Police arrested a Thai monk for stealing Buddha statues and antiques from three temples in the northern province of Phitsanulok. The thief claimed he committed the theft for the first time because he needed money to fix his car.

 

The Commander of Phitsanulok Provincial Police, Nikhom Kruenopparat, informed ThaiRath that on the evening of Tuesday, June 4, a 59 year-old monk named Boonshirt Klinyaem was apprehended at a resort in Phitsanulok. Subsequently, the Police escorted the monk to a nearby temple for a disrobing ceremony before interrogation.

 

During their investigation, officers confiscated stolen Buddha statues and antiques from the resort, consisting of two Buddha statue heads, five Buddha statues, and Thai traditional ceramic ware known as Sangkhalok.

 

Nikhom explained that Boonshirt committed the thefts on May 30. He drove his black Honda Accord sedan to the resort to change from his monk’s robe into ordinary clothes. He then went to the first temple, Wat Khuha Sawan, and stole a Phra Buddha Chinnarat statue.

 

Boonshirt then moved to the second temple, Wat Tha Maprang, and stole another Phra Buddha Chinnarat statue. At the last temple, Wat Rat Burana, Boonshirt stole a Buddha statue along with Sangkhalok ceramic ware before returning to the resort.

 

Each temple filed a report with the police, prompting officers to review security camera footage at each location to identify the thief. They successfully arrested Boonshirt at the resort.

 

Boonshirt disclosed that he was a monk at Koh Mai Daeng Temple in the northern province of Sukhothai. He claimed that he needed money to fix his broken car and decided to steal the valuable statues and antiques to sell them online.

 

Boonshirt insisted that this was his first offence and he had not yet sold the stolen objects. However, police were not convinced because two Buddha statue heads did not belong to the three temples. Police suspect Boonshirt may have committed previous crimes.

 

Boonshirt was charged under Section 335 of the Criminal Law: committing theft at night. The penalty is imprisonment from one to five years and a fine from 20,000 to 100,000 baht.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo via TNews

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-06

 

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5 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Police arrested a Thai monk for stealing Buddha statues and antiques from three temples in the northern province of Phitsanulok. The thief claimed he committed the theft for the first time because he needed money to fix his car.

 

The Commander of Phitsanulok Provincial Police, Nikhom Kruenopparat, informed ThaiRath that on the evening of Tuesday, June 4, a 59 year-old monk named Boonshirt Klinyaem was apprehended at a resort in Phitsanulok. Subsequently, the Police escorted the monk to a nearby temple for a disrobing ceremony before interrogation.

 

During their investigation, officers confiscated stolen Buddha statues and antiques from the resort, consisting of two Buddha statue heads, five Buddha statues, and Thai traditional ceramic ware known as Sangkhalok.

 

Nikhom explained that Boonshirt committed the thefts on May 30. He drove his black Honda Accord sedan to the resort to change from his monk’s robe into ordinary clothes. He then went to the first temple, Wat Khuha Sawan, and stole a Phra Buddha Chinnarat statue.

 

Boonshirt then moved to the second temple, Wat Tha Maprang, and stole another Phra Buddha Chinnarat statue. At the last temple, Wat Rat Burana, Boonshirt stole a Buddha statue along with Sangkhalok ceramic ware before returning to the resort.

 

Each temple filed a report with the police, prompting officers to review security camera footage at each location to identify the thief. They successfully arrested Boonshirt at the resort.

 

Boonshirt disclosed that he was a monk at Koh Mai Daeng Temple in the northern province of Sukhothai. He claimed that he needed money to fix his broken car and decided to steal the valuable statues and antiques to sell them online.

 

Boonshirt insisted that this was his first offence and he had not yet sold the stolen objects. However, police were not convinced because two Buddha statue heads did not belong to the three temples. Police suspect Boonshirt may have committed previous crimes.

 

Boonshirt was charged under Section 335 of the Criminal Law: committing theft at night. The penalty is imprisonment from one to five years and a fine from 20,000 to 100,000 baht.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo via TNews

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-06

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Poor old Boonshirt he needed them more than the Temple. I wonder what the Abbots car is a BMW ?

Looking at the picture, those statues seem neither bronze antiques, nor are any of the bowls historical Sangkhalok ceramics.

 

But hey, if even the Thais do not know about their cultural history, who am I to speak up?

Monks are not meant to drive though ! 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Police arrested a Thai monk for stealing Buddha statues and antiques from three temples in the northern province of Phitsanulok. The thief claimed he committed the theft for the first time because he needed money to fix his car.

Stupid Monk-Thief, why don't you just make an amulet that will protect and fix your car?

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Police arrested a Thai monk for stealing Buddha statues and antiques from three temples in the northern province of Phitsanulok. The thief claimed he committed the theft for the first time because he needed money to fix his car

Den of thieves... 

20 minutes ago, ronster said:

Monks are not meant to drive though ! 

Maybe the Mia Noi does?

16 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Poor old Boonshirt he needed them more than the Temple. I wonder what the Abbots car is a BMW ?

A temple close to my location "Wat Pailom" the head monk owns a "Panther" car and is not ashamed to show it off.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/lawyer-stands-by-monk-in-car-controversy-58416.php

The title should read former Thai Monk as this guy needs to be disrobed permanently.

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Monks are not meant to drive though ! 

He isn't driving, the Honda died.

He only wanted to help reincarnate it 

Boonshirt

 

Do not take your car to the dealer to get it fixed

Let´s start talk about Thailands biggest criminal organizations. First we have the BiB, closely followed by the GiO (Guys in Orange).........on third place we have Gov and the 1 % ers.