Thai Monk Nabbed Shoplifting Beer from Isaan Grocery Stores

[webfact]

video screenshot

 

Buddhist principles took a hit recently when a monk in Thailand’s Isaan province of Mukdahan was seen stealing beer.

 

On May 30, a grocery shop owner took to Facebook to share videos from her store's security cameras catching the monk in the act. The footage shows him selecting drinks from a fridge and slyly slipping a can of beer into his robe before taking another beverage to the cashier.

 

The shop owner, identified as Oom Phakhamon, observed the suspicious behaviour and checked her security footage. It confirmed her doubts. The monk had arrived in a white SUV, raising further suspicions that he might be a fake using the monk's robe as a guise for wrongdoing.

 

Monks in Thailand are strictly prohibited from drinking alcohol, purchasing food or beverages, and generally even driving cars. They rely on offerings from laypeople for sustenance and are seen as embodying a more ascetic lifestyle.

 

The shop owner said that the monk seemed around 50 years old and claimed she had never seen him at any local temples before. While it was unclear if she had reported the incident to the police, she shared the story on social media to alert the community.

 

 

Following this incident, another grocery store owner recognized the same monk committing theft at her store. She reviewed her security footage and confirmed he had stolen alcohol on two occasions. The shared experiences on social media have painted a worrying picture of misconduct.

 

The acting sub-district abbot is now investigating with plans to defrock the monk for repeated theft and alcohol consumption. This incident is part of a troubling trend; earlier this year, another monk in Buriram province was arrested for drinking and attempting to intrude into nuns' quarters.

 

In yet another case, a monk in Maha Sarakham province was found with methamphetamine and arrested after not paying for petrol and causing a vehicular accident.

 

These cases highlight a growing concern over monk misconduct and the importance of upholding Buddhist values in the community.

 

-- 2024-06-04

 

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[Gottfrid]

Another great representation of the hood. 

[brianthainess]

Whatever fake or real monk, it is not possible to bring the state funded cult, a worse name than it already has IMO. Booze, drugs, sex, rape, and theft. 

[wensiensheng]

Says it all about Thailand generally

[4MyEgo]

I understood a long time ago when my wife wouldn't feed them in the village like the others.

 

I said what gives, she said not me, they have hands and feet and can work instead of expecting food and donations from the poor.

 

They are good for nothing she said, um, ok dearest, I get it, nothing for the monks then .

[Sydebolle]

A Man of the Cloth nicking a beer - unthinkable

[TheFishman1]

Many fake things in ThailandTIT

[Purdey]

My guess is that as the country sinks further into economic chaos, more young men will see the monk hood as a form of social security rather than for any religious reason.

[rubyjuan]

Most are total scammers...Stealing brew from 7?  Haha

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Buddhist principles took a hit recently when a monk in Thailand’s Isaan province of Mukdahan was seen stealing beer.

A twist on giving alms, help oneself.

[hotchilli]

13 minutes ago, Purdey said:

My guess is that as the country sinks further into economic chaos, more young men will see the monk hood as a form of social security rather than for any religious reason.

Bang on... 

[BerndD]

 

He'll never be Thai, never! He can only be a farang! Deport him!

Believe it or nuts!

Edited June 4 by BerndD

[Peterphuket]

Reason for edit:

I make mistake, was only thinking monk take a beer for drinking at the tempel, but it was shoplifting, and of course that is wrong.

Edited June 4 by Peterphuket

[Guderian]

He's probably just bored stiff with all the red Fanta that the Thais seem to think Buddha loves! lol

[DjSilver]

Stealing, scamming, rape, drugs, that's all Thai monks do 🤣

[grain]

I've long been convinced that a great many, probably the majority, of Thai monks are useless, unskilled, uneducated bums who have nothing, have nobody, have no prospects, so they go to a temple and hey presto! They're a monk, a wise holy man that is instantly respected and revered, and cared for...free food, free housing, free toiletries, and have people groveling at their feet. 

[Cereal]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

I understood a long time ago when my wife wouldn't feed them in the village like the others.

 

I said what gives, she said not me, they have hands and feet and can work instead of expecting food and donations from the poor.

 

They are good for nothing she said, um, ok dearest, I get it, nothing for the monks then .

I completely agree with your wife. They have all the worst qualities of common street beggars. 

[Photoguy21]

19 minutes ago, grain said:

I've long been convinced that a great many, probably the majority, of Thai monks are useless, unskilled, uneducated bums who have nothing, have nobody, have no prospects, so they go to a temple and hey presto! They're a monk, a wise holy man that is instantly respected and revered, and cared for...free food, free housing, free toiletries, and have people groveling at their feet. 

I would disagree on one thing you say and that is that wearing the saffron robe makes people respect the person. I disagree with that, the people respect the robe not the necessarily the person wearing it.

