Former Abbot Accused of Sexually Molesting 7 Novices

[Jacob Maslow]

Afraid and depressed young boy - Stock Image

A warrant is being sought for the former abbot of the Wat Hua Chang temple who’s been accused of sexually molesting 7 novices. Phra Khru Sutthawaraporn, who is also known as Phra Charan, was summoned by police several times, but failed to show up. The 49-year-old ex-abbot is facing arrest for sexual molestation claims.

The parents of two novices had previously filed a complaint with Lop Buri police, stating that their children had been sexually abused by the abbot on numerous occasions. The children were two among seven that were allegedly abused by Phra Khru Sutthawaraporn.

After looking into the complaint, police had found grounds for the allegations. The abbot was summoned to testify, but he failed to appear. Phra Khru Sutthawaraporn resigned as abbot after the allegations came to light, but it is believed that he still remained in monkhood.

Lop Buri police are now seeking an arrest warrant for the monk. According to reports, Phra Khru Sutthawaraporn has fled the temple. Police investigated the temple on Tuesday and found the monk’s room locked. Other monks at the temple refused to comment on the allegations.

One of the monk’s victims claimed to have been sexually molested for 10 years while he served as a novice. He alleges that the monk would call him to his room every night and would get angry if he refused. After abusing him, the man claims that the abbot would give him 200-300 baht.

Any other novices who had been sexually molested by the former abbot are being asked to come forward and file a complaint with the police.

-- 2015-04-29

[nidieunimaitre]

The abuse of children by catholic priests in western countries only became known after the church lost most of it's power.

What horror stories will surface in Thailand in 20 years from now?

[worgeordie]

Please can you come in,we want to talk to you,are Thai police inept or what,

now he has buggered (sorry) off, they give too many chances for criminals

facing serious allegations ,to pack their bags and do a runner.

regards Worgeordie

[Thaddeus]

The abuse of children by catholic priests in western countries only became known after the church lost most of it's power.

What horror stories will surface in Thailand in 20 years from now?

As it looks as if the horror stories are a foregone conclusion, I would prefer not to wait 20 years.

That would cut down on the number of future victims.

[NongKhaiKid]

Summonsing a suspect is bad enough but when he / she doesn't show the first time what's wrong with " go and get him / her " ?

[Nick167]

Ah! Thai Buddhism....whats new! Really ....its getting horrid reading the news everyday and seeing what Thainess is all about. As i keep on repeating non-stop....this country and its people are beyond salvation. Just sit back and watch the fun each day.

[Nemesis7]

So much for the Buddhist monks and their religious philosophy but then again I'm sure not all the monks are like this , what bothers me is why wouldn't other fellow monks in that temple would Not Speak up against the crime? Concealing the crime it self is another crime.

[NongKhaiKid]

Ah! Thai Buddhism....whats new! Really ....its getting horrid reading the news everyday and seeing what Thainess is all about. As i keep on repeating non-stop....this country and its people are beyond salvation. Just sit back and watch the fun each day.

Oh dear, now the trolls will be after you for Thai bashing.

[Yann55]

There is something decidedly mind-boggling in the system here :

The police decide that the case is strong enough to look into it and all they do is 'summon' the abbot, thereby giving him all the time he needs to disappear ?

I have read similar acounts so many times that I have to believe that it's really how things work here. I don't get it. No one on this Forum gets it either, I bet. So... who does ? Why does this system not change, especially now that things can be changed quickly if there is a real and urgent need for it ?

General, please ?

PS. And that photo of a 'distressed young boy' to 'illustrate' the article is of remarkably bad taste. Sensationalist and voyeur journalism is all it is. If I was the boy or his parents, I would sue.

[Yann55]

Dear Jacob,

Thank you for posting these news articles, but please stop inserting Googled photos which have no relevance to the story.

Jeez, we all know what a boy looks like. But a causasian lad??!

Either a photo specific to the story (the monk, or the temple), or no photo at all.

Yours etc, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells

agree.

what relevance does the photo of a young causasian male have to this story? bizarre.

It's not just bizarre, Sam, it's outrageous.

[mikiea]

Dear Jacob,

Thank you for posting these news articles, but please stop inserting Googled photos which have no relevance to the story.

Jeez, we all know what a boy looks like. But a causasian lad??!

Either a photo specific to the story (the monk, or the temple), or no photo at all.

