Five former monks and a driver of the Pa Thamma Khiri monastery in Thailand’s north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima were escorted to the provincial court today (Thursday) by Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers to seek their further detention.

 

All five monks were defrocked and detained two days ago, along with the driver, after they were charged by the police over the embezzlement of more than 300 million baht in public donations to the monastery. All have denied the charges.

 

The former abbot of the monastery, Phra Khom, his sister, Chuthatip and another former monk, Phra Mor, had already been arrested for suspected embezzlement. About 180 million baht in cash, gold bars and ornaments were found in their possession, as well as bank account books of Phra Khom and Chuthatip.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-seek-further-detention-of-6-suspects-in-major-monastery-embezzlement-probe/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-05-11

 

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Crooked monks ? Boy, that's unusual !

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

All five monks were defrocked and detained two days ago, along with the driver, after they were charged by the police over the embezzlement of more than 300 million baht in public donations to the monastery. All have denied the charges.

That's not small change.

8 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Crooked monks ? Boy, that's unusual !

I agree.

 

There are over 300000 monks in Thailand. The stories of crooked ones here and in the past equate to less than 1%.