Thai authorities better prepared to nab misbehaving monks

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Authorities better prepared to nab misbehaving monks
Opas Boonlom,
Supon Thanukid
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Buddhists in Thailand are perhaps facing one of the worst crises in the Sangha as articles about misbehaving monks continue appearing on newspapers' front pages almost every day.

One such case is Wirapol Sukpol, an ex-monk formerly known as Luang Pu Nenkham, whose love for a luxurious lifestyle was first exposed via social media. His behaviour has shocked most people, including his followers.

The Criminal Court recently issued an arrest warrant for Wirapol on three charges. The warrant has a 10-year statute of limitations running from July 2, 2013 to July 2, 2023.

Tarit Pengdith, chief of the Department of Special Investigations (DSI), said the three charges were: violating the Computer Crime Act by allegedly posting false information on the Net to raise donations; statutory rape of a minor under the age of 15; and taking the minor away from her parents/guardians.

Now comes the tough job of bringing Wirapol back to Thailand to face punishment. Will this de-frocked monk follow in the footsteps of another monk who misbehaved?

Around 20 years ago, Thai authorities failed to bring the once-popular Phra Yantra back to the Kingdom. Yantra or Winai La-ongsuwan was defrocked after being accused of having had sex with his female followers. He later fled to the United States and was granted political asylum.

Records show that Thai officials did not push for the revocation of Yantra's passport and visa, nor did they seek his extradition.

However, in Wirapol's case, the DSI will not try to request his extradition as they know this process is time consuming.

Instead, the agency has chosen to notify the Office of National Buddhism to get the Centre for Monks and Novices' Foreign Travel Control to push for the revocation of Wirapol's passport. Tarit added that the DSI had already contacted the US and European countries to revoke the suspect's visa.

Obviously, once Wirapol's visa and passport are cancelled he should be flushed out of hiding soon, Tarit said. He added that DSI officials were ready to travel to the relevant country to pick him up, a process that should be completed in no time.

There is one thing the former monks share - they both face sex-related charges. Except in Wirapol's case it is more severe because he had sex with a minor. Plus he is believed to have been involved in money laundering and trafficking drugs.

The DSI will be asking concerned agencies to freeze and seize Wirapol's assets, such as his 41 bank accounts, land under his name as well as the many luxury cars he allegedly bought in different parts of the country.

If solid evidence is uncovered and investigation can prove that the former monk did indeed commit all the crimes, then it is quite likely that he will not escape punishment like Yantra did.


-- The Nation 2013-07-19

[NongKhaiKid]

Another DSI press release and another Tarit " special ". He is still on about freezing long gone assets other than the cars, they know how to handle everything only it takes them a lifetime to get around to it but mention Democrats and he's in like Flint.

[Thai at Heart]

They don't want to look into this too closely.

If one does it, what odds he is the only one???

[jamhar]

The issue is making international news wire.

There's been a string of negative press regarding TL lately

http://news.yahoo.com/thailand-riveted-jet-setting-monk-scandal-085447299.html

[NongKhaiKid]

They don't want to look into this too closely.

If one does it, what odds he is the only one???

Tip of the proverbial iceberg and stretching out to many rich, important and powerful people

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm sure many of the inter-departmental case conferences called by Tarit are not on how to get Wirapol back but how to minimise the fallout.

If Wirapol has any sense he will go into hiding, not to avoid arrest but rather to keep living. Dead men don't tell tales.

[ETatBKK]

QUOTE :

Tarit Pengdith, chief of the Department of Special Investigations (DSI), said the three charges were:

I) violating the Computer Crime Act by allegedly posting false information on the Net to raise donations;

ii) statutory rape of a minor under the age of 15; and

iii) taking the minor away from her parents/guardians.

OPINION : do you think DSI could drag him back from US, with these local minor criminal ?

QUOTE :

Except in Wirapol's case it is more severe because he had sex with a minor. Plus he is believed to have been involved in iv) money laundering and v) trafficking drugs.

OPINION : DSI still EYES on these big stuffs ?

[4evermaat]

I honestly dont see how secular authorities are getting involved in what appears to be mostly religious affairs.

We pick our teachers and we get what we want, isn't it?

"...the 2nd best time to plant a tree is today." Sent from ThaiVisa app (Galaxy Note 2).

[Tatsujin]

The DSI will be asking concerned agencies to freeze and seize Wirapol's assets, such as his 41 bank accounts, land under his name as well as the many luxury cars he allegedly bought in different parts of the country.

You know when they don't want something to go much further . . . they announce in public that they will do certain things before actually doing them, giving those involved the time to remove all those assets before they get seized. In those cases that did actually go further, they don't announce anything until such time as they have already done it.

