Jailed Thai ex-monk gets further 16 years for child rape, abduction

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Jailed Thai ex-monk gets further 16 years for child rape, abduction

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A former Buddhist monk who sparked outrage in Thailand over his lavish lifestyle and is already serving time for fraud was sentenced to a further 16 years in prison on Wednesday for abducting and raping a child.

 

Wirapol Sukphol, formerly known by his monastic name of Luang Pu Nenkham, was sentenced in August to 114 years in prison after a court found him guilty of fraud, money laundering and computer crimes.

 

He will only serve 20 years on those charges because that is the maximum for someone found guilty of multiple counts of the same offence.

 

He was seen in a YouTube video in 2013 holding wads of cash on a private jet. The same year, he was accused of having sex with an underage girl and was expelled from the monkhood.

 

He fled to the United States and was extradited back to Thailand last year.

 

"He raped a 13-year-old child and abducted her from her grandmother, but he denied it," Thanyanit Nitikrainon, a legal officer from the office of the attorney-general who attended the court hearing, told Reuters.

 

"The court found him guilty of both offences, sentencing him to eight years for each."

 

Neither Wirapol nor his lawyer were available for comment.

 

Wirapol's high-profile cases have highlighted a series of sex and money scandals that have rocked Thailand's Buddhist institution in recent years, resulting in calls for reforms of religious institutions.

 

The military government that came to power after a 2014 coup has stepped up efforts to clean up Buddhism by arresting monks involved in corruption and scrutinising temple finances.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-17

 

 

Former jet-setting monk gets 16 years for raping underage girl

By KESINEE TAENGKHIEO 
THE NATION

 

Former monk Wirapol “Luang Pu Nenkham” Sukphol, 39, arrives at Ratchadapisek Criminal Court in Bangkok on Wednesday to hear the verdict in a case involving the rape of a 14-year-old girl from 2000 to mid-2001.

 

FORMER MONK Wirapol Sukphol, known as jet-setting Luang Pu Nenkham, was given another 16 years behind bars for taking a 14-year-old girl away from her parents and allegedly raping her for nearly two years almost two decades ago.

 

The Ratchadapisek Criminal Court judge said this 16-year sentence would be added to the 20-year prison term he was given in August over charges of public fraud, money laundering and violation of the Computer Crimes Act. The court also accused the former monk of abusing his status to take advantage of a young girl and tarnishing the religion. 

 

The victim, who is now 32, said she was satisfied with the ruling and will follow up on the civil lawsuit she had filed at the Si Sa Ket Children and Family Court in 2013, in which she is seeking outstanding child support worth Bt40 million. Her trial was put on hold pending the Criminal Court’s ruling. 

 

 

The rapes committed between January 2000 to mid-2001 led to the girl getting pregnant. Wirapol had promised her Bt10,000 per month in child support, but the payments stopped after the first few months, she said. 

 

While the Department of Special Investigation was testing the child’s DNA, the former monk fled to the United States. Thailand later asked for his extradition. 

 

Wirapol was extradited last July to face charges, including the charge of raping an underage girl, which was backed by the paternity test that showed 15 matches. 

 

The former monk, who has been in detention since his extradition, still maintains his innocence. 

 

His lawyer said he will study the verdict and discuss it with his client before deciding on an appeal. 

 

In the August verdict, the court also ordered the former monk to pay more than Bt28.6 million to 29 damaged persons in compensation for duping them into making donations. 

 

The authorities have also confiscated Bt43.47 million worth of assets that Wirapol was not able to explain the origins of. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30356637

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-18

[darksidedog]

Hmmm! 114 years for fraud, money laundering and computer crimes and just 8 years a piece for abduction and rape of a minor.

Life might have been more appropriate for the latter two, just to make sure he never gets out to try it again.

 

[Damrongsak]

... Bt43.47 million worth of assets that Wirapol was not able to explain the origins of...

 

Boggles the mind.  He still looks like he's pleased with himself. 

