Recently, a video of a monk being intimate with a woman has gone viral again on Thai social media. The main character in the video is said to be the abbot of a temple in the Mueang District of Lampang Province, Thailand.
The incident reportedly occurred as early as 2014. Villagers have lodged multiple complaints over the years, yet no substantial progress has been made, sparking public criticism over the inefficacy of the Buddhist management bodies.
According to Thai media reports, the Facebook page 'I'll Help You Become Famous · Season 6 Returns' posted about the incident, stating that some villagers discovered the video as early as 2014. That year, the then-village head and villagers reported it with evidence to the Lampang Buddhist Affairs Office, but the case eventually went nowhere.
The monk, currently about 70 years old, is not only the abbot of the temple but also holds a high monk title and serves as the monk official of the district. A knowing former village head expressed that, despite him and the villagers submitting complaints again to the Lampang Buddhist Affairs Office in 2023, there has been no response so far. The prolonged inaction has led to villagers becoming disillusioned, and they no longer visit the temple for worship or offerings.
The former village head also revealed that the monk official once commented in response to villagers' queries: 'Let it be, if it really blows up, I would just hang myself to end it.'
He also pointed out that the monk has maintained a covert relationship akin to that of a husband and wife with a woman from the village. They even exchange food and water daily.
This incident has resurfaced public attention due to another monk scandal being exposed, with netizens urging relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate and calling for the monk to leave the monastic order to uphold the dignity of Buddhism. Currently, Thai religious affairs units have not yet issued an official response to the matter.
Abbot Allegedly Misappropriated 300 Million Baht of Temple Assets
Earlier this month, on the 15th, the abbot of Thailand's famous 'Wat Rai Khing' Temple, Master Thamma, was accused of diverting 300 million baht of temple assets for online gambling, after which he voluntarily surrendered to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
According to the Bangkok Post, the Thai Central Investigation Bureau had planned to take action on May 16, but Master Thamma allegedly got wind of the news early and chose to turn himself in. Police emphasized that the evidence in the case is conclusive, and the timing of his surrender will not affect subsequent investigations and legal proceedings.
Seventy-year-old Master Thamma is not only the abbot of 'Wat Rai Khing' in Nakhon Pathom Province but also the administrative leader of the monastic community in the area, holding a highly esteemed position. Therefore, the exposure of this case has generated widespread attention and caused a stir in the religious community.
Police investigation found that over the past five years, about 300 million baht flowed into Master Thamma's personal account. Further tracking revealed financial transactions between this account and multiple gambling websites, with the total reaching at least 500 million baht.