Fugitive Ex-Monk Reappears In Laos, Report Says

[Lite Beer]

Fugitive Ex-Monk Reappears In Laos, Report Says

BANGKOK: -- The wealthy former monk hunted by the Thai police is reported to come out of hiding in Laos.

Mr. Wirapol Sukpol, formerly known prior to his banishment from monkhood as Luang Pu Nen Kham, has been eluding the arrest warrant served by the Division of Special Investigation (DSI) by staying abroad since the scandal erupted.

The DSI wants him to stand trial for frauds, money laundering, and sexual assault of an underage girl.

The latest reports appear to indicate that the ex-monk is residing "on a mountain in Laos", where he reportedly meets with many of his disciples regularly.

According to a source, Mr. Wirapol, still dresses himself fully as a monk, and comes to receive food offered to him by villagers every morning, even on the rainy days.

The source also claims that his disciples travel to meet him on rented mini-van on weekends from Thailand. During his monkhood, Mr. Wirapol commands a considerable influence, boasting police officers and businessmen as his spiritual supporters.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sukij Poonsrikasem, the lawyer of Mr. Wirapol, disputed the DSI′s claim that his client′s DNA test result matches with that of a child he allegedly fathered with a woman who was a minor at the time.

Mr. Wirapol’s lawyer said that the DNA test was conducted on what believed to be the trace of Mr. Wirapol’s saliva, which might be falsely created. The DSI said it found traces of the DNA from a cigar butt.

“it is not fair for Mr. Wirapol since the sample was not taken from him” Mr. Sukij complained “Not he had been judged by the society from the evidence, which might have been a fake”.

Mr. Sukij also discussed legal terms of ‘rape’, once he heard that the Division of Special Investigation (DSI) is pursuing legal action against his client.

“In order to prosecute someone for rape, you need medical confirmation that the incident actually occurred” said Mr. Sukit, who firmly believed that the prosecutors will never take up the case due to the weak evidence.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM056UXlNRE16Tmc9PQ==

--KHAOSOD English 2013-08-25

[DeeMaiDee]

Why has this fraud not been extradited to Thailand...Something stinks rotten...

[poohy]

Strange!

If a mini bus load of "monk fans" for want of a better description can find in on this mountain in Laos why cant Thailand's law enforcement officers finest and the DSI

[kirk0233]

Huh...receives food offerings from villagers even on rainy days.

[Sing_Sling]

Huh...receives food offerings from villagers even on rainy days.

He is a monk after all, committed to poverty as a cleansing . . . what a legend

[harrry]

He may in fact find the law in Laos is not enforced the same as here.

[LuukKoeyKorat]

What a full sack of chicken shit. A few weeks ago he announced he was ready to come back and fight all charges against him.

[trainman34014]

Handy being just over the border as he can continue to communicate with his co-conspirators and the business continues as before. Just needs to open some new accounts in Lao and the money can be laundered out of Thailand. I'm sure his old customers will be queuing up with bundles of dirty cash to be processed.

[Lobo4819]

His spiritual supporters "included police officers and businessmen". And, of course, politicians. Not much of a surprise there, except they forgot to mention they are also financial supporters.

I'm sure that on rainy days, he just drives one of his Benzes down the mountain to accept the food offerings.

[culicine]

Huh...receives food offerings from villagers even on rainy days.

normally he would use the benz when it's raining....hence the shock expressed in the article

oops lobo beat me to it:)

[ChrisY1]

Not arrested yet.....not surprising when there is so much at stake.....no-one wants to cook their goose too early

[saakura]

Strange!

If a mini bus load of "monk fans" for want of a better description can find in on this mountain in Laos why cant Thailand's law enforcement officers finest and the DSI

Because Laos is a separate sovereign country and the DSI cannot just go there and fetch him like Uncle Sam got Osama from Pakistan.

[A1Str8]

If they want to take him back here to prosecute him, they can.

If they are not going to do it that is because they dont want to.

[annabel]

Why has this fraud not been extradited to Thailand...Something stinks rotten...

The power of money !! and those related to that big money !

[annabel]

What a full sack of chicken shit. A few weeks ago he announced he was ready to come back and fight all charges against him.

Exactly !! And they knew exactly where he was ! DSI in full action nah...? and whatever other government bodies here claim to be so adept at stopping crime and catching the criminals ... Pffff!! what a bunch !

[Bagwan]

What a farce. You couldn't make this up.

[BrianCR]

Proof babies, show some PROOF or wait and see what happens!

[bigbamboo]

I imagine he's busy reacquainting himself with Buddhism just now.... and avoiding the like button on Facebook.

[NongKhaiKid]

The DSI has held press conferences to outline the depth of their case against the fugitive but do nothing to bring him back.

Have the Laotian authorities been contacted about him, probably not and and unlikely to be.

I am all but convinced there is no appetite to bring him back because he knows too much and it he starts talking it would be amazing who he might name and how far up the ladder it would go.

His words could be written off as someone simply trying to save himself and it might not be that simple especially if, for example, he can produce documentary evidence.

It's better for all if DSI go through the motion of doing everything while doing nothing and, as is so often the case in Thailand, justice is non-existent.

[Songhua]

I imagine he's busy reacquainting himself with Buddhism just now.... and avoiding the like button on Facebook.

Wonder how much of his money he's reacquainting himself with? Those ardent followers may be packing unusually large bags for their daytrip in the minivan.

'Did you bring the alms? .... Bless you'

[chrisinth]

I think he will come back.............

Just taking time to bring his books up-to-date, get his journals ready to name names, contacts & sources.

There should be a lot of worried concerns this side of the border if that ever happens if he has been involved in heavy money laundering.

If he ever makes it..................

[moe666]

who really cares if he comes back just more of the same drama from Thailand, criminal runs away to avoid court, says I will be back to fight in court but never comes back and the powers that be never can seem to get there man.

[TackyToo]

Let's pretend the guy actually comes back to Thailand. After a couple of tea and cake interviews with the authorities we may see him and his lawyer walking on water.

[toybits]

Money makes the world go round, the world go round, the world go rouuuund....

Why has this fraud not been extradited to Thailand...Something stinks rotten...

[klauskunkel]

The latest reports appear to indicate that the ex-monk is residing "on a mountain in Laos", where he reportedly meets with many of his disciples regularly.

That's the address he has to report every 90 days to Laos immigration police, hah!

[pgrahmm]

What a full sack of chicken shit. A few weeks ago he announced he was ready to come back and fight all charges against him.

Probably a stall tactic that allowed something different to take place - just like the world wide sport of negotiations......

[Halion]

This shister will not return as there would be far too many self aggrandizing important people at risk from his revelations of where this mountain of money originated from. He is most probably being paid to stay away and the same goes with regard to te DSI'S efforts to apprehend him. As to his followers making weekly pilgrimages to sit as his feet. What kind of devoted Budhist are these.

[SOTIRIOS]

....2 weeks later and still conniving....another travesty....

....statutory rape.....and millions upon millions of dirty dollars....that's all.....

[sonar6ca]

The source also claims that his disciples travel to meet him on rented mini-van on weekends from Thailand.

Those are probably business associates or just plain stupid people.

[landslide]

Staying out of Thailand to avoid arrest. If it is good enough for Thaksin, I am sure it is good enough for this defrocked monk. Both have the funds necessary to thumb their noses at Thailand.