Soldiers bust 18 'fake monks' In Suphanburi

[webfact]

Soldiers Bust 18 'Fake Monks' In Suphanburi
By Khaosod English


Twenty-eight Thai men have been arrested for posing as monks and temple assistants to collect donation money that they allegedly used for gambling, pornography, and narcotics, 4 Sept 2014.

SUPHANBURI — Twenty-eight Thai men have been arrested for posing as monks and temple assistants to collect donation money that they allegedly used for gambling, pornography, and narcotics.

Soldiers from 19th Cavalry Battalion raided a motel in Uthong district, Suphanburi province, early this morning to arrest the suspects, who were living in 14 rooms.

The suspects confessed that 18 of them shaved their heads and donned saffron robes to disguise themselves as monks, while the other 10 posed as their temple assistants. Manote Intaraklai, 47, identified himself as the ringleader and told soldiers the group used the donation money to buy food, pornography, and narcotics. They also used the money to gamble, Mr. Manote said.

Mr. Manote said he led the group out every day to ask for alms and donations around Suphanburi and neighbouring provinces. The "monks" donned their disguises on the way to the town centre, Mr. Manote added.

Soldiers found monk outfits and equipment, playing cards, porn DVDs, and 140,000 baht inside the rooms rented by the fake monks. Seven vehicles, thought to be used by the fake monks, were similarly confiscated by the soldiers. One of the group’s members also tested positive for illicit substances.

The suspects have been charged with fraud and drug abuse. It is not clear what prompted the soldiers to raid the premises.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1409826792


-- Khaosod English 2014-09-04

[Costas2008]

There are many around like them.

Feel sorry mostly for the older people that believe in them and become their victims.

A problem that is very difficult to eradicate, especially in a country that people are devoted to their religion.

[Prbkk]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

[Artisi]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

Classified as a temple assistant.

One reason I don't make any donations - either they are fakes or if "real" a lot of the time lazy lay-about's sponging on the Thai people. Genuine monks don't come with their hands out.

[Albertosez]

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

[Neeranam]

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

What a stupid/arrogant thing to say. You are more intelligent than 4 billion or so other people?

So monks aren't allowed to write email, make telephone calls etc?

Do you think they should remain in the dark ages?

Edited September 4, 2014 by Neeranam

[JensKjerSommer]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

Classified as a temple assistant.

One reason I don't make any donations - either they are fakes or if "real" a lot of the time lazy lay-about's sponging on the Thai people. Genuine monks don't come with their hands out.

.... I might be one of the few farangs who give food and not money during alm's round early morning from our Jungle Temple but only cos I know our three Monks who really lives by the almost original "forest tradition" and by the food from the village and quite often my wife and I goes to the Temple for breakfast together with the Monks! If I ever observe or hear about any foul "business" with our Monks I will stop of course!

By the way, most farangs living in Thailand should know that Buddhism is not a religion, but let it be - mai phen rai ;-)

[Neeranam]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

Classified as a temple assistant.

One reason I don't make any donations - either they are fakes or if "real" a lot of the time lazy lay-about's sponging on the Thai people. Genuine monks don't come with their hands out.

.... I might be one of the few farangs who give food and not money during alm's round early morning from our Jungle Temple but only cos I know our three Monks who really lives by the almost original "forest tradition" and by the food from the village and quite often my wife and I goes to the Temple for breakfast together with the Monks! If I ever observe or hear about any foul "business" with our Monks I will stop of course!

By the way, most farangs living in Thailand should know that Buddhism is not a religion, but let it be - mai phen rai ;-)

Buddhism IS a religion. If you donate money, you should at leat know what you're giving to, what the Sangha etc is.

Granted, Thai Buddhism is a mixture of Theravad Buddhism, Animism and Fetishism, with a bit of Hinduism thrown in.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Neeranam

[Albertosez]

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

What a stupid/arrogant thing to say. You are more intelligent than 4 billion or so other people?

So monks aren't allowed to write email, make telephone calls etc?

Do you think they should remain in the dark ages?

How and where did they get the money to buy those things ?

Do you still believe in the tooth fairy and Father Xmas ? Seriously, I do worry about people like you ?

Do you dress up as a Gladiator before you type your crap on here ?

[Neeranam]

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

What a stupid/arrogant thing to say. You are more intelligent than 4 billion or so other people?

So monks aren't allowed to write email, make telephone calls etc?

Do you think they should remain in the dark ages?

How and where did they get the money to buy those things ?

Do you still believe in the tooth fairy and Father Xmas ? Seriously, I do worry about people like you ?

