Fake Thai monk with porno mag and orange car arrested

[wvavin]

Since when Thai monks real or fake have no association with money?

[NCC1701A]

cop on the left in the photo:

"Twenty years on the force and someone is finally taking my photo. This is my moment!"

[ratcatcher]

Why is his face blurred out, Buddhism is a revered institution here so shouldn't anyone who brings disgrace to it be exposed to the full ?

With all the money involved why is it I think there will be more to this than meets the eye ?

no, thats defamation and its a crime.

Showing his face would be considered libel if it damaged his reputation. In this man's case, he has little reputation left to damage.

Chao Mahalanyo or Chao Konpetch, 67, is a serial fraudster

[trogers]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

And how many times do we hear of REAL monks, usually senior, up to their necks in questionable behaviour, more often than not involving the aquisition of money and other assets ?

Unfortunately for Buddhism real monks do should things.

The REAL monks around where I live charge 600 Baht per chant at a deceased person's wake. Five chanting sessions until the cremation, not bad. And then there is the "the family needs to buy the wat a big tent so the deceased will be happy." Of course the tent maker just happens to be a relative of one of the monks and the price of the tent is three times the regular price. It's all a one way street into the temple. Never any assistance going back to the people. At least that's the way it is here. Nothing but a racket to take advantage of the people.

Fools and their money would soon part. And the fools are those who think they can buy their way to Nirvana...

[kiwikeith]

Why is his face blurred out, Buddhism is a revered institution here so shouldn't anyone who brings disgrace to it be exposed to the full ?

With all the money involved why is it I think there will be more to this than meets the eye ?

He should become a real monk, then start a car collection.

[Hawk]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

You obviously don't read the news. There have been countless revelations of monks with huge bank accounts, embezzling funds, having sex with minors (male and female), owning expensive cars, using private jets, drinking and taking drugs etc. Remember, that many who become monks are ex(?)-criminals. And let's not even talk about the number of monks you could see in places like Pantip Plaza looking at iPhones etc. And they are all real monks. There is Buddhism, and there is Thai Buddhism. Two different things.

In the rural areas it quite normal to see a monk driving a car.

[Rayk]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

I bet you you've never spent any time watching or reading the news in Thailand to make a statement such as that.

[LannaGuy]

the 'missing one'?

"presumed sick in a local hospital"

I say Watson a jolly spot on deduction!

[LannaGuy]

Fools and their money would soon part. And the fools are those who think they can buy their way to Nirvana...

did you mean "Nissana"?

[SOTIRIOS]

.....that's right....out of respect for a low-life criminal....hide his face.....to not ruin his gig....so he can move on after his apology...and keep scamming and skimming..

....as they indicate this has been going on for years.....

....and the monks there seem to have condoned it as well.......

...blessed be.....

[Heng]

Looking for a relatively easy path to success? Build your business in a country where people are busy waiting for the next life or blaming their present circumstances on their past lives.

*relatively of course; success isn't easy anywhere, but you may as well give it a go where folks (and often competitors) aren't focused on the present.

[thaiduncankk]

1 down, thousands more yet to be exposed.

[technologybytes]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

[LannaGuy]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

I have lived here years and have studied Buddhism for decades and have yet to find many Buddhist's in Thailand who do not mix in Animism, Hinduism and all sorts of shenanigans into the pot they call 'Buddhism' here.

There are probably real Buddhists (maybe some forest monks?) but you won't find them in the local Wat selling amulets or sprinkling you with Holy Water

[hyperHowie]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

Yes, and real Catholic priests don't molest young boys. But a very Senior Monk in Chiangmai was arrested several years ago for his predilection towards young boys. So, YES, even REAL monks -- and those of other faiths -- DO, DO THAT sometimes. Get a life!

[WhizBang]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

The real joke is your line "Real monks don't do this".

[mesterm]

"Under his bed they found something that Chao claimed was a religious manual for study of Buddhist ways."

[mesterm]

Guy on the right looks like Thai Barney Rubble.

Cute chap, that one.

[lostinisaan]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

I have lived here years and have studied Buddhism for decades and have yet to find many Buddhist's in Thailand who do not mix in Animism, Hinduism and all sorts of shenanigans into the pot they call 'Buddhism' here.

There are probably real Buddhists (maybe some forest monks?) but you won't find them in the local Wat selling amulets or sprinkling you with Holy Water

I'm a real Buddhist who's lost in Isaan.

[lostinisaan]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

The real joke is your line "Real monks don't do this".

Real monks sweat the semen out. Some of them even own a private Lear Jet. Real monks don't do that.

Edited April 13, 2016 by lostinisaan

[laislica]

This guy was a fake and that's that. The following question doesn't concern him.