 

A bit of an interesting article:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40678511

 

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

... Bt43.47 million worth of assets that Wirapol was not able to explain the origins of...

 

Boggles the mind.  He still looks like he's pleased with himself. 

 

A bit of an interesting article:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40678511

 

From the above article:

"Monks behaving badly"   "followers have described being beguiled by his soft, warm voice, and convinced by his claim to have powers - like the ability to walk on water and talk to deities"

Perhaps on behalf of his boss, the Pope should sue him for plagiarism or copyright theft?

 

[Damrongsak]

17 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

From the above article:

"Monks behaving badly"   "followers have described being beguiled by his soft, warm voice, and convinced by his claim to have powers - like the ability to walk on water and talk to deities"

Perhaps on behalf of his boss, the Pope should sue him for plagiarism or copyright theft?

 

Hey, I just beguiled my wife with my soft, warm voice after 40 years of marriage last week (our anniversary), and today is my birthday, too.  She actually talked to me.  Life is good.

[hobobo]

Thai Buddhism: an example to the world!

[sanemax]

4 minutes ago, hobobo said:

Thai Buddhism: an example to the world!

This isnt a typical act from Thai Monks 

[Stargeezr]

I just hope that this former monk faces a few Bubbas in jail and maybe

upsets one enough to get his neck wrung. Karma!

Geezer

 

[hobobo]

6 minutes ago, sanemax said:

This isnt a typical act from Thai Monks 

It didn't use to be, but rape, aggressive or threatening behaviour, drug dealing, theft, gambling, illegal dealings are becoming a regular feature of Thai monkhood, judging by reports on TV. Can't remember a murder case offhand, though I'm sure this will come too.

[user564545]

6 minutes ago, sanemax said:

This isnt a typical act from Thai Monks 

 

True, the usual acts do not include child abduction.

Usually the news that is reported about Thai monks only include fraud, money laundering, theft, drugs, beating of novices, deception, smuggling of endangered animal parts, etc.

 

[lvr181]

14 minutes ago, sanemax said:

This isnt a typical act from Thai Monks 

Maybe not typical but happens all too often. 

 

Still, I know of a "christian" faith that probably gives the buddhist monks a run for their money. ????

[Borzandy]

17 minutes ago, sanemax said:

This isnt a typical act from Thai Monks 

Are you sure? We do not know.

[sanemax]

16 minutes ago, secondfusilier said:

 

True, the usual acts do not include child abduction.

Usually the news that is reported about Thai monks only include fraud, money laundering, theft, drugs, beating of novices, deception, smuggling of endangered animal parts, etc.

 

Yes, some unsavory people do indeed join the Monkhood , but, its still not typical behavior 

[Wake Up]

2 hours ago, hobobo said:

It didn't use to be, but rape, aggressive or threatening behaviour, drug dealing, theft, gambling, illegal dealings are becoming a regular feature of Thai monkhood, judging by reports on TV. Can't remember a murder case offhand, though I'm sure this will come too.

Please advise us how many monks you know or have communicated with and if you speak and read the thai language?

[RichardColeman]

Since it probably wont increase his 20 years - why not prosecute him on release and throw him inside again ?

[ReMarKable]

Fool.  Indulgences are where the big money is.

[Syduan]

4 hours ago, sanemax said:

This isnt a typical act from Thai Monks 

Yea, only if they can getaway with it.

[Jingjock]

8 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

She actually talked to me.  Life is good.

Fool, should have left it the way it was (not talking) there very hard to find like that

[balo]

I remember this monk from pictures taken a few years ago , he was bragging about flying on private business jets and Thais critizised him for living a hi-so life . Good to see they finally catched him.

[johndudorn]

On 10/18/2018 at 1:14 AM, RichardColeman said:

Since it probably wont increase his 20 years - why not prosecute him on release and throw him inside again ?

The Ratchadapisek Criminal Court judge said this 16-year sentence would be added to the 20-year prison term he was given in August over charges of public fraud, money laundering and violation of the Computer Crimes Act.