Yours etc, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells

agree.

what relevance does the photo of a young causasian male have to this story? bizarre.

your world must be so small. anglo peeps are aware of this problem we see this pic as a reminder to our own problem we had with our cleric "leaders" . you need to try to understand what you see , maybe read a little more . :-)

[circusman]

To all you people complaining about the photo - go home if you want everything to be perfect in a developing country.

[LuckyLew]

Another horrible story about monks in Thailand, they are becoming worse than the catholic church in the USA. Hope they find him and if found guilty I hope they sentence him to a long stint up the river.

[55Jay]

To all you people complaining about the photo - go home if you want everything to be perfect in a developing country.

Jacob is not Thai and is not in Thailand.

[Local Drunk]

To all you people complaining about the photo - go home if you want everything to be perfect in a developing country.

Well how about a picture of the monk? He's never had his photo taken? Can't dig one up? Someone has one... Get one! It's what journalist do!

Edited April 29, 2015 by Local Drunk

[Local Drunk]

To all you people complaining about the photo - go home if you want everything to be perfect in a developing country.

Well how about a picture of the monk? He's never had his photo taken? Can't dig one up? Someone has one... Get one! It's what journalist do!

Is this him? I can't confirm it. I got it off a website. They say it's him but I don't know if it's it's him.

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/PDMAA_2.jpg

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thai-monk-and-former-abbot-facing-arrest-for-sexually-molesting-seven-novices.html

Edited April 29, 2015 by Local Drunk

[Thaddeus]

To all you people complaining about the photo - go home if you want everything to be perfect in a developing country.

Can you tell us how long this development process is going to take to reach conclusion?

I expect that your attitude to complaints means never.

[slapout]

people in positions of trust, importance, public asset responsibility who abuse this position should answer to more strict, harsh punishment than the general public criminal.

public canning, shunning, deportation, excutation, disfigurement. etc are just a few of the punishments that come to mind. quite coddling these parasites, who have broken every promise they have made to serve those who are expected to follow their teachings. a strong and final solution would clean out the rotten ones and those who stood by and did nothing, very quickly.. I suspect those who had tendencies to imulate this type of behavior would disappear post haste

[greenchair]

Dear Jacob,

Thank you for posting these news articles, but please stop inserting Googled photos which have no relevance to the story.

Jeez, we all know what a boy looks like. But a causasian lad??!

Either a photo specific to the story (the monk, or the temple), or no photo at all.

Yours etc, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells

agree.

what relevance does the photo of a young causasian male have to this story? bizarre.

Quite frankly, I find that picture offensive also. It's about time that country and westerners face the fact that Thai boys are abused everyday. By their fathers, teachers, monks and raped sometimes by their own class mates.

Why is it acceptable to show a picture of a foreign boy to fight these injustices. But not a Thai boy.

And by the way, I am sure that boy and his parents would not approve of his picture being on a website discussing sexual abuse. The story is important and deserves discussion.

The picture should be removed.

[Sviss Geez]

Dear Jacob,

Thank you for posting these news articles, but please stop inserting Googled photos which have no relevance to the story.

Jeez, we all know what a boy looks like. But a causasian lad??!

Either a photo specific to the story (the monk, or the temple), or no photo at all.

Yours etc, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells

Absolutely right, Maslow needs reining-in big time.

[Sviss Geez]

Ah! Thai Buddhism....whats new! Really ....its getting horrid reading the news everyday and seeing what Thainess is all about. As i keep on repeating non-stop....this country and its people are beyond salvation. Just sit back and watch the fun each day.

"Thainess...As i keep on repeating non-stop....this country and its people are beyond salvation."

You do indeed, and the rational amongst us do wish you would stop, it's getting very tedious.

[Scott]

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[Credo]

It does befuddle me why the officials make it so easy for some people to escape. It is part of how things work. There was another monk who had an affair with a lady and there was very little effort to get him.

I think they have to officially defrock them before they can arrest them, though.

[catweazle]

Where the F(deleted) is Dexter when you really need him?

[Torrens54]

Maybe he's done a Runner to Australia. A couple of groups of "Religious Brothers" there would probably welcome him with Open Arms.

[berybert]

Amazing even a story discussing child sex abuse you get told by people 'if you don't like it go home' Says more about them than the Buddha they pretend to worship ever could.