Exam Scandal: Chiang Mai Monk Faces Dismissal and Legal Charges

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A senior monk from Chiang Mai faces criminal charges after an impersonation scandal during a crucial Pali examination in Bangkok. Minister Chusak Sirinil from the Prime Minister’s Office has urged legal action against the monk, who allegedly hired another monk to take the exam in his place.

 

The Chiang Mai ecclesiastical office quickly ordered the dismissal of the unnamed monk from his abbot position at a major local temple. He was also removed as head of the San Pa Tong district's clergy order. The impersonator was caught during the February 24-25 exam at Sanam Luang in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district.

 

A notice from Phra Thepmangkalachan, abbot of Wat Thaton and ecclesiastical governor, officially removed the monk from his responsibilities on March 2. This scandal not only broke Buddhist monastic rules but also violated religious integrity.

 

 

Chusak has notified the National Office of Buddhism and stressed that the offense requires swift action due to its criminal nature. This incident shines a light on the lax oversight in regional monk exams compared to those in Bangkok, which may allow for similar fraudulent activities.

 

The monk in question, reportedly 35, is known for often wearing sunglasses in public—an accessory his stand-in also wore during the exam but was visibly much older. An investigation is ongoing, and he may face consequences, including defrocking, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-04