Two Thai monks were arrested in Kedah, Malaysia, for allegedly trafficking children from Thailand for ordination and soliciting donations. The arrest on April 7 followed an in-depth investigation by Malaysian police, who had monitored the monks’ activities over four years. These monks reportedly persuaded children to cross borders, sometimes without proper documentation, to join a temple in Malaysia.

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The children, aged between seven and 15, were then made to collect donations from local and foreign visitors. On the day of the arrest, 22 children were found being transported into Malaysia. Seven of these children, lacking valid entry documents, were detained while the remaining 17, with proper documentation, were sent back to Thailand.

The parents of the detained children have reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women for assistance. Among them, a mother named Ann revealed that her five-year-old son was taken from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Malaysia under false assurances of safe passage without a passport. The disappearance and subsequent detention of her son prompted her plea for intervention.

The founder of the Pavena Foundation, Paveena Hongsakul, has pledged to work with the Malaysian Embassy to verify the children’s situation and facilitate their return. This incident highlights the potential dangers of trusting seemingly reputable figures without proper verification, emphasizing the need for stricter guidelines and oversight in cross-border travel involving minors.

As investigations continue, authorities in both Thailand and Malaysia are expected to collaborate closely to prevent future occurrences.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 08 May 2026

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10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Malaysian police, who had monitored the monks’ activities over four years.

You have to be sure ,but 4 years where kids are involved ,is not on

regards worgeordie

8 hours ago, worgeordie said:

You have to be sure ,but 4 years where kids are involved ,is not on

regards worgeordie

If this is all true then nail the bastards and follow the story all the way to the top. There are so many stories about corrupt Buddhism and the poor people in the villages should not be duped into thinking their money should be misused by people like this.

And the rich people making merit should do it by giving it to the poor people.

So same as the Catholic pedophile priests then?

I don't think you can compare them to the pedophile priests as there didn't seem to be any illicit sex going on between the monks and the children.

What's the big deal? Isn't it the duty of all monks to exploit people for money? Why does the age matter? 🙁

7 hours ago, greeneking said:

If this is all true then nail the bastards and follow the story all the way to the top. There are so many stories about corrupt Buddhism and the poor people in the villages should not be duped into thinking their money should be misused by people like this.

And the rich people making merit should do it by giving it to the poor people.

You start off with a few kids begging and

soon you have a Space Ship temple worth

billions !

Monks behaving badly, what's new?

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Two Thai monks were arrested in Kedah, Malaysia, for allegedly trafficking children from Thailand for ordination and soliciting donations. The arrest on April 7 followed an in-depth investigation by Malaysian police, who had monitored the monks’ activities over four years. These monks reportedly persuaded children to cross borders, sometimes without proper documentation, to join a temple in Malaysia.

Get today's headlines by email

The children, aged between seven and 15, were then made to collect donations from local and foreign visitors. On the day of the arrest, 22 children were found being transported into Malaysia. Seven of these children, lacking valid entry documents, were detained while the remaining 17, with proper documentation, were sent back to Thailand.

The parents of the detained children have reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women for assistance. Among them, a mother named Ann revealed that her five-year-old son was taken from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Malaysia under false assurances of safe passage without a passport. The disappearance and subsequent detention of her son prompted her plea for intervention.

The founder of the Pavena Foundation, Paveena Hongsakul, has pledged to work with the Malaysian Embassy to verify the children’s situation and facilitate their return. This incident highlights the potential dangers of trusting seemingly reputable figures without proper verification, emphasizing the need for stricter guidelines and oversight in cross-border travel involving minors.

As investigations continue, authorities in both Thailand and Malaysia are expected to collaborate closely to prevent future occurrences.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 08 May 2026

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17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Two Thai monks were arrested in Kedah, Malaysia, for allegedly trafficking children from Thailand for ordination and soliciting donations. The arrest on April 7 followed an in-depth investigation by Malaysian police, who had monitored the monks’ activities over four years. These monks reportedly persuaded children to cross borders, sometimes without proper documentation, to join a temple in Malaysia.

Get today's headlines by email

The children, aged between seven and 15, were then made to collect donations from local and foreign visitors. On the day of the arrest, 22 children were found being transported into Malaysia. Seven of these children, lacking valid entry documents, were detained while the remaining 17, with proper documentation, were sent back to Thailand.

The parents of the detained children have reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women for assistance. Among them, a mother named Ann revealed that her five-year-old son was taken from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Malaysia under false assurances of safe passage without a passport. The disappearance and subsequent detention of her son prompted her plea for intervention.

