection measures for people connected with the case are also continuing. Coordination with the school and Immigration Bureau remains active.
Timeline shows teacher left Thailand before dismissal as later gun threats trigger police investigation
The chronology now stretches from a public employment dispute to a police security investigation. Mr Dreyer left Thailand on July 19. The school publicly rejected his accusations on July 20. Administrators issued his termination order on July 23, effective July 24.
Then came the threatening LINE posts, firearms images and pictures of administrators. On August 8, the school filed its formal police report. That same day, police confirmed Mr Dreyer’s recorded departure into Malaysia. The school also announced its two-day switch to online learning.
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For now, immigration records place Mr Dreyer outside Thailand. His former Hat Yai condominium stands vacant, according to building management. Yet the investigation remains active because of the threatening messages and firearm images. Police and immigration officials are maintaining surveillance coordination.
On Monday morning, thousands of Hatyai Wittayalai students will stay away from their classrooms. They will study online while administrators tighten security across the school. Police, meanwhile, will continue investigating the threats and Mr Dreyer’s movements. Further developments will be reported as the case progresses.
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