Do you dress up as a Gladiator before you type your crap on here ?

It's not my concern where they got their money. Once I taught a weekend MBA class at a university in Bangkok where there were 4 monks. The had laptops, mobiles and one even had 3 Dupont gold pens, he showed me as I also had one. You haven't lived in Thailand long have you or you would know the different types of monks.

Would you have them send their assignments to me by snail mail and use an abacus and slate?

What has the tooth fairy or Santa Claus got to do with Buddhism?

Edited September 4, 2014 by Neeranam

[rkidlad]

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

What a stupid/arrogant thing to say. You are more intelligent than 4 billion or so other people?

So monks aren't allowed to write email, make telephone calls etc?

Do you think they should remain in the dark ages?

How and where did they get the money to buy those things ?

Do you still believe in the tooth fairy and Father Xmas ? Seriously, I do worry about people like you ?

Do you dress up as a Gladiator before you type your crap on here ?

It's not my concern where they got their money. Once I taught a weekend MBA class at a university in Bangkok where there were 4 monks. The had laptops, mobiles and one even had 3 Dupont gold pens, he showed me as I also had one. You haven't lived in Thailand long have you or you would know the different types of monks.

Would you have them send their assignments to me by snail mail and use an abacus and slate?

What has the tooth fairy or Santa Claus got to do with Buddhism?

What? I've never heard such a load of rubbish. Different kinds of monks? The haves and the have nots?

Monks are supposed to have nothing. That's the whole point. I understand how modern technology is used - It's an important tool. They most certainly shouldn't be using 'Dupont' pens. That's everything that's wrong.

People can believe in what they want. I respect that. That doesn't mean I have to respect what they believe in.

[Albertosez]

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

What a stupid/arrogant thing to say. You are more intelligent than 4 billion or so other people?

So monks aren't allowed to write email, make telephone calls etc?

Do you think they should remain in the dark ages?

How and where did they get the money to buy those things ?

Do you still believe in the tooth fairy and Father Xmas ? Seriously, I do worry about people like you ?

Do you dress up as a Gladiator before you type your crap on here ?

It's not my concern where they got their money. Once I taught a weekend MBA class at a university in Bangkok where there were 4 monks. The had laptops, mobiles and one even had 3 Dupont gold pens, he showed me as I also had one. You haven't lived in Thailand long have you or you would know the different types of monks.

Would you have them send their assignments to me by snail mail and use an abacus and slate?

What has the tooth fairy or Santa Claus got to do with Buddhism?

What utter " tosh " to try and improve your credibility by announcing you taught an MBA Class at Uni and you have. Gold Pen - honestly ??

Did your Mam drop you off and pick you up after your class ? I bet your partner really looks forward to your Gladiator games doesn't she ......... He ??

[Morakot]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

Classified as a temple assistant.

Yeah, this one gave it away... he looked to neat neat for a temple assistant, not the usual destitute ones.

[GuyL]

Twenty-eight Thai men have been arrested for posing as monks and temple assistants to collect donation money that they allegedly used for gambling, pornography, and narcotics..

Whew! I was afraid that they could have used the donations to buy cars and other luxury goods, travel abroad, or fly in a private jet! How could we tell fake monks from true ones, then?

Edited September 4, 2014 by GuyL

[Thaimaishoe]

I'm just curious how they could tell the fake monks from real?

Or is it a case of "we have caught you doing crap we don't like to admit monks do, therefore you are a fake monk."

[Thaimaishoe]

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

What a stupid/arrogant thing to say. You are more intelligent than 4 billion or so other people?

He certainly sounds like it.

[iReason]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Have a walk in to Tukcom in Pattaya to see what money they have collected and how they spend it !!

Religion is for the gullible and those lacking common sense!

What a stupid/arrogant thing to say. You are more intelligent than 4 billion or so other people?

So monks aren't allowed to write email, make telephone calls etc?

Do you think they should remain in the dark ages?

A religious mind is in the Dark Ages.

Superstitious fools...

[winstonc]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

Classified as a temple assistant.

One reason I don't make any donations - either they are fakes or if "real" a lot of the time lazy lay-about's sponging on the Thai people. Genuine monks don't come with their hands out.

.... I might be one of the few farangs who give food and not money during alm's round early morning from our Jungle Temple but only cos I know our three Monks who really lives by the almost original "forest tradition" and by the food from the village and quite often my wife and I goes to the Temple for breakfast together with the Monks! If I ever observe or hear about any foul "business" with our Monks I will stop of course!