The founder of the Pavena Foundation, Paveena Hongsakul, has pledged to work with the Malaysian Embassy to verify the children’s situation and facilitate their return. This incident highlights the potential dangers of trusting seemingly reputable figures without proper verification, emphasizing the need for stricter guidelines and oversight in cross-border travel involving minors.

As investigations continue, authorities in both Thailand and Malaysia are expected to collaborate closely to prevent future occurrences.

Join the discussion?

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 08 May 2026

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What sort of parent and whatever their circumstances and whatever assurances would allow a five year old child to be taken to another country ?

It beggars belief.

Exploiting kids for anything is quite a heinous crime, but for monks to be exploiting kids for cash is beyond the pale.

Would a death sentence be too extreme of punishment? It certainly seems appropriate. Nobody wound miss these vermin, posing as pious and religious men.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Exploiting kids for anything is quite a heinous crime, but for monks to be exploiting kids for cash is beyond the pale.

Would a death sentence be too extreme of punishment? It certainly seems appropriate. Nobody wound miss these vermin, posing as pious and religious men.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Exploiting kids for anything is quite a heinous crime, but for monks to be exploiting kids for cash is beyond the pale.

Would a death sentence be too extreme of punishment? It certainly seems appropriate. Nobody wound miss these vermin, posing as pious and religious men.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Exploiting kids for anything is quite a heinous crime, but for monks to be exploiting kids for cash is beyond the pale.

Would a death sentence be too extreme of punishment? It certainly seems appropriate. Nobody wound miss these vermin, posing as pious and religious men.

Dreadful actions of those trusted in the community- lock them up and throw away the key plesse

22 hours ago, worgeordie said:

You have to be sure ,but 4 years where kids are involved ,is not on

regards worgeordie

That sentence poked me in the eyes as well. They watched that for 4 years? Busloads of them?

5 hours ago, nausea said:

Monks behaving badly, what's new?

This a crime against humanity. It's why Putin is wanted at the ICC for his mass abuse of Ukrainian kids.

5 hours ago, StevieAus said:

What sort of parent and whatever their circumstances and whatever assurances would allow a five year old child to be taken to another country ?

It beggars belief.

The sorts of parents who've grown up in deeply superstitious villages, with little if any education, and in abject poverty.

The genuine monastery schools are many kids' only chance for an education. Maybe that's what those parents were told.

I saw a monastical school class being shown round a temple close to where I was living a couple of years ago. The kids were cool and they tried their English with me. The monk 'teacher' in charge saw it and forbade them really nastily, shepherding them roughly away.

He was carrying a stick in what I felt was a threatening manner, though he didn't use it in front of me. He herded them into a building where they had to sit down and chant. Now chanting is the favorite time of day for me on retreats. But I didn't feel this was at all healthy. Those kids had brightened up while trying to chat with me - all smiles. They'd rather have been learning with me. Their smiles disappeared immediately when the 'master' came along and chased them away from me.

He didn't engage with me at all which made me suspicious. I got the uneasy feeling that some temple kids are experiencing what so many did in borstals and children's homes in 50s thru 70s Britain. Just as bad and in some cases worse than the Catholic and CofE churches. There hasn't really been any thoroughgoing investigation and inquiries in Thailand yet as far as I'm aware. There's very little public awareness there could even be a problem with the monks being as revered as western pastors and priests.

That is exactly the kind of deep, dark shadow the abuse thrives in.

14 hours ago, gargamon said:

So same as the Catholic pedophile priests then?

The scandal of Catholic Priests, and young boys, is not about money, it's about Sexual exploitation.

Probably still happening.

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Two Thai monks were arrested in Kedah, Malaysia, for allegedly trafficking children from Thailand for ordination and soliciting donations. The arrest on April 7 followed an in-depth investigation by Malaysian police, who had monitored the monks’ activities over four years. These monks reportedly persuaded children to cross borders, sometimes without proper documentation, to join a temple in Malaysia.

Get today's headlines by email

The children, aged between seven and 15, were then made to collect donations from local and foreign visitors. On the day of the arrest, 22 children were found being transported into Malaysia. Seven of these children, lacking valid entry documents, were detained while the remaining 17, with proper documentation, were sent back to Thailand.

The parents of the detained children have reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women for assistance. Among them, a mother named Ann revealed that her five-year-old son was taken from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Malaysia under false assurances of safe passage without a passport. The disappearance and subsequent detention of her son prompted her plea for intervention.

