Absconding Sa Ket Temple monk surrenders

[snoop1130]

Absconding Sa Ket Temple monk surrenders

By The Nation

 

 

The former abbot of Sa Ket Temple, widely known as Phra Phromsitti (Thongchai Sukhayano), surrendered to police on Wednesday.

 

The monk, who was wanted in connection with a case of corruption and had been on the run for nearly one week, contacted police and offered to surrender. 

 

Last Thursday, police had raided his temple in search of several monks, including Phra Phromsitti, amid allegations of embezzlement of state funds meant for temples.

 

Phra Phromsitti was the only monk from Sa Ket Temple who managed to elude capture during the raid.

 

The Sangha Supreme Council, the country’s highest body for monastic affairs, dismissed Phra Phromsitti as its member last Thursday. He has also lost all monastic ranks following the King’s command. 

 

Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Thitiraj Nhongharnpitak headed the team that went on Wednesday to Sa Ket Temple to arrest the monk.

 

As of press time, he was sent to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases after police sought his detention for investigation into his alleged wrongdoing. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30346607

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-5-30

[AGareth2]

9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

He has also lost all monastic ranks following the King’s command. 

interesting

 

[Get Real]

Another one down! Great!

[bluesofa]

A ploy to get free medical treatment. That's how it works isn't it? Get arrested and jailed, then become sick and unable to survive in prison. It's a common scam occurrence.

 

[Oziex1]

On behalf of the ruling junta we offer our.sincere apologies for your treatment.

[colinneil]

He legged it, found somewhere to stash his ill-gotten gains, then surrenders to police, laughable thats what it is.

[mok199]

that retarded grin will disappear fast..welcome to the real world MR MONK..

[webfact]

Absconding Sa Ket Temple ex-abbot surrenders, denied bail

By THE NATION

 

Phra Phromsitti, centre, the former abbot of |Sa Ket Temple, one of the major Buddhist temples in Thailand, is escorted from the Crime Supression Division to a court after his surrender yesterday. He was denied bail, leading to his defrocking.

 

THE FORMER abbot of Sa Ket Temple has become the latest senior monk to enter the Bangkok Remand Prison after he surrendered to police yesterday.

 

Previously known as Phra Phromsitti (Thongchai Sukhayano), the former abbot had absconded for nearly one week before he contacted police. 

 

“He claims he did not report himself to police earlier because he wanted to mark the Visakha Bucha Day,” an informed source said yesterday. 

 

Visakha Bucha celebrated the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha on Tuesday.

 

 

A police source revealed that the monk’s surrender took place after the Crimes Suppression Division (CSD) circulated a letter instructing immigration officials to detain three people close to the former abbot on sight. 

 

According to the source, the CSD believes the trio – which includes a Laotian – might have helped the former abbot elude police last week.

 

On May 24, Phra Phromsitti was the only monk from Sa Ket Temple to elude capture during the police raid. The other monk who is on the run, Phra Phrommedhi (Chamnong Dhammajari), is the abbot of Samphanthawongsaram Temple. As of press time, the whereabouts of Phra Phrommedhi is still unknown. 

 

Five other monks implicated in the same scandal were arrested, denied bail and defrocked that day. 

 

The National Buddhism Office has accused several senior monks of embezzling state funds for temples. The Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) – the country’s highest body for monastic affairs – dismissed Phra Phromsitti, Phra Phrommedhi and Sam Phraya Temple abbot Phra Phromdilok (Euan Hasadhammo) as |its members last week. 

 

Yesterday, the Royal Gazette promulgated the King’s royal command to strip the monks of their monastic ranks. Under this royal command, the four other implicated monks also lost their monastic titles. 

 

 

Even though the former abbot of Sa Ket Temple has already lost his monastic rank and left monkhood, he is still revered by many people. A number of his followers gathered at the CSD yesterday to support him. The former Phra Phromsitti surrendered at Sa Ket Temple. 

 

Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Thitiraj Nhongharnpitak headed the team to the monastery to take the monk into custody. The monk was brought to the CSD where he was interrogated for three hours. He was expressionless as he left the CSD. 

 

Police asked for permission from the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to detain him at a prison. 

 

The court granted the permission and decided to not grant bail to Phra Phromsitti. 

 

His lawyer had brought Bt1 million in cash for his bail plea.

 

Phra Phromsitti, 62, was ordained in 1976 and had been in monkhood until his defrockment yesterday. 

 

At the height of his monastic days, he was not just the abbot of Sa Ket Temple but also held several other important monastic positions.

 

He was an SSC member, the chief of the Monastic Region 10, and the chairman of Dhammaduta Office.

 

Following his defrockment, Phra Phromsitti is now known only as Thongchai Sukho. 

 

A source said Thongchai plans to hold a press conference on the allegations against him in the near future. 

 

The ongoing police investigation suggested that Thongchai must have played a role in illegitimately funnelling more than Bt79 million from the Sa Ket Temple in recent years. 

 

Some of the money reportedly went to a company that existed only on paper and was controlled by a woman who was close to a senior monk at the Sa Ket Temple. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30346623

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-31

[Get Real]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

He claims he did not report himself to police earlier because he wanted to mark the Visakha Bucha Day,

Yeah, religion is supposed to be used as an excuse for not doing the right thing.

[YetAnother]

per the photos, police and monks, two groups to avoid here

[thaichiro]

Just like herr Trump, this character has his host of mindless minions supporting his every corrupt move. Does it seem like the occurrance of these con men are on the rise? Very distressing!

[klauskunkel]

a drifting orange buoy in a see of brown, almost metaphorical, but definitely poetic

Edited May 31, 2018 by klauskunkel

[Juan B Tong]

How  he wanted to mark the Visakha Bucha Day