27 Cambodians arrested for illegal entry, disguising themselves as monks

[webfact]

27 Cambodians arrested for illegal entry, disguising themselves as monks

By THE NATION

 

 

Twenty-seven Cambodian nationals have been arrested for entering the country without proper documentation and disguising themselves as Buddhist monks at Wat Talom temple in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district, Immigration Police chief Pol Lt-General Sompong Chingduang announced on Tuesday.

 

“We received a tip-off that the temple had several hundred monks living in a crowded space that could become a hotspot for Covid-19,” Sompong explained. “People also reported that some monks from this temple were selling food they received from the public in the morning to merchants at nearby markets for reselling.”

 

 

An investigation showed the temple had divided its living quarters into two separate areas.

 

“Normal monks live upstairs while migrant monks crowd the downstairs area as well as under the crematorium,” Sompong said.

 

“Officers found that 181 migrant monks from Myanmar, India, Cambodia, Laos and Bangladesh had proper documentation, but the 27 had neither entry papers nor ID cards stating they are monks.”

 

All 27, who were ordered to change out of their monk robes, were taken to Bang Saothong police station and charged with illegally entering the country and impersonating Buddhist monks.

 

Police have also launched an investigation of the temple’s abbot for allegedly assisting and hiding illegal migrants, Sompong added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401863

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-27

 

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[Enzian]

This is hilarious on one level, and could be a great Thai sit-com episode if the implications and repercussions were not so serious. I can see it now, with the over-acting mugging, the sound and visual effects, the outrageous reaction shots...

[PatOngo]

So, how did they manage to enter Thailand and get from the Cambodian border to the temple in Bangkok???

[Golden Triangle]

8 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

So, how did they manage to enter Thailand and get from the Cambodian border to the temple in Bangkok???

 

I hope most sincerely that you are not suggesting that any ' officials ' could have had anything to do with it ? ????????????????????????????????????????????????

[sanuk711]

9 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

So, how did they manage to enter Thailand and get from the Cambodian border to the temple in Bangkok???

The whole of the Thai border is very porous, & once your wearing Saffron, your usually afforded what help you need.

 

It really is quite irresponsible of the Wat Talom to to do this. 

[PatOngo]

8 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

 

I hope most sincerely that you are not suggesting that any ' officials ' could have had anything to do with it ?  

I asked  a simple question that seems to have escaped the attention of the shallow journalism we have come to expect!

[Phuketshrew]

8 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

It really is quite irresponsible of the Wat Talom to to do this. 

A nice little earner for the Abbot though - as someone once said "No flies on these Thais" .... ????

Edited January 27, 2021 by Phuketshrew

[bobandyson]

32 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

So, how did they manage to enter Thailand and get from the Cambodian border to the temple in Bangkok???

Possibly they were previously working in construction, fishing etc but laid off due to covid.

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

but the 27 had neither entry papers nor ID cards stating they are monks.”

 

1 minute ago, bobandyson said:

Possibly they were previously working in construction, fishing etc but laid off due to covid.

They got into Thailand somehow! Who enabled them?

[Justgrazing]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

“Normal monks live upstairs while migrant monks crowd the downstairs area as well as under the crematorium,” Sompong said

 

Hahahaha .. normal monks .. 

Are they the ones in the habit of drinking , gambling and snagging .. 

Love the bit where the usurpers have to live under the Crem' ..

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

as someone once said "No flies on these Thais" ..

No, but you can see where they've been.....