Regional News

Sex, Drugs, Murder & Money Dismay Thailand’s Buddhists

Louis Vuitton-toting ex-monk -Luang Pu Nen Kham, whose real name is Wirapol Sukphol.

BANGKOK – Saffron-robed Buddhist monks’ involvement in sex, drugs, murder and corruption is being increasingly exposed in Thailand, thanks to YouTube, resulting in shock, dismay, condemnation and criminal investigations.

Recent YouTube videos show Buddhist monks performing acts which disgust pious believers, puncturing the image of shaven-headed clergymen dwelling in a spiritual realm free from materialistic, hedonistic and evil desires.

Thai Monk Caught with his Pants Down

The latest scandals are not what Buddhist-majority Thailand’s more than 60 million devotees want to think about when they take off their shoes, enter a temple, humbly kneel and touch their foreheads to the ground in front of a statue of the Buddha.

Thailand’s 200,000 monks traditionally must obey the Vinaya which lists 227 monastic rules prescribed by the Buddha more than 2,500 years ago.

These rules tell monks how to interact with people and forbid killing, stealing, sex, major financial transactions, intoxication, politics and other activities, and describe the correct use of food, utensils, robes and temple property.

Inappropriate behavior, however, appears to be spreading among Thailand’s Buddhist monks who often enjoy living in ornate, modern, multi-million-dollar temple complexes built from donations.

To smooth the cash flow, many temples include brightly-lit banking ATM machines installed on temple property for devotees to use, next to statues and prayer halls.

Despite the seemingly endless news about monks occasionally committing crimes, Thais usually consider the cases to be abuses by individuals.

A recent YouTube video showing monks on a plush private jet purportedly taking off from Thailand to France, however, resulted in a criminal case by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Thailand’s version of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The video shows a few robed monks in comfy jet seats next to their leader — a Buddhist abbot popularly known as Luang Pu Nen Kham, whose real name is Wirapol Sukphol.

Thai buddhist monks looking at discounted notebooks displayed at the Commart Thailand in Bangkok.

Mr. Wirapol is wearing yellow sunglasses while sitting next to what appears to be a designer bag.

That blatant display of jet-set wealth proved too much for many Thais.

Thailand’s media, officials and public immediately voiced outrage about the video, lamenting how far the idealistic, atheist teachings of the Buddha have degenerated in this Southeast Asian nation, while the scandal rapidly escalated.

The DSI spent Monday (July 15) scrutinizing allegations that Mr. Wirapol had sex with a 14-year-old girl a decade ago, and want to conduct DNA tests.

An animated satirical video also appeared, mocking Mr. Wirapol and included imagined scenes of a robed monk committing various sins, such as enjoying Bangkok’s infamous ping-pong sex show.

Surprisingly, at least one of Thailand’s tightly government-controlled television stations broadcast the satirical video without censoring the animated bikini-clad dancer’s erotic behavior.

“I have been wondering for three years why the monk has such large amounts of money and assets,” said Bangkok Aviation Center’s founder and CEO, Piya Tregalnon.

He posted details on his Facebook page about Mr. Wirapol renting the center’s private planes to travel between Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani which is near his monastery in eastern Thailand.

A 41-year-old monk who told police he took methamphetamine to slim down has been charged with using an illegal drug.

“I think his wealth is suspicious,” Mr. Piya said, confirming the Facebook posts, according to the Bangkok Post.

The monk allegedly paid the equivalent of $10,000 for each rented plane, said Mr. Piya who was also an air force wing commander.

The DSI meanwhile reportedly said a former aide to the monk told them that Mr. Wirapol cavorted with other girls, drank alcohol, and took illegal drugs.

The partying occurred inside a garage at the former aide’s car repair shop in Ubon Ratchathani, where the monk brought his luxury vehicles to be fixed, the DSI’s Security Crime Bureau chief, Police Lt. Col. Pong-in Intarakhao, said.

During the current investigation, Crime Suppression Division officers attempted to search the monk’s monastery for more evidence.

