Jump to content

Wanted monk Wiraphon being extradited today


webfact

Recommended Posts

Wanted monk Wiraphon being extradited today

By The Nation

 

6aefc731b22586c678c539d4757724bf.jpeg

File photo

 

BANGKOK: -- NOTORIOUS former monk Wiraphon Sukphon, or Nen Kham, is scheduled to return to Thailand tonight after he decided not to appeal against an extradition ruling by a US Court in California.

 

Wiraphon, 38, was arrested in the US last year at the request of Thailand’s Office of the Attorney-General as he is wanted in Thailand on charges of fraud, sexual harassment against a juvenile, and money laundering of about Bt40 million.

 

He is due to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at about 10pm. 

 

A team of Thai officers was sent to the US to escort him back to face prosecution in the Kingdom after American authorities informed the Office of the Attorney-General of the extradition ruling. 

 

They travelled to the US even before they knew whether or not Wiraphon would appeal. Wiraphon, who has reportedly been out of the monkhood since his arrest, has been in jail since a US court denied a bail request.

 

Before fleeing Thailand, the then monk was known for his extravagant lifestyle, including his use of brand-name products and travelling by private jets, despite the fact that he was still in the monkhood. A video clip released in 2013 showed him travelling by personal jet, carrying a Louis Vuitton bag and wearing brand-name sunglasses.

 

He was a former head of Wat Pakhantitham forest monastery in Si Sa Ket province. 

 

He was praised by his followers as a devout monk and helped earn popularity for the monastery. 

 

a5daee22cbd60fa96cf29a8a6b39b066.jpg

 

However, a series of his alleged notorious behaviour was revealed later.

 

Another clip, showing a man who looked like Wiraphon and a woman having sex, went viral. He maintained that the man on the video was his brother. A woman has claimed in Si Sa Ket court that Wiraphon had fathered her child and she was ready to have a DNA test to back up her claim. 

 

She filed for compensation of Bt40 million from him.

 

He reportedly fled to France and eventually to the US after a series of scandals and allegations and his jet-setting lifestyles were revealed. His stories caught the attention of some foreign news agencies.

 

And when he fled to the US, he posted photos with luxurious houses and cars while wearing his yellow robes. 

 

In the US, he was said to have been residing at Kantibaramee monastery in San Diego, California.

 

During the DSI’s moves to indict him, about Bt2 billion in his bank accounts as well as some plots of land and houses, were seized pending trial.

 

According to procedure, when Wiraphon returns to Thailand, officials from the Department of Special Investigation will detain him before notifying him of all charges and then question him. He will be handed over to public prosecutors of the Special Litigation Department who will submit the case for consideration. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30321129

 
thenation_logo.jpg
-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-19
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, Raymonddiaz said:

Why do they need to send a directors and head officers  to get back a fugitive . Or it's a good way to get  for free holiday ????

Free paid holidays to another country are just a fringe benefit, part of the job

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Bt2 billion in his bank accounts

WOW! 2 Billion :shock1:.

 

It is certainly time to have proper accounting for all the wats and monks.

 

Religion is one massively profitable business. Except for minimal upkeep charges, all donations should be channelled back into the local community for health, schooling and infrastructure. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, 12DrinkMore said:

WOW! 2 Billion :shock1:.

 

It is certainly time to have proper accounting for all the wats and monks.

 

Religion is one massively profitable business. Except for minimal upkeep charges, all donations should be channelled back into the local community for health, schooling and infrastructure. 

 

 

Commendable.

 

Unachievable as too many are feeding from the trough!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thailand is one of the least Buddhist countries in the world:The majority of monks as well as laypeople constitute in their daily conduct the antithesis to everything the Buddha taught. 

Maybe just a percent or two of monks seriously pursue Dhamma, mindfulness and selflessness.The late Archan Cha said that Buddhism in Thailand couldn't possibly sink any lower, and that was decades ago.Since then it probably did (sink further)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't be so harsh on him. As a good Buddhist leader and representative of the Sangha in Thailand, he wasn't attached to material, earthly possessions. No - not at all. He just flew in them, drove in them, played with them, wore them, ate them, probably spent lots on buying them, probably stashed lots of them away, sat in them, lived in them, abandoned them, listened to them, drank them and did all sorts of other activities with them...ad nauseum. What a role model - especially for the working class and bourgeoisie!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.







×
×
  • Create New...