Thai Monastery Case: Elder Monk Accused of Abuse In Buriram

No time to read?
Get a summary

In Buriram, Thailand, reports describe a troubling case involving an elderly Buddhist monk who invited a visitor to his monastery with promises of enlightenment, only to commit abuse. Local media have covered the sequence of events surrounding the incident in Thailand.

Wichai, 59, is accused of assaulting a 38-year-old congregation member. A woman who traveled to Thailand seeking spiritual development connected with him after seeing social media advertisements that claimed enlightenment could be reached by meditating under the guidance of a monk.

Wichai offered free accommodation at the monastery and invited her to participate in a two-month retreat to free himself from suffering. He settled there on January 13, and two days later the assault occurred. The woman felt unable to resist because she feared the monk might be armed.

The following day, a recording captured him describing an offer of eight thousand baht to stay for love.

Chalida Palamat, president of the Be One Foundation, which helped the complainant file the report, noted that the monk attracted followers by flaunting luxury cars in social media videos and warned that spiritual activities could be used as a cover to seduce women.

After investigators began, Thai Buddhist authorities removed Wichai from the priesthood. The police closed the meditation center and banned fundraising in his name as the inquiry continues.

Last year, a tourist from Russia was detained in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct in Thailand.

Separately, a former abbot of a Buddhist temple faced charges of drug distribution and sexual relations with parishioners.

No time to read?
Get a summary
Previous Article

Brief Exercise Boosts Cognitive Function in Adults

Next Article

Kyrgyzstan Enacts Law Regulating Face Coverings