The government’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) recently announced that the monk and his associates were allegedly linked to bank accounts totaling millions of dollars.

“I want to warn Luang Pu Nen Kham’s network, and Luang Pu himself, not to move assets shown in the bank accounts because doing so will immediately fall into the category of money laundering,” said AMLO Deputy Chief Suwanee Sawaengphol.

“If the money has been used to buy cars or an airplane, such assets will be illegal too, according to money laundering law, and they will be confiscated,” she said.

“Even though Luang Pu can claim that the money has been voluntarily donated by members of the public, if the money was obtained by exploitation of people’s faith through fraud and scams, they are also illegal under the money laundering law,” said Ms. Suwanee who is also a police captain.

The monk’s defenders said photos of him with women were fake, and any expensive items he may have used had been donated to him, not illegally purchased.

“We will find evidence to counter all the groundless accusations,” a supporter, Sukhum Wongprasit, told parliament.

Mr. Wirapol, born in 1979, was ordained as a novice when he was 15 years old.

His base in eastern Thailand’s Sisaket is registered as a monastery instead of as a temple, which may allow legal loopholes in its financial status, an official said.

The flying monk reportedly departed France and is currently in California where he allegedly owns a house.

Thailand’s media and public meanwhile is expressing disapproval about an unrelated scandal involving another Buddhist monk.

A recently uploaded YouTube video shows Tee Perd Yanthep coaxing two nervously smiling women to repeat gibberish, which the monk says is a “language of the deity that stays with people in every incarnation”.

The two women struggle to mumble his mumbo-jumbo, while the monk instructs them at a temple.

Police are also investigating other allegations of monks gone bad.

Near Krabi, a southern beach town, police said on June 28 they found the strangled corpse of a senior monk whose hands and feet were bound.

His iPad and mobile phone had not been stolen, perhaps because of his involvement in a profitable spiritual amulet business, police told reporters.

In Bangkok, an actor accused of murdering the owner of an upscale bar in January did what many alleged criminals do — he suddenly became a temporary monk before prosecutors filed their case against him in mid-June.

Some criminals permanently dodge justice by hiding in temples as monks under a pseudonym.

If discovered, they often join another temple, using a different name.

Also in June, villagers in northeast Thailand alleged that a senior monk inappropriately touched a 13-year-old novice.

Not far away, in a separate case, police arrested a 41-year-old Buddhist abbot for allegedly consuming illegal methamphetamines and possessing pornography in his temple.

*************Richard S. Ehrlich is a Bangkok-based journalist from San Francisco, California, reporting news from Asia since 1978, and recipient of Columbia University’s Foreign Correspondent’s Award. He is a co-author of three non-fiction books about Thailand, including “Hello My Big Big Honey!” Love Letters to Bangkok Bar Girls and Their Revealing Interviews; 60 Stories of Royal Lineage; and Chronicle of Thailand: Headline News Since 1946. Mr. Ehrlich also contributed to the final chapter, Ceremonies and Regalia, in a new book titled King Bhumibol Adulyadej, A Life’s Work: Thailand’s Monarchy in Perspective.

His websites are:
http://asia-correspondent.tumblr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/animists/sets
https://gumroad.com/l/RHwa

Regional News

Thai Immigration Police Detain Over 26,000 Illegal Migrant Workers

Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.

Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.

“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”

Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.

Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.

It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.

Migrant Workers to be Deported

According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.

Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.

Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.

He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.

All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.

According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.

Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.

“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.

Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers

The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.

Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.

Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.

According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.

However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.

“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

News

High School Student Dies After Being Electrocuted By School Water Dispenser

14-year-old boy was electrocuted by a water dispenser: File Image

Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.

According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.

According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.

According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.

The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.

Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.

The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.

According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.

The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.

Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.

Electrical accidents in Thailand

Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.

Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.

Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.

The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.

Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

News

Thailand’s Tourist Police Crackdown on Tourist Scammers in Pattaya

Tourist Police Pattaya: File Image

Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.

Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.

He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.

He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.

Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.

Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Police Chief Reinstated

In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.

Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.

The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.

Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.

Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.

On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.

Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.

Source: Bangkok Post