The founder of the Pavena Foundation, Paveena Hongsakul, has pledged to work with the Malaysian Embassy to verify the children’s situation and facilitate their return. This incident highlights the potential dangers of trusting seemingly reputable figures without proper verification, emphasizing the need for stricter guidelines and oversight in cross-border travel involving minors.

As investigations continue, authorities in both Thailand and Malaysia are expected to collaborate closely to prevent future occurrences.

Join the discussion?

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 08 May 2026

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Monks exploiting Thais NEVER 😱

They get free food they get free money these tricky Thailand monks they find all and genius ways to make more money TIT

On 5/8/2026 at 5:00 PM, snoop1130 said:

Two Thai monks were arrested in Kedah, Malaysia, for allegedly trafficking children from Thailand for ordination and soliciting donations. The arrest on April 7 followed an in-depth investigation by Malaysian police, who had monitored the monks’ activities over four years. These monks reportedly persuaded children to cross borders, sometimes without proper documentation, to join a temple in Malaysia.

Get today's headlines by email

The children, aged between seven and 15, were then made to collect donations from local and foreign visitors. On the day of the arrest, 22 children were found being transported into Malaysia. Seven of these children, lacking valid entry documents, were detained while the remaining 17, with proper documentation, were sent back to Thailand.

The parents of the detained children have reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women for assistance. Among them, a mother named Ann revealed that her five-year-old son was taken from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Malaysia under false assurances of safe passage without a passport. The disappearance and subsequent detention of her son prompted her plea for intervention.

The founder of the Pavena Foundation, Paveena Hongsakul, has pledged to work with the Malaysian Embassy to verify the children’s situation and facilitate their return. This incident highlights the potential dangers of trusting seemingly reputable figures without proper verification, emphasizing the need for stricter guidelines and oversight in cross-border travel involving minors.

As investigations continue, authorities in both Thailand and Malaysia are expected to collaborate closely to prevent future occurrences.

Join the discussion?

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 08 May 2026

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Reputable figures, I'll leave that one alone.

9 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

You start off with a few kids begging and

soon you have a Space Ship temple worth

billions !

You have been to pathum thani khlong sam i see. Wat dhammakaya.

A good example of why people are losing faith... because those pretending to offer this service are nothing other than criminals, chancers, and abusers. If you truly believe, then you should distance yourself from this material and money abuse as it has gone too far.

3 hours ago, BusyB said:

The sorts of parents who've grown up in deeply superstitious villages, with little if any education, and in abject poverty.

The genuine monastery schools are many kids' only chance for an education. Maybe that's what those parents were told.

I saw a monastical school class being shown round a temple close to where I was living a couple of years ago. The kids were cool and they tried their English with me. The monk 'teacher' in charge saw it and forbade them really nastily, shepherding them roughly away.

He was carrying a stick in what I felt was a threatening manner, though he didn't use it in front of me. He herded them into a building where they had to sit down and chant. Now chanting is the favorite time of day for me on retreats. But I didn't feel this was at all healthy. Those kids had brightened up while trying to chat with me - all smiles. They'd rather have been learning with me. Their smiles disappeared immediately when the 'master' came along and chased them away from me.

He didn't engage with me at all which made me suspicious. I got the uneasy feeling that some temple kids are experiencing what so many did in borstals and children's homes in 50s thru 70s Britain. Just as bad and in some cases worse than the Catholic and CofE churches. There hasn't really been any thoroughgoing investigation and inquiries in Thailand yet as far as I'm aware. There's very little public awareness there could even be a problem with the monks being as revered as western pastors and priests.

That is exactly the kind of deep, dark shadow the abuse thrives in.

Buddhism is still the the No 1 scam in Thailand, the followers don't even believe that this could possibly happen. I have first hand experience as my wifes 2 brothers are monks. I believe they are both squeeky clean but then again who knows. The main thing is the Abbot is the one who should pull them into gear but this doesn't always apply to temples in the Isarn area.

1 hour ago, NONG CHOK said:

Buddhism is still the the No 1 scam in Thailand, the followers don't even believe that this could possibly happen. I have first hand experience as my wifes 2 brothers are monks. I believe they are both squeeky clean but then again who knows. The main thing is the Abbot is the one who should pull them into gear but this doesn't always apply to temples in the Isarn area.

Yeah, I can imagine.

Absolutely disgusting human beings. I hope karma catches up to all involved. Karma is about all I believe in these days and unfortunately that also maybe a fairy tale. Sad world.