Four held, suspect sought after novice monk found killed
Authorities are looking into the assets of a temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat province after finding that a novice monk had been killed and its former abbot locked up in suspicious circumstances.
The alleged crimes raised speculation that