A Canadian schoolteacher suspected of having sex with dozens of young boys will be held in a Thai jail for at least 12 days pending a trial on molestation charges, a court ordered Oct. 20.

Christopher Paul Neil, one of the world's most wanted alleged pedophiles, denied he did anything wrong following his arrest Oct. 19.

A judge in the Bangkok Criminal Court signed a police order to extend his detention to 12 days, and could move later to keep him behind bars for up to 84 days.

The 32-year-old Neil arrived in court wearing a red-striped T-shirt, baseball cap and sunglasses. Looking haggard, he said "no comment" when media asked if he had anything to say to his family.

"He was stressed out and could not sleep very well," said Police Maj. Gen. Wimol Powintara, chief of the crimes against children, juveniles and women division.

Neil was charged Oct. 19 with taking a child under 15 without parental consent with intent to molest, punishable by up to 20 years in prison; illegal detention, punishable by up to three years; and sexual abuse of a child under 15, punishable by up to 10 years.

Though Neil has not spoken publicly, Lt. Col. Manat Thongsimuang said he "denied all the charges" when questioned by police Oct. 19.

In Canada, Neil's family issued an e-mailed statement in which they said "mistakes have been made but he is still a member of our family."

"We will do everything we can to support him during this troubling time in his life," said the Neil family statement. "We are all in agreement that he should be extradited to Canada to face these allegations."