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Monk Caught Drunk Driving With Female & Gun in Surin

A monk disguised by wearing a wig was arrested for drink-driving in Surin after police discovered a firearm, ammunition, and a female companion inside his vehicle. The incident occurred at 00:05 on 27 March 2026 during a police checkpoint operation on Krungsri Nok Road in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Surin District. Authorities confirmed the driver was intoxicated and in possession of items that raised both legal and disciplinary concerns.

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Surin Provincial Police, led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Sukon Sriarun, had set up the checkpoint with support from senior officers including Pol. Col. Chainarong Boonduang, Pol. Col. Suchok Pumeechokchai, and Pol. Col. Ekphong Pholmani. Officers stopped a Chevrolet four-door pickup truck with Surin licence plates after noticing irregularities. The driver, later identified as Mr Supawat, 42, showed signs of intoxication and failed a breathalyser test with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit.

Further inspection revealed a female passenger, Mrs Sumonthatip, 46, whose behaviour appeared suspicious. A search of the vehicle uncovered a 9mm pistol and ammunition concealed inside her handbag. She was detained and initially charged with illegal possession and carrying of a firearm in public without permission.

Police also found 123,814 baht in cash and monk’s robes, including an anga, sabong, and waist girdle, inside the vehicle. Subsequent investigation confirmed that Mr Supawat is an ordained monk residing at a forest monastery in Tha Tum District, Surin Province. Mrs Sumonthatip later admitted the firearm belonged to him and said she had previously claimed responsibility out of concern for the legal and monastic consequences he might face.

The case has raised concerns over misconduct involving members of the clergy and potential breaches of both civil law and monastic discipline. Authorities are coordinating with relevant agencies to verify the monk’s status and determine appropriate disciplinary action alongside criminal proceedings.

ThaiRath reported that both individuals were taken into custody and handed over to investigators for further legal action. Police stated that enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case and any additional offences that may apply.

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Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

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image.png Adapted by ASEAN Now ThaiRath 28 Mar 2026

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BayArea Silver Member

BayArea

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The headline sums up Thailand in a nutshell these days.

BayArea Silver Member

BayArea

Advanced Member

On 3/27/2026 at 9:13 PM, nausea said:

Monks behaving badly is par for the course in Thailand; the days when I used to look on these guys with some awe are long gone.

the first time seeing these " monks" tattoo to the gill and looking like paroles, I had my doubts.

bendejo Diamond Member

bendejo

Advanced Member

Headline sounds like a tag line for a goofy comedy: A drunk monk, a lady, and a gun

NanLaew Star Member

NanLaew

Advanced Member
On 3/28/2026 at 4:22 AM, NONG CHOK said:

I remember several years ago when the Dalai Lama was being interviewed on Youtube. His comments were rather interesting until he was asked about Buddhism in Thailand. He paused then politely said next question please, with a wry grin on his face.

The Dalai Lama is nothing more than a useful tool. I mean, monks on YouTube?

Watawattana Gold Member

Watawattana

Advanced Member
17 hours ago, cynic1 said:

Disagree. In Australia there were priests that were jailed.

In reference to your quote, "to this day nobody has ever gone to jail for that".

The biggest priest was an Aussie Cardinal who was very high up in the Vatican. His name was Cardinal George Pell.

As for the other lower level priests in Australia many went to jail, and it made no difference if the charge was in relation to something that occurred say 40 years ago. It is termed as an , "Historical Offence".

The link re Pell:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/3/13/australian-cardinal-george-pell-jailed-six-years-for-abusing-boys

Good. Australia did this properly, and rightly so. I'm from the UK. It didn't happen properly there. I'm sure some have gone to jail in the UK now, but it didn't happen in the town I'm from.

My words from my are replicated below (extra comma deleted).


"Also, where I was brought up exactly the same thing happened as is shown in Spotlight. The priest buggering little boys got shifted to another location, rather than a jail cell, and carried on regardless. Still to this day nobody has ever gone to jail for that."


My comment "nobody has ever gone to jail for that" referred to where I was brought up, and not Australia or anywhere else. It was not a general comment covering the whole world.

wombat Platinum Member

wombat

Advanced Member
21 hours ago, cynic1 said:

I know that I am going to no place. Plus why do people say they are going somewhere when they die? The only place they are going to is nothing! Your dead? That's it. End of your life story. I'm an atheist.

