Lam Dong Monk Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Minors at Unofficial Pagoda

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In a disturbing case, Lam Dong Province police have arrested a monk accused of sexually abusing boys at a private Buddhist pagoda in Da Lat City. Nguyen Dat Vu, 38, known monastically as Thich Nguyen Huy and Thich Van Chanh, is under investigation for the rape of minors.

The allegations against Vu emerged earlier this year when families of some boys reported to the police that he had been sexually assaulting their children, aged nine to sixteen, at the facility managed by Vu. These offenses are alleged to have occurred since August 2023.

Vu was tasked by the head monk of a pagoda in 2018 to supervise boys sent by their families to learn monastic practices. However, concerns grew as some boys confided in a former resident who left after turning 18. This young man, upon learning of the abuse, informed the parents, who then collectively reported to the police.

An investigation confirmed these claims, revealing evidence of Vu's criminal activities, leading to his arrest on April 1. Presently, there are accounts of at least seven victims, though the facility originally housed ten boys, three of whom have since left.

The Information and Communication Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Lam Dong clarified that the site was not an official facility managed by the Sangha but a private residence. The Sangha had expelled Vu and revoked his monastic registration back in November 2024 after violations of monastic precepts were reported.

This case underscores the necessity for vigilance and proper oversight within monastic institutions to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse, reported VN Express.