[Thai at Heart]

allegedly posting false information on the Net to raise donations

My word, if they cracked down on every hocum potion that has absolutely no scientific proof behind it, that is advertised in Thailand every day, they would close down hundreds of companies. Birds nest soup, childrens milk that makes you more intelligent?

[moe666]

I honestly dont see how secular authorities are getting involved in what appears to be mostly religious affairs.

We pick our teachers and we get what we want, isn't it?

"...the 2nd best time to plant a tree is today." Sent from ThaiVisa app (Galaxy Note 2).

Sex with a minor is a religious problem?

[moe666]

I honestly dont see how secular authorities are getting involved in what appears to be mostly religious affairs.

We pick our teachers and we get what we want, isn't it?

"...the 2nd best time to plant a tree is today." Sent from ThaiVisa app (Galaxy Note 2).

Sex with a minor is a religious problem?

[Neilly]

Authorities better prepared to nab misbehaving monks

Characteristics to look out for:

Has Gucci shades, Louis Vuitton luggage and owns luxury cars and flies by private jet

[jaltsc]

"There is one thing the former monks share - they both face sex-related charges. Except in Wirapol's case it is more severe because he had sex with a minor. Plus he is believed to have been involved in money laundering and trafficking drugs."

Looks like there will be a new travel agency in the west run by Wirapol. He has all the knowledge about the places and activities to satisfy the desires of the perv tourist set. Be ready to see TAT touting its success in increasing tourism in LOS.

Edited July 19, 2013 by jaltsc

[noitom]

How are the "authorities" better prepared to nab misbehaving monks? What terminology! "Misbehaving" a preposterous illustration of his behavior. His ability to accumulate that much wealth, open those bank accounts, purchase those luxury vehicles, and fly around for so long like that flaunting his ill gotten wealth is astonishing.

[LuckyLew]

What a surprise that they will not try bring him home

Translation = too many rich and powerful people will be exposed if he comes back so we will just let him stay where he is and keep all the money.

Amazing Thailand

[LuckyLew]

What a surprise that they will not try bring him home

Translation = too many rich and powerful people will be exposed if he comes back so we will just let him stay where he is and keep all the money.

Amazing Thailand

[lee b]

Maybe they should be sent to the head teacher for misbehaving

[Emdog]

So the meter is running... "The Criminal Court recently issued an arrest warrant for Wirapol on three charges. The warrant has a 10-year statute of limitations running from July 2, 2013 to July 2, 2023." I am no lawyer, but seems that once a person is charged, there is no statute of limitations. If crime that could be charged was over ten years old, then they could avoid prosecution. Excepting crimes against humanity and such, as shown by occasional nazi being charged these days.

[Halion]

This" monk" is gone for good and all the DSI activities are related to asset seizure and cover up only.

Cancellation of his passport is a worthless jesture if an Interpol red notice is not sent out along with papers for extradition. This will not be done as his return would certainly lead to certain parties getting egg on their faces. This was not about generous donations it was a massive money laundring scam on several fronts.

Furthermore owing to the incredible amount of cash and assets involved you can be assured that there will be people in this country with a vested interested to get hiim a new identity. and help him disappear, perhaps for good.

[Pib]

Authorities better prepared to nab misbehaving monks

I really don't see anything in the article that talks about the headline....that is, I don't see anything that takes about being better "prepared."

The DSI is in pure after-the-fact, jump through their arce mode right now. After the media lose interest in this story, DSI will revert to their "reading the newspapers" mode to find new cases to jump through their arce for.

[Markaew]

You know your country has gone to hell with corruption when you need a crackdown on monks.

[marell]

The potential for obscenely large amounts of cash/gold/property might be a factor. Certainly provides more compelling incentive to nab 'misbehaving' monks. Anyone looking for a piece of that action would want to be prepared.

Edited July 19, 2013 by marell

[Songhua]

Authorities better prepared to nab misbehaving monks

Characteristics to look out for:

Has Gucci shades, Louis Vuitton luggage and owns luxury cars and flies by private jet

... and a forklift.

[bangon04]

This" monk" is gone for good and all the DSI activities are related to asset seizure and cover up only.

Cancellation of his passport is a worthless jesture if an Interpol red notice is not sent out along with papers for extradition. This will not be done as his return would certainly lead to certain parties getting egg on their faces. This was not about generous donations it was a massive money laundring scam on several fronts.

Furthermore owing to the incredible amount of cash and assets involved you can be assured that there will be people in this country with a vested interested to get hiim a new identity. and help him disappear, perhaps for good.

Seems to me the potential embarrassment to powerful figures in Thailand would be more likely to lead to the "monk" having a fatal accident rather than be rewarded for his blatant flaunting of his extracurricular work...