Cambodian monks disrobed in Phuket, await deportation
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A group of 19 Cambodian monks are awaiting deportation after they were arrested and disrobed for violating several rules of the Buddhist monkhood as practiced in Thailand.
The monks were escorted by Wichit Police and Muang District officers to Wat Mongkol Nimit in Phuket Town to be stripped of their monkhood by the chief monk of Phuket's Muang district. The monks failed to inform the chief monk that they were coming and gain the necessary approval.
“All of the monks had proper monk identification from Cambodia, but they broke the rules by staying in an unapproved location, collecting alms at inappropriate hours and inveigling money from people,” Lt Col Pongkarn Boonprakong of the Wichit Police told the Phuket Gazette.
After the Cambodians were disrobed, immigration officers were called in to verify the men’s visas. Officers discovered that three of them had illegally entered Thailand.
Phuket Gazette