By the way, most farangs living in Thailand should know that Buddhism is not a religion, but let it be - mai phen rai ;-)

Buddhism IS a religion. If you donate money, you should at leat know what you're giving to, what the Sangha etc is.

Granted, Thai Buddhism is a mixture of Theravad Buddhism, Animism and Fetishism, with a bit of Hinduism thrown in.

it is not a religion full stop...who is their god...???? dont be obvious/and wrong at the same time

[winstonc]

I'm just curious how they could tell the fake monks from real?

Or is it a case of "we have caught you doing crap we don't like to admit monks do, therefore you are a fake monk."

fake as in not living in a temple for a start...

[3NUMBAS]

the rayban wearing monk set them an example to follow so who wouldnt want a piece of the action as its easy money .

[3NUMBAS]

I'm just curious how they could tell the fake monks from real?

Or is it a case of "we have caught you doing crap we don't like to admit monks do, therefore you are a fake monk."

they have an official bar code tattooed on their ass

[winstonc]

game-set and match to albertosez...and he wasnt even trying...easier than robbing the blind sir

[FangFerang]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

Classified as a temple assistant.

One reason I don't make any donations - either they are fakes or if "real" a lot of the time lazy lay-about's sponging on the Thai people. Genuine monks don't come with their hands out.

The genuine monks go out every day to collect alms -- be it food or clothing or medicine. What are you talking about?

[Triplebank999]

You would have to be fairly gullible to be offering alms to fake monk front right..the one with the Michael Jackson hair.

Classified as a temple assistant.

One reason I don't make any donations - either they are fakes or if "real" a lot of the time lazy lay-about's sponging on the Thai people. Genuine monks don't come with their hands out.

Yes they do. That's how this lot were able to get away with it for a time. They were impersonating the real monks that temples send out monks every morning to collect alms.

[rkidlad]

Yea, Buddhism is not a religion and most Thais are atheists ha ha.

I'm an atheist, too. But I don't pray to anyone and/or believe if I give food to men in frocks that I'll come back rich or be exonerated of my sins. I do nice things 'cos it's nice. I want nothing in return.

Semantics. It's a religion.

[Triplebank999]

Twenty-eight Thai men have been arrested for posing as monks and temple assistants to collect donation money that they allegedly used for gambling, pornography, and narcotics..

Whew! I was afraid that they could have used the donations to buy cars and other luxury goods, travel abroad, or fly in a private jet! How could we tell fake monks from true ones, then?

Ask them for their ID if you're in doubt, they have to carry it by law. Also if they're soliciting cash donations they are not real. Monks are not allowed to collect cash alms by law.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Triplebank999

[surangw]

"used for gambling, pornography, and narcotics"

from some recent articles, that seems to be what some of the "real" monks do with it.

[Neeranam]

Buddhism IS a religion. If you donate money, you should at leat know what you're giving to, what the Sangha etc is.

Granted, Thai Buddhism is a mixture of Theravad Buddhism, Animism and Fetishism, with a bit of Hinduism thrown in.

it is not a religion full stop...who is their god...???? dont be obvious/and wrong at the same time

You obviously have never studied religion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontheistic_religions

[Neeranam]

It's not my concern where they got their money. Once I taught a weekend MBA class at a university in Bangkok where there were 4 monks. The had laptops, mobiles and one even had 3 Dupont gold pens, he showed me as I also had one. You haven't lived in Thailand long have you or you would know the different types of monks.

Would you have them send their assignments to me by snail mail and use an abacus and slate?

What has the tooth fairy or Santa Claus got to do with Buddhism?

What utter " tosh " to try and improve your credibility by announcing you taught an MBA Class at Uni and you have. Gold Pen - honestly ??

Did your Mam drop you off and pick you up after your class ? I bet your partner really looks forward to your Gladiator games doesn't she ......... He ??

I don't know what your motives are to insult me but it's rather childish. I think you you should stay at home on the Pattaya forum.

I guess you can't see the irony of you commenting on the virtues of Buddhist monks.

[Triplebank999]

Buddhism IS a religion. If you donate money, you should at leat know what you're giving to, what the Sangha etc is.

Granted, Thai Buddhism is a mixture of Theravad Buddhism, Animism and Fetishism, with a bit of Hinduism thrown in.

it is not a religion full stop...who is their god...???? dont be obvious/and wrong at the same time

You obviously have never studied religion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontheistic_religions

Clearly neither have you, or if you have you have not understood it.

Just because it may be in Wikipedia doesn't mean it's correct. Anyone can write anything on Wikipedia.