I've always wondered about the "possessions" thing. Most Thai males spend some time at various times in their lives as monks (and many females as nuns). It's not a permanent thing. They conclude their limited time in the monkhood, perhaps 3 months, and then go back to their normal lives. This most definitely includes the rich and most prominent members of Thai society. At any given point in time therefore, I'd expect a certain percentage of the monk population to consist of these "temporary" monks. Surely they're not expected to abandon all their money & possessions, including cars, while serving these short periods in the monkhood, as the lifelong monks are. But if not, then what are the rules for them?

Ah, maybe I understand a little better now.

The other day in a mall in BKK with my Thai wife and her adult son, sitting eating ice cream.

A monk approached us and asked where the nearest and best shoe shop was.

Our lad suggested a shop.

The monk then asked for money to buy his shoes.

I asked him about the monks precepts and that shoes were not worn by real monks and sent him on his way.

He just smiled and went to the next mug!

IMO, Thai people are brainwashed from birth to give to monks and the Wat - for good luck.

The more given - the better luck both in this life and beyond!

IMO all religions or cults, call them what you will, are all scams and cons and responsible for much of the troubles of the world.

It's a pissing contest - my religion is better than yours - if you don't change to my religion you will be killed....

From the Romans, the Crusades to ISIS, not forgetting the Egyptians, the Pharaohs etc.....

The Druids, Pagans............

[atyclb]

why didnt he just join as a real monk?

[Monkeyrobot]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

That's right real monks own private jets and collector cars.

[gyrosman]

One of many

[NoBrainer]

Are there any published guidelines to educate the public on the difference between a Real Monk, and a Fake Monk.

If not, why not. Seems to me that it may be very difficult to tell the difference. They dress alike, and walk the same way. Both are seeking

donations, and your seat on the bus or sky train. Even walking along in the upmarket shopping havens of Bangkok, it must be nearly

impossible for the average layman to tell them apart.

Just as an example, the person in this article is thought to have been parading around inn public as a fake monk for up to 5 years already.

And this is not the first time I have read about these so-called Fake Monks. Or is it a case of convenience, where any Monk can all of a sudden be

deemed a Fake Monk, if he was to run afoul of the hierarchy?

Obviously this is a big problem, and something needs to be done to educate the public to spot these, less than real, men in robes before they

have a chance to go about their evil ways.

Maybe the NLA should be re-called over the Song Kran holidays for an emergency debate on this pressing issue, or maybe an emergency cabinet meeting is in order.

[off road pat]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

Pffff,...small crook.....years ago the abbot of a monastery died and had 200 000 000 thb (200 Milion) on he's bank account....that's more serious....!!! and this is not a exceptional case....

Best regards.

Edited April 13, 2016 by off road pat

[off road pat]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

That's right real monks own private jets and collector cars.

Oh yesss.....soo good.....

[swerver]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

You forgot the temple with the artificial hill with Buddha status on it (won't name the name it gets TVF in a tizzy), the more a foolish person donates the higher her/his Tbt. donated statue will be placed on the artificial hill. Or is that not ripping off the foolish??? After all my years in Thailand it is becoming more and more difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.

LOL in LOS.

[off road pat]

Are there any published guidelines to educate the public on the difference between a Real Monk, and a Fake Monk.

If not, why not. Seems to me that it may be very difficult to tell the difference. They dress alike, and walk the same way. Both are seeking

donations, and your seat on the bus or sky train. Even walking along in the upmarket shopping havens of Bangkok, it must be nearly

impossible for the average layman to tell them apart.

Just as an example, the person in this article is thought to have been parading around inn public as a fake monk for up to 5 years already.

And this is not the first time I have read about these so-called Fake Monks. Or is it a case of convenience, where any Monk can all of a sudden be

deemed a Fake Monk, if he was to run afoul of the hierarchy?

Obviously this is a big problem, and something needs to be done to educate the public to spot these, less than real, men in robes before they

have a chance to go about their evil ways.

Maybe the NLA should be re-called over the Song Kran holidays for an emergency debate on this pressing issue, or maybe an emergency cabinet meeting is in order.

I think they introduced Monk ID cards years ago, to counter the fact that criminals on the run came to hide in monasteries and got ordained as monks.

And by such avoiding capture and prison sentences...!!!

Needless to say, those fake monks continued there criminal business, until some got caught...for (murder, rape etc...)

As usual the Thai government was and still is slow on acting efficiently against this sort of organised crime...strong talking and posturing is there way...

Best regards.

[Hawk]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

Pffff,...small crook.....years ago the abbot of a monastery died and had 200 000 thb on he's bank account....that's more serious....!!! and this is not a exceptional case....

Best regards.

Years ago I sat next to an old monk in a bank and his bank book showed over 7,000,000 baht in it. So the abbot with only 200,000 must have lived in a small village!