I was born with a tag Anglican in Australia with four or five generations being Australian. My first wife was a Jewish Australian and her parents were Canadian Jews. My second wife was a Muslim born in Java but attained Australian citizenship before I met her. My third wife, to whom I am still married to after 13 years and happily is a Thai and now an Australian citizen thanks to me.

We are a happy couple.

Sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself rather than me

wombat Platinum Member

wombat

Advanced Member
On 3/28/2026 at 11:22 AM, NONG CHOK said:

the Dalai Lama was being interviewed on Youtube. His comments were rather interesting until he was asked about Buddhism in Thailand. He paused then politely said next question please, with a wry grin on his face.

The wry grin was because Thailand Buddhist monks are true Buddhist.... Unlike the trendy politician Buddhist monk wearing his Gucci slippers

cynic1 Silver Member

cynic1

Advanced Member
On 3/27/2025 at 1:12 PM, spidermike007 said:

Thailand has been facing issues for a very long time and after 10 years of army rule the Prayuth Decimation still affects Thailand to this day, and will for quite some time to come. The current administration is no better, as they have very few smart appointees and virtually nobody is there based on merit nor vision. 

 

Trump is escalating his trade war and it's going to severely damage the US economy in the process, and the damage is going to be long-term. This man is an uninformed nitwit who knows nothing about globalization nor the ecosystems involved in manufacturing. He is diminishing US influence by the day and that is going to be long-term, as nations around the world are not going to forget this and will be boycotting American products for decades to come. America deserves that treatment, as they voted Trump in after all. 

On 4/17/2025 at 8:04 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

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Picture courtesy of Amarin from dash-cam.

 

A foreign tourist family was seriously injured after being struck by a local songthaew, while crossing a zebra crossing in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, raising serious concerns over pedestrian safety in tourist destinations.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 15:00, on 15 April along Phetkasem Road in Ban Bang Niang, Moo 5, Khuek Khak Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, Phang Nga province. Dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle captured the moment a German family, a father, mother, and their young child in a stroller, attempted to cross the road at a designated pedestrian crossing.

 

 

While vehicles in the right lane slowed down and stopped to allow the family to cross safely, a local songthaew travelling in the left lane at moderate speed failed to stop in time and struck the couple forcefully. The child in the stroller fortunately escaped injury, but both parents sustained injuries and were rushed to Khao Lak Medical Centre before being transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket for further treatment.

 

Caution video below shows the collision.

The incident has sparked renewed concern about road safety for pedestrians, especially foreign tourists, in the Khao Lak area.

 

Mr. Lertsak Ponklin, President of the Phang Nga Tourism Business Association, expressed frustration, stating that repeated warnings and requests have been made to government authorities to address the frequent collisions occurring at this particular crossing. “Despite numerous meetings and promises of improvement, serious incidents like this continue to happen,” he said.

 

He urged the authorities to enforce traffic laws more strictly and implement additional safety measures to prevent further tragedies, particularly in high-traffic tourist zones.

 

 

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-- 2025-04-17

 

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3 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Good. Australia did this properly, and rightly so. I'm from the UK. It didn't happen properly there. I'm sure some have gone to jail in the UK now, but it didn't happen in the town I'm from.

My words from my are replicated below (extra comma deleted).


"Also, where I was brought up exactly the same thing happened as is shown in Spotlight. The priest buggering little boys got shifted to another location, rather than a jail cell, and carried on regardless. Still to this day nobody has ever gone to jail for that."


My comment "nobody has ever gone to jail for that" referred to where I was brought up, and not Australia or anywhere else. It was not a general comment covering the whole world.

I was not aware that the UK were not proactive in charging theses low life. Thanks for the info.. Have a better future.

cynic1 Silver Member

cynic1

Advanced Member
51 minutes ago, wombat said:

Sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself rather than me

51 minutes ago, wombat said:

Sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself rather than me

51 minutes ago, wombat said:

Sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself rather than me

I had convinced myself already and it was at least 25 years ago. I am not trying to convince anyone else. Not bothered as all others can believe in what they believe. Enjoy the ride!

Rams86 Gold Member

Rams86

Advanced Member
12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

The Dalai Lama is nothing more than a useful tool. I mean, monks on YouTube?

I'm sure that I would trust the Dalai Lame befor many Thai monks.

Watawattana Gold Member

Watawattana

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, cynic1 said:

I was not aware that the UK were not proactive in charging theses low life. Thanks for the info.. Have a better future.

Thanks @cynic1

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