Elderly man caught stealing from Nonthaburi temple sparks online debate

[webfact]

 

A dramatic video has emerged, showing an elderly man surreptitiously stealing money from a temple donation tree. The clip, shared by a Facebook user, has sparked a fierce debate among netizens, with some sympathising with the thief, suggesting his actions were driven by necessity.

 

However, others condemned the act as a violation of religious sanctity, regardless of the amount stolen. The incident occurred on 28th August at a temple in Nontha Buri province.

 

As the man entered the temple, he paid respects to the main Buddha statue before casually approaching the donation tree. He then removed a banknote attached to a stick and pocketed it before leaving the temple.

 

Following the video’s dissemination, the online community was split into two factions. One group empathised with the man, believing he was probably desperate and needed the money for food. They argued that if he were a habitual thief, he would have taken more than just one note. However, the other faction viewed his actions as legally and ethically wrong, regardless of the amount involved.

Upon investigation, local authorities visited the temple in Nonthaburi. Boonthing Taangjai, the village headman and a temple committee member, revealed that suspicions arose when donations from the tree inside the temple started disappearing frequently, leaving behind empty sticks.

 

by Nattapong Westwood

Image courtesy of Khao Sod Online

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/elderly-man-caught-stealing-from-nonthaburi-temple-sparks-online-debate

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-08-29

 

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[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

As the man entered the temple, he paid respects to the main Buddha statue before casually approaching the donation tree.

Forgive me father for I'm about to sin.. can you look the other way.

The monthly government pension of 600 baht has run out.

Edited August 29, 2023 by hotchilli

[Purdey]

Isn't it normal for the Thai government to ignore abject poverty?

Catch him and look at his circumstances before passing judgement. 

[RichardColeman]

58 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The monthly government pension of 600 baht has run out.

In reality the pathetic Thai pension is the same as one box of Chang ! In reality it probably also goes on one box of Chang !

[BE88]

An act of desperation, the situation is very critical for many Thais.

[fredwiggy]

27 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

In reality the pathetic Thai pension is the same as one box of Chang ! In reality it probably also goes on one box of Chang !

All can be true. Some steal to eat, some to drink, some for drugs. People back home in the US trade their food stamps, which is figured out by the amount of family members and is pretty generous, to buy whatever.

[J Branche]

Poverty is real.  Girlfriends parents have rice, oil, egg, and on occasion chicken or fish.  Only Water to drink. The family all gives to buy 1 bottle of Whiskey on weekends.

 

I am still learning but it appears that some temples have excessive contributions.  I have always wondered what the temples contribute to the local people.

 

Edited August 29, 2023 by J Branche

[fredwiggy]

3 minutes ago, J Branche said:

Poverty is real.  Girlfriends parents have rice, oil, egg, and on occasion chicken or fish.  Only Water to drink. The family all gives to buy 1 bottle of Whiskey on weekends.

 

I am still learning but it appears that some temples have excessive contributions.  I have always wondered what the temples contribute to the local people.

 

I was a Catholic (basically Christian now) and thought the same about the churches and their wealth. Nothing wrong with helping out your church but I'm not sure they need lavish.

[tandor]

41 minutes ago, J Branche said:

Poverty is real.  Girlfriends parents have rice, oil, egg, and on occasion chicken or fish.  Only Water to drink. The family all gives to buy 1 bottle of Whiskey on weekends.

 

I am still learning but it appears that some temples have excessive contributions.  I have always wondered what the temples contribute to the local people.

 

????  must be tempting for some folk

[VocalNeal]

18 minutes ago, tandor said:

????  must be tempting for some folk

A local lad was caught by RTP last week for stealing the money from the local temple donation box.

[soalbundy]

He probably thought, 'money does grow on trees'

[Tanna]

11 hours ago, soalbundy said:

He probably thought, 'money does grow on trees'

No future in picking the wrong tree.

[brianthainess]

So who does that money go to? The monks who go out begging everyday for FREE food?, That are so lazy they don't even cook their own food, yet alone wash up, free accommodation and gifted off the shoulder frocks.

Bludgers on society  the lot of them.  

I wonder if he had asked a monk for 100b to eat whether he would have got it.