Thai monk arrested for drug abuse in graveyard

[webfact]

Monk Arrested For Drug Abuse In Graveyard

By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- A monk has been arrested in Nongkhai Province after the locals found him taking illegal drugs inside the temple cemetery′s restroom.

Mr. Sorasart Nuengmatsha, head of local security in Khuinagkhao Village, Mueng District, said he was alerted by fellow villagers about the strange behaviour of Pra Witthaya Pholyano, 40, after he was seen walking drunk in the village and damaging several vehicles.

Mr. Sorasart then sought out the monk. He eventually found Pra Witthaya taking drugs in the graveyard′s restroom, just behind a local temple. Police soon arrived to take the monk into custody.

Pra Witthaya said he was visiting his fellow monk in the Ban Nong Song Hong temple, and was about to leave town but it started raining so he took shelter in the graveyard.

There, the monk said, he met local teenagers who advised him how to contact the drug dealer and successfully bought the drug for 250 baht. He admitted to taking drugs to pass time till it stops raining and his outfits are dry, but insisted he never left the restroom to beat up anyone′s car.

Pra Witthaya was eventually defrocked and charged with drug abuse.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM09EQXpNamcwTXc9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-09-02

[NongKhaiKid]

He took drugs to pass the time until it stopped raining and he just happened to have the drugs with him as he bought them before the rain started. That's thinking ahead and literally putting something away for a rainy day.

Buddhism is yet another Thai institution that's losing it's right to the respect given to it. Many, many Buddhists do good but headlines like this, the fugitive ex-monk and so so really scuppers their efforts.

[noitom]

He took drugs to pass the time until it stopped raining and he just happened to have the drugs with him as he bought them before the rain started. That's thinking ahead and literally putting something away for a rainy day.

Buddhism is yet another Thai institution that's losing it's right to the respect given to it. Many, many Buddhists do good but headlines like this, the fugitive ex-monk and so so really scuppers their efforts.

And the newspaper complicity.

[uty6543]

7 officers in the photo and not 1 pointing!!!

[doremifasol]

Gotcha!!!

[jaltsc]

"He admitted to taking drugs to pass time..."

They left the part out when he was quoted as saying: "Meditation? That's so yesterday"

[NongKhaiKid]

7 officers in the photo and not 1 pointing!!!

The tall one on the right of the picture looks as if he's just itching to.

[Halion]

What a scruffy bunch. i have seen car park and condo security far better dressed than this crew.

[Alwyn]

Seems to me there are some people who see being a monk as an easy option to cover up their errant ways! Every mother wants their son to do the monk thing and I hope that these rogue monks don't change that. It's getting to the stage that monks are alomst on a level with the police for attracting bad press. Too bad really.

[hgma]

What a scruffy bunch. i have seen car park and condo security far better dressed than this crew.

I suggest you make a big sign.....place it around there neck's and then send them undercover again.

Oh don't forget to spell...... UCA DRUGSQUAD NK....the right way ok.

[tcris52]

Buddhism is yet another Thai institution that's losing it's right to the respect given to it. Many, many Buddhists do good but headlines like this, the fugitive ex-monk and so so really scuppers their efforts.

Good news doesn't sell papers. What about the 100,000 monks that followed the vinaya and did nothing to warrant coverage yesterday.

Buddhism does not deserve to lose respect, only the abusers.

[Yunla]

Buddhism is yet another Thai institution that's losing it's right to the respect given to it. Many, many Buddhists do good but headlines like this, the fugitive ex-monk and so so really scuppers their efforts.

Good news doesn't sell papers. What about the 100,000 monks that followed the vinaya and did nothing to warrant coverage yesterday.

Buddhism does not deserve to lose respect, only the abusers.

Yes the very nature of Buddhism, although this has been lost in the modern era of stratified heirarchies and lolmaledominance, is of course that you are alone with Buddha, you are walking your own individual path to Buddha, and the actions of other people whatever walk of life they may occupy (f.ex monk), does not affect your own path to inner joy and peace and wisdom. So this individual monk walks his own path, his actions affect him and his own relationship with the divine light inside all beings. His crime is a legal drug crime not a religious crime, he can only be judged for the drug laws. The problem with people idolising monks, temples, etc. in the first place and delegating their own ascent to these institutions, is a modern problem. Buddhism was never about idolatry, of monks or anyone else. Buddhism was always about your own incredibly personal and internal voyage to the Buddha, the Buddha who has been with you through all things and loves you unconditionally, but you can only approach him through the kindness, tranquility and love that you give to others in your short life. You don't need a monk for any of those things.

