CSD to be asked to charge abbot with fraud



BANGKOK: -- The Citizen Network against Corruption is to ask the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police to file fraud charge against the abbot of Wat Weruwan temple in Chaiyaphum province after his announcement to end his life in a coffin turned out to be just a trick to solicit donation to the temple.

Songkran Atchariyasap, president of the network, said he has been asked to look into the case by the governor of Chaiyaphum to proceed the charge against the abbot, Luang Por Pim.

According to the information given by the governor, the Buddhist monk has tried to end his life three times already, which prompted devotees to donate large sums of money to the temple.

Mr Songkran said he was planning to forward the case to the CSD to file fraud charge as he believed Luang Por Pim has the intention to deceive faithful Buddhists to be sympathetic with him in order to solicit their donations.

Meanwhile the renowned monk, Luang Por Pim again announced from his hospital bed that he would try to end his life for the third time in 15 years while insisting that yesterday’s attempt was real.

The monk’s attempt was foiled by police who were asked to intervene by the National Office of Buddhism.

Now, the abbot is receiving treatment for extreme exhaustion in Khonsarn hospital and is recovering.

He assured that he did not deceive anyone.

“I did not deceive or lie to anyone. I have been telling the truth all along. And I already told you that I can’t be shot. A gun won’t harm me,” he told reporters from his hospital bed.

Phra Kru Weruvan Chantarangsri or Luang Por Pim, age 65, abbot of the Wat Veruwan Temple of Khonsarn district, Chaiyaphum province had earlier announced that he would end his life on September 9, before getting into a coffin to pray and sleep.

Authorities then rushed to the scene to talk the revered monk into abandoning such reckless idea and delivered him to a hospital.

Luang Por Pim was given saline solutions to help with his fatigue, until his pulse returned to normal and he was able to eat as usual.

The abbot revealed that his reasons for trying to end his life was due to his chronic diseases of Gout and infected intestine.

He then decided to stop taking his medicines and concentrated on following the Buddha’s teaching of Dharma.

He said after he has found that his decision has stirred up public outcry, he had let his disciples admitted him into a hospital.

He further informed that he would no longer take up any position and would pass down the succession of the abbot to his younger brother, Luang Ta Bua.

Meanwhile, the Khonsarn police have investigated a rumor about the temple has raised up to a hundred million baht donations.

But the police said they have found that only 200,000 baht were left.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/csd-asked-charge-abbot-fraud/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-12

So you can't take it with you !

Give him a loaded gun and ask if he can prove his claim.

Religion seems to be just another business, they should be paying tax. just like big corporations.

Perhaps the National Office of Buddhism should be investigated as well as it doesn't seem to be doing much good judging by the way it's misused and the excessive focus on monks and temples rather than the very simple 5 precepts which for the most part seem to be entirely reasonable.

Edited September 12, 201411 yr by kimamey

You wouldn't know the amount of pressure those abbots and monks are putting their followers under

to solicit more donations, brain washing in not uncommon, promises of better after life and worldly

riches if only they put more money in that envelop, and if you're poor, or given every thing already,

than you can help in the cleaning and washing, laundry and garden chores around the temple in lieu

for money, I know all this from firs hand experience of a close family member that endured

the above and more,

you have no idea how greedy and money hungry some/most of those abbots are, and it's all kept

under wrap...

He should have been removed from being a monk on his first claim to want to commit suicide. As i know (maybe i am wrong) killing yoursef goes against Buddhism

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You can't apply normal rules of evidence to religion Believers have faith, loosely defined as an inability to tell the difference between <deleted> and Shinola.

This guy is a complete loon. Defrock him and toss his sorry ass out.

"A gun won't harm me". Hmmmm some of his followers who are eing deceived out of money should try and test that theory..... just to make sure of his holiness.

I would have hoped that the Buddhist faith would be free from nepotism !

Meanwhile, the Khonsarn police have investigated a rumor about the temple has raised up to a hundred million baht donations. But the police said they have found that only 200,000 baht were left.

Pray tell which part is rumour and isn't.

Why does the "helicopter" monk not fit into this catergory?

This guy is a complete loon. Defrock him and toss his sorry ass out.

granted, he's got a screw lose, but his followers are definitely also infected. I'd say just let him get on with it, die...don't die...resurrect...bullet proof...public drama...donations until bankruptcy...and when those believers have lost all their money and are in debt for the next several generations, then they will realize that they had the wrong amulets...

people's mindset when it comes to religious belief is very similar when defending political ideology...their collective IQ just goes down the drain, it's group dynamics...

Thai Buddhism at its best!

"A gun won’t harm me,...”

This guy is not as daft as he would seem, a gun will not harm anyone, it's the bullet that does it.

I hope he doesn't develop stigmata and the ability to walk on water, it might cause a lot of confusion.

"A gun won't harm me". Hmmmm some of his followers who are eing deceived out of money should try and test that theory..... just to make sure of his holiness.

Sangha rules state quite clearly that if a monk claims to have supernatural powers that he in fact does not possess, then he is to be automatically defrocked for life.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

This technique worked so well for Oral Roberts. Why did it not work for me?

Maybe they should better to arrest his followers for being gullible.

If he says he is going to kill himself in a box, and someone opens the box before he dies, how is this fraud?

Another nail in the coffin of the national religion as practiced by its corrupt leaders.

"The Abbot is receiving treatment for extreme exhaustion"

what was he up to in that coffin?

regards Worgeordie

Like my mum always used to say: "There is no business like holy business !"

Book titles...

Rest of the world: The Monk who sold his Ferrari

Thailand: The Monk who bought my Ferrari

His temple is no different from every other temple, church or religious organization in Thailand or the world. billions of dollars donated to help the poor and nobody knows where it goes. It's the big world secret. one thing we all do know, is very little makes it's way to the poor. Maybe his temple wasn't making much money and he got creative.

Leave him alone.

Throw the first stone so to speak.

Live and let live.

"A gun won't harm me". Hmmmm some of his followers who are eing deceived out of money should try and test that theory..... just to make sure of his holiness.

Sangha rules state quite clearly that if a monk claims to have supernatural powers that he in fact does not possess, then he is to be automatically defrocked for life.

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You are quite correct.. Shoot him in the leg, and if he bleeds, defrock him.. simple..

Guy's its 2014......and still he and many other have loads of followers and believers.

while in Bangkok they raise storm flag after storm flag warning Thailand will fall out in the AEC structure, Amnesty International is roaring about democracy failures and a dean in Chiang Mai walks around with a box over his head, the outside world still believes in one man- one vote systems.

Religion is UH was a 'no go area' for as long as i can remember, only when scandal after scandal was exposed (social media) the lid went off.

My wife BTW proposed a 3 month temple redemption for my son......tradition she said.

My tradition is to say NO, i replied.