Buddhist Monks Stash Drugs Porn Sex Toys and Escort Lists Inside Thai Temple
Four Buddhist monks were arrested after a police raid on January 27 at Phrom Sunthon Monastery in Chonburi province, Thailand, following reports of firearms and drugs on temple grounds. The raid exposed a disturbing assortment of items kept at the temple, including drugs, porn, sex toys, a penis enlargement pump and an escort directory.
Raid at Phrom Sunthon Monastery: Four Monks Arrested as Drugs, Firearms and Porn Are Found
Four Buddhist monks were arrested after a police raid on January 27 at Phrom Sunthon Monastery in Chonburi province. Officers found 89,000 baht (£2,070) in cash, a pistol, a penis enlargement pump, a contact list of prostitutes and a DVD player with a porn disc loaded inside. Three monks tested positive for methamphetamine. The four individuals named were Phra Supachai Jantawong, 35, Phra Wirat Mukdasanit, 45, Phra Thanapol Maison, 59, and the temple abbot, Phra Photisang Taebmuan. All four have been defrocked and banned from the religion. Colonel Saksilp Kamnoedsin of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) of Chonburi said the raid was carried out after villagers complained of alleged drug and firearm use on temple grounds. The three monks found to be using drugs will be sent to the police and relevant authorities for rehabilitation. The abbot will be handed over to the police for questioning and then deported to his country of origin. Alleged drug user Supachai claimed he had been taking meth for around three years, in order "to manage body pain from diabetes and high blood pressure'". "It's for relieving nerve pain. When the pain is really bad, I take these kinds of pills. But I only use it for really severe pain." Authorities said the three monks will be sent to drug rehabilitation, while the abbot was handed over to immigration officials for further investigation. Footage shows officers combing through the bedrooms, and a porn DVD was found.
Public Trust Erodes as Scandals Haunt Thailand's Buddhist Order
An estimated 93.4% of the Thai population is Buddhist, with around 45,000 temples across the country, according to the National Office of Buddhism. Public trust in the Buddhist order has been eroded by crimes and scandals, including a femme fatale seduction scandal last July when a string of high-ranking monks were caught funneling temple funds to a woman named Sika Golf in July. The temptress was later arrested and admitted she had seduced the religious leaders to access temple money which she used for gambling. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