[klauskunkel]

There, the monk said, he met local teenagers who advised him how to contact the drug dealer and successfully bought the drug for 250 baht.

I thought monks can't have more than 10 baht cash on them, some sort of monk rule - maybe I'm wrong?

[SOTIRIOS]

.........are we allowed to know what drug....what kind of reporting is this????

[Dr Robert]

This should be a timely reminder to us that the scourge of drugs is ever-present and effects everyone regardless of race creed colour or position in society. The misery of drug abuse, addiction and the criminal component that necessarily accompanies drugs makes us all vulnerable to its effects, innocent bystander or otherwise. There but for the grace of god go us all. I hope the poor soul finds some peace.

[HeavyDrinker]

Isn't 'abuse' a funny term?

I'd say he treated the drugs very well.....

[btwretail]

Monks flying private jets, stealing cars and now also doing drugs... Can't wait to see whats next. :-) Maybe a monk winning the World Poker Tour?...

These guys are starting to make rock and movie stars look like Saints.

[bander]

7 officers in the photo and not 1 pointing!!!

Maybe BIB have started a no pointing finger campaign?

To bad, I really enjoy to see how they totally made a fool of themselves with this stupid pointing

[HeavyDrinker]

What a scruffy bunch. i have seen car park and condo security far better dressed than this crew.

Half of them have probably just wandered in off the street to see what's going on.....

[bangon04]

7 officers in the photo and not 1 pointing!!!

The monk has to be defrocked BEFORE they can point at him, otherwise he will lose face...

[pete66]

There, the monk said, he met local teenagers who advised him how to contact the drug dealer and successfully bought the drug for 250 baht.

I thought monks can't have more than 10 baht cash on them, some sort of monk rule - maybe I'm wrong?

I don't think the Buddha used Baht - he wasn't Thai

Monks are supposed to live without money and materials possessions beyond a few necessities but Thai monks seem to have lost their monk guidebook unfortunately

[sirchai]

Mr. Sorasart Nuengmatsha, head of local security in Khuinagkhao Village, Mueng District, said he was alerted by fellow villagers about the strange behaviour of Pra Witthaya Pholyano, 40, after he was seen walking drunk in the village and damaging several vehicles, because his application for a Lear Jet was denied.-

[newermonkey]

All these reports coming in about bad monks is so sad.

The report did not say what drugs? Heroin, Ganja? "it make a big difference". I have seen monks smoking cigarettes those monks should be defrocked for that, because it sets a bad example to the young.

[fasteddie]

Monks flying private jets, stealing cars and now also doing drugs... Can't wait to see whats next. :-) Maybe a monk winning the World Poker Tour?...

These guys are starting to make rock and movie stars look like Saints.

There's one in Burma who is a main instigator in all the killings and unrest with the Rohingya.

[pacovl46]

He took drugs to pass the time until it stopped raining and he just happened to have the drugs with him as he bought them before the rain started. That's thinking ahead and literally putting something away for a rainy day.

Buddhism is yet another Thai institution that's losing it's right to the respect given to it. Many, many Buddhists do good but headlines like this, the fugitive ex-monk and so so really scuppers their efforts.

How exactly is Buddhism losing it's right to be respected? How can you judge an entire religion based on the actions of one monk?

[NongKhaiKid]

He took drugs to pass the time until it stopped raining and he just happened to have the drugs with him as he bought them before the rain started. That's thinking ahead and literally putting something away for a rainy day.

Buddhism is yet another Thai institution that's losing it's right to the respect given to it. Many, many Buddhists do good but headlines like this, the fugitive ex-monk and so so really scuppers their efforts.

How exactly is Buddhism losing it's right to be respected? How can you judge an entire religion based on the actions of one monk?

I didn't, try reading my post correctly.

[marell]

7 officers in the photo and not 1 pointing!!!

It's bad luck to point at a monk.

[lee b]

Monks gone mad??? Why not sleep to pass the time, or does that not make sense?

[MilesofSmiles]

So this guy gets done for a stick of weed, or some DreaMTimemix, getting a bit weird.

A real menace to society has been taken off the streets.

But Sukphol is still free months after making it into newspapers all around the world.

Taking advantage of the gullible and easily lead like did is a much worse crime (in my opinion) then what this unfortunate Monk has been caught for.

[Briandajew]

Credit where credit is due, at least he wasn't shagging a dog tied to a tree!

The monks at one of the temples in my village were routed out one night by the local villagers, they were having a booze up, KTV with some local hookers! Thet were lucky they were not lynched!