Disgraced former 'Golden Mount' abbot found hanged at Wat Saket

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Disgraced Former 'Golden Mount' Abbot Found Hanged at Wat Saket
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Crowds gather to ring in the new year with a night of prayer Dec. 31, 2014, at Bangkok’s famed Wat Saket.

BANGKOK ― A disgraced former abbot who was once under investigation for mismanaging a 67 million-baht fund was found this morning today after apparently committing suicide, police said.

Phra Phromsuthi, former abbot of Bangkok’s famed Wat Saket, aka The Golden Mount, reportedly hanged himself in his residence today, two years after the state audit agency opened – and eventually closed – an investigation into him for suspected fraud.

Police received the report of his death from monks at the temple at around 8am today. He told reporters forensic investigators are collecting evidence at the scene of the temple located near Bangkok’s historic quarter, Lt. Cpt. Nitchapol Piewkham, an officer at Samranrat Police Station, said.

The temple administration has yet to make a statement about the former abbot’s death.

Prior to his death, Phra Phromsuthi was the subject of a 2014 investigation by the Office of Auditor General into his mismanagement of state funds for the 2013 funeral of Somdet Kiaw, deputy to the Supreme Patriarch.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453698108


-- Khaosod English 2016-01-25

[Bluespunk]

"Phra Promsuthi also never returned the remaining 25 million baht to the state, Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas said Jan. 18, 2015.

In response the scandal, the Supreme Patriarch dismissed Phra Promsuthi as the temple’s abbot, though he still resided there as a monk. The temple then returned 25 million baht to the authorities in June 2015, prompting the auditor-general to announce the case was closed."

Why was the monk not gaoled for his theft? Just because the money was returned by others does not excuse him of his guilt.

[ezzra]

"Phra Promsuthi also never returned the remaining 25 million baht to the state, Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas said Jan. 18, 2015.

In response the scandal, the Supreme Patriarch dismissed Phra Promsuthi as the temple’s abbot, though he still resided there as a monk. The temple then returned 25 million baht to the authorities in June 2015, prompting the auditor-general to announce the case was closed."

Why was the monk not gaoled for his theft? Just because the money was returned by others does not excuse him of his guilt.

Everyone is equal under the Thai laws, some are more equal than others....

Or, All are equal before the law but is the law equal to everyone? ...

[NickJ]

So whatever happened to the 25 million that he never returned?...........

[PETERTHEEATER]

So whatever happened to the 25 million that he never returned?...........

Read Post #2

[Emster23]

I guess he missed the part of Buddha's teaching that "all life is suffering"..... I wonder if his hands were tied behind his back, like some other suicides here

[steven100]

oh dear ! did the guilt of dishonesty creep in and push Buddhism out ....

[soalbundy]

Even his lucky amulet couldn't save him

[ratcatcher]

So whatever happened to the 25 million that he never returned?...........

Read Post #2

I did and it is rather ambiguous.

Phra Promsuthi also never returned the remaining 25 million baht to the state, Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas said Jan. 18, 2015.

In response the scandal, the Supreme Patriarch dismissed Phra Promsuthi as the temple’s abbot, though he still resided there as a monk. The temple then returned 25 million baht to the authorities in June 2015, prompting the auditor-general to announce the case was closed.

Same money or not. Possibly, maybe, perhaps.

[Snackbar]

Hung. Hanged implies he was executed, murdered. Completely different story.

Just saying.

[soalbundy]

Hung. Hanged implies he was executed, murdered. Completely different story.

Just saying.

and if he is dead he was well hung

[ggt]

Dead men tell no lies...

[Snackbar]

You can hang yourself. Impossible to hanged yourself.

[bangon04]

Hung. Hanged implies he was executed, murdered. Completely different story.

Just saying.

Are you implying that the Saffron mafia might be cleaning house ready for the new Capo?

[gandalf12]

Baht 42 million for a funeral??? That has to be a mistake

[BSJ]

Baht 42 million for a funeral??? That has to be a mistake

Yes it's a mistake. The correct number was 52 million. Gosh, those silly old typos!

[SOTIRIOS]

...who's to say....

...did he act alone....

...or were there others involved....

...missing money would suggest so....

...alas ...now we will probably never know....

[MaiChai]

Sad to see a religion that is about leading a simple existance needs so much money to exist...

[connda]

Adinnadana veramani (refrain from stealing). Seems the abbot missed this one out the the 227 precepts a senior monk is suppose to follow, but probably only the forest monks do.

[Happy Grumpy]

Who'll get the LV handbags?

[LeeDee99]

This is sad news.

[LeeDee99]

"Phra Promsuthi also never returned the remaining 25 million baht to the state, Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas said Jan. 18, 2015.

In response the scandal, the Supreme Patriarch dismissed Phra Promsuthi as the temple’s abbot, though he still resided there as a monk. The temple then returned 25 million baht to the authorities in June 2015, prompting the auditor-general to announce the case was closed."

Why was the monk not gaoled for his theft? Just because the money was returned by others does not excuse him of his guilt.

with no knowledge of real facts ; yes it does.

[TPI]

I guess he missed the part of Buddha's teaching that "all life is suffering"..... I wonder if his hands were tied behind his back, like some other suicides here

Couldn't be connected, he wasn't on Kho Toa and wasn't involved with the "boys"!

[Bluespunk]

"Phra Promsuthi also never returned the remaining 25 million baht to the state, Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas said Jan. 18, 2015.

In response the scandal, the Supreme Patriarch dismissed Phra Promsuthi as the temple’s abbot, though he still resided there as a monk. The temple then returned 25 million baht to the authorities in June 2015, prompting the auditor-general to announce the case was closed."

Why was the monk not gaoled for his theft? Just because the money was returned by others does not excuse him of his guilt.

with no knowledge of real facts ; yes it does.

Read the story, contains enough facts for this "alleged" thief to be prosecuted for his corruption and greed. He was certainly being investigated and chased for the "missing" money.

Just because the money he "allegedly" stole was returned does not absolve him from his "alleged" crime.

He should have been prosecuted and, if found guilty, gaoled.

[slapout]

It appears at times there is a 3 way race as to which group is more bent, between bib, politicians, and the temple heads in this

country. It would depend on if pure number count, %, amount skimmed, etc was the common comparasion number used.

None seem to remember they are in positions that are based on and based on helping others, those in need, etc.