Pattaya: Man steals 200,000 baht from a temple - then goes on bargirl spending spree!

[webfact]

Pattaya: Man steals 200,000 baht from a temple - then goes on bargirl spending spree!

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A serial thief in Pattaya stole 200,000 baht in cash and goods from a temple in Huay Yai. 

 

Then he hit the bars in Pattaya. 

 

He splashed the cash on the women buying one a 30,000 baht necklace. But his escapade seemed somehow out of character and his antics soon led to his downfall. 

 

Police arrested him flaked out and exhausted in a barber's chair in a department store a couple of days later. 

 

His name is Somchai Laikhao, aged 48. 

 

The story began on Friday when the acting abbot of Wat Theppabutr Phra Somjet went to the Huay Yai constabulary to report that 200,000 baht had gone missing from the monks' quarters. 

 

It was cash for tiling repairs to a pavilion, 20 amulets and a ceremonial knife. The monks had a good idea of the miscreant and were able to give police valuable information. 

 

Following the theft Somchai, from Nakhon Phanom, hit the bright lights. A bouncer at one relieved him of the ceremonial knife that was in his possession - a first sign that all was not right. The knife was recognised.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Then Somchai began splashing out all his money on the girls including buying one a one baht gold necklace. 

 

This all led to Somchai's arrest in a salon on Sunday. He was exhausted after his exertions.

 

The Pattaya police helped out and soon he was on the way back to Huay Yai to face the police and an entourage of monks. 

 

Police said that Somchai has multiple thefts to his name. They are in possession of the CCTV at the bar showing his cash handouts. 

 

Phra Somjet said it would be marvellous if the beneficiaries of his largesse handed back the money and the amulets. 

 

But if the girls needed it for their families that was okay - "mai pen rai" he said. 

 

Somchai didn't have a clue where all the loot had gone, reported Thai Rath.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-08-17

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[tomazbodner]

You couldn't make this up...

[colinneil]

Goodness gracious, fancy stealing from the monks, he needs hung drawn and quartered for that.????

 

[Orton Rd]

At least he did not waste the cash then, a real life Robbin Hood Somchai

[BobBKK]

Somchai, Somchai, Somchai stealing from the rich and giving to the poor does not include bar girls bro... now go and read the Dhamapada 100 times!

[MJKT2014]

At least the monks seem to see the funny or ironic side to the story. Probably brings back a few memories on how they ended up in the temple.

[fangless]

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

200,000 baht had gone missing from the monks' quarters. 

What were Monks doing with that amount of cash in their quarters?

[AhFarangJa]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

His name is Somchai Laikhao, aged 48. 

Surely they mean Somchai Lao khao............

Edited August 17, 2020 by AhFarangJa

[darksidedog]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

Phra Somjet said it would be marvellous if the beneficiaries of his largesse handed back the money and the amulets. 

Glad to see that someone kept their sense of humour. Stunning and miraculous would probably be closer to the mark than marvelous.

[pookondee]

And just reading comments on another thread about how Thai guys dont pay..

its only old farangs that give money to BGs

they reckon.

[bluesofa]

21 minutes ago, fangless said:

What were Monks doing with that amount of cash in their quarters?

Don't ask awkward questions

[Grumpy one]

If the bar girls are true Buddhists they will return all that Somchai gave to them ????

[Wiggy]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

to report that 200,000 baht had gone missing from the monks' quarters. 

A bank account comes in useful for storing large amounts of cash. Me thinks this money wasn't for "tiling repairs to the pavilion."

[varun]

Always a Somchai

[tomazbodner]

1 hour ago, fangless said:

What were Monks doing with that amount of cash in their quarters?

1 hour ago, webfact said:

It was cash for tiling repairs to a pavilion

Too difficult to read OP?

 

[PatOngo]

49 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

If the bar girls are true Buddhists they will return all that Somchai gave to them ????

OMB! I'm sure the 1 baht gold chain has already been returned to the gold shop and the money half spent by now.

[PatOngo]

No doubt about ol' Somchai, 30,000 baht gold chain to a short time whore, that's expensive sex! Any way, he won't need money, he'll be eating free boiled fish heads and watery rice for a while.

[PatOngo]

Is that a Buddhist blessing?

 

[geronimo]

When asked what motivated him to commit the crime, poor old Somchai cited Thai culture, which had spoiled him rotten since birth, plus the education system that left him short on the critical thinking skills, and he can't wait to be released, so he can do it all again .....

[essox essox]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Goodness gracious, fancy stealing from the monks, he needs hung drawn and quartered for that.????

 

no your wrong...he should be made to become a man of the orange cloth......and contribute to society......!!!

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

it would be marvellous if the beneficiaries of his largesse handed back the money and the amulets.

Pigs-might-FlyLand.

[KhunKenAP]

Should help with TAT's rich tourist numbers for Pattaya.

[bluesofa]

16 minutes ago, essox essox said:

no your wrong...he should be made to become a man of the orange cloth......and contribute to society......!!!

'a man of the orange cloth' - just like this guy

[Antonymous]

Consider the origin of the money. Did the monks earn it? Nope, it probably came from donations.

 

Many devout bargirls regularly contribute to monks' coffers. So then Somchai steals it and gives it back to the bargirls.

 

Just part of life and the endless money merry-go-round!

Edited August 17, 2020 by Antonymous

[bluesofa]

24 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Is that a Buddhist blessing?

 

Ah, you've heard that as well - 'Those blessed Buddhists'

[holy cow cm]

Good to know bar girls will take everyone's money.

[ezzra]

money well spent if you ask me... not only the spirit and soul should enjoy the money and manna from heaven for the lasses no doubt...

Edited August 17, 2020 by ezzra

[2 is 1]

1 hour ago, fangless said:

What were Monks doing with that amount of cash in their quarters?

In close our village have small Temple in forest. There live only one monk. Somebody donate car to that monk!

Before he had Fila sandal's now he go whit Toyota to get hes daily meals and pocket money! 

I think soon somebody donate they daughter to him so he get somebody to "talk" whit him in hes car trips!

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He splashed the cash on the women buying one a 30,000 baht necklace.

Did the monks asked to get it back?

And what was her answer?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

17 hours ago, fangless said:

What were Monks doing with that amount of cash in their quarters?

 

I was wondering when someone was going to ask that very obvious question, the answer to which is conveniently -- but not convincingly -- explained away in the news report as waiting for a tiling project.

 

Perhaps their code eschews bank accounts?  Because oftentimes it seems, such folks seem to have LOTS of loose cash just laying around their temples in not exactly secure places...  Waiting to be spent on something....