[off road pat]

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

My guess is that as the country sinks further into economic chaos, more young men will see the monk hood as a form of social security rather than for any religious reason.

Hm,...When I cam to Thailand, more than 30 Y. ago, it was a well known fact that Buddhist temples were a refuge for criminals as well as for real Buddhists. Criminals on the run took refuge in temples far away from the places were they operated and became monks !. At that time they could change there identity while been monk. this has changed years ago, as the practice was widespread. Now Monks have a special ID card. But once and a while you still can see monks with  Tattoos to be meant to protect them against knife or gun attacks !!!, mixed with Buddhist tattoos !!

 

PS: The photograph is not mine ! It's just a example I Down Loaded long time ago

[Truth Teller]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

video screenshot

 

Buddhist principles took a hit recently when a monk in Thailand’s Isaan province of Mukdahan was seen stealing beer.

 

On May 30, a grocery shop owner took to Facebook to share videos from her store's security cameras catching the monk in the act. The footage shows him selecting drinks from a fridge and slyly slipping a can of beer into his robe before taking another beverage to the cashier.

 

The shop owner, identified as Oom Phakhamon, observed the suspicious behaviour and checked her security footage. It confirmed her doubts. The monk had arrived in a white SUV, raising further suspicions that he might be a fake using the monk's robe as a guise for wrongdoing.

 

Monks in Thailand are strictly prohibited from drinking alcohol, purchasing food or beverages, and generally even driving cars. They rely on offerings from laypeople for sustenance and are seen as embodying a more ascetic lifestyle.

 

The shop owner said that the monk seemed around 50 years old and claimed she had never seen him at any local temples before. While it was unclear if she had reported the incident to the police, she shared the story on social media to alert the community.

 

 

Following this incident, another grocery store owner recognized the same monk committing theft at her store. She reviewed her security footage and confirmed he had stolen alcohol on two occasions. The shared experiences on social media have painted a worrying picture of misconduct.

 

The acting sub-district abbot is now investigating with plans to defrock the monk for repeated theft and alcohol consumption. This incident is part of a troubling trend; earlier this year, another monk in Buriram province was arrested for drinking and attempting to intrude into nuns' quarters.

 

In yet another case, a monk in Maha Sarakham province was found with methamphetamine and arrested after not paying for petrol and causing a vehicular accident.

 

These cases highlight a growing concern over monk misconduct and the importance of upholding Buddhist values in the community.

 

-- 2024-06-04

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Monk-ee See Monk-ee do?

[connda]

Criminy, it never ends. 

[thesetat]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Monks in Thailand are strictly prohibited from drinking alcohol, purchasing food or beverages, and generally even driving cars. They rely on offerings from laypeople for sustenance and are seen as embodying a more ascetic lifestyle.

What a joke. for 12 years I have been reading about what monks do when no-one is looking and even seen it with my own eyes. Drugs, sex with married women, alcohol, murder, incest, child-sex or porn, theft, and many other crimes regularly. You see them walking around looking like the only live on the food sustenance until you see the 80,000 baht IPhone or Ipad they pull out. When will Thais realize that more than a few monks are not following Buddhism's teachings?  This article does not surprise me. Nor does it show Buddhism in a good light. Perhaps I need to go see that 8 year old kid who is claiming to be a reincarnation of Buddha with mystical powers to see what has happened to the real Buddhism?

[jesimps]

5 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Whatever fake or real monk, it is not possible to bring the state funded cult, a worse name than it already has IMO. Booze, drugs, sex, rape, and theft. 

You forgot noise! Dirty great speakers blasting out bass-heavy pop music every time someone goes to do his national monk service. 

[rocketboy2]

The Hub of naughty monks.

 

[Thingamabob]

6 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Whatever fake or real monk, it is not possible to bring the state funded cult, a worse name than it already has IMO. Booze, drugs, sex, rape, and theft. 

Yes indeed. Thailand is idolaltrous, not Buddhist.

[Parker2100]

6 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Whatever fake or real monk, it is not possible to bring the state funded cult, a worse name than it already has IMO. Booze, drugs, sex, rape, and theft. 

And Western Churches are better?  I think not.  People are people.

 

With so many Monks out and about in public, it will happen.  It sounds like appropriate measures are being taken.

 

 

[kidneyw]

A monk's life is a hard life, but someone has to do it.

Yeah right.

[Kinok Farang]

Doesn't look like a Brit.

[brianthainess]

12 minutes ago, Parker2100 said:

And Western Churches are better?  I think not.  People are people.

 

With so many Monks out and about in public, it will happen.  It sounds like appropriate measures are being taken.

 

 

Western Churches are not government funded. 

[Kinok Farang]

Years ago in Si Saket province the monks would go out 6am every morning begging.

In the afternoon they would then sell on any grub that they couldn't stuff into their fat faces to the villagers who to a man were piss poor.