Sangha Council pledges full cooperation in sex scandal investigations

The Sangha Supreme Council, the governing body of the Buddhist order, has agreed to cooperate fully with the police in their investigations of sex scandals, in which over 20 senior monks are allegedly implicated, according to Pol Maj-Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).

Charoonkiat and Phumisarn Kasemsuk, secretary-general of the Public Sector National Anti-Corruption Commission, called on Somdej Phra Putthachan, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council, at Traimit Withayaram Temple on Saturday, to discuss the scandals.

The CIB deputy commissioner said the discussion was positive, as the council agreed to take action against monks who refuse to cooperate with the police.

Of the over 20 senior monks who were suspected to have close or intimate relationships with a woman, identified only as “Golf”, only seven have left the monkhood, to avoid being defrocked.

They include the abbot of Tri Thotsathep Temple in Bangkok, the abbot Phrom Kesorn Temple in Phitsanuloke, the abbot of Phra Phutthachai Temple in Saraburi, the assistant abbot of Paknam Phasi Charoen Temple in Bangkok, a senior monk at Yai Chaimongkhon Temple in Bangkok, the assistant abbot of Kalayanamit Temple in Bangkok and the assistant abbot of Sothonwararam Temple in Chachoengsao.

Charoonkiat said that four other senior monks were found by the police to have transferred money into the bank account of “Golf” and to have engaged in Line chats or close relationships with the woman, but none of them have agreed to leave the monkhood.

These include the chief monk of Phichit province, who allegedly transferred money to the woman, the abbot of Chuchitthammaram Temple in Ayutthaya, who was alleged to have engaged in Line chats, the assistant abbot of Prayurawongsawat Temple in Bangkok and the provincial chief monk of Phitsanuloke, who was found to be involved in a Line chat group.

Charoonkiat said that some of the monks claimed that they merely gave money to the woman for merit making and denied having any intimate relationship with her.