
The Wapi Pathum police station was alerted at 7.30pm that the monk, whose lay name is Sombang Kongbutr, 81, was killed inside the small temple in Ban Kaen Thao village in Tambon Phochai, Wapi Pathum district.
Police said the monk, who lived there alone, was hit about his head, face and body with a wooden stick and died at the scene.
Local villagers captured In-oi Chaichoke, 45, from Loei’s Pak Chom district, and handed him over to police.
The man appeared drunk and could not testify, said police.
Saksilp Kaesang, the village head, said In-oi came to stay at the temple two days earlier to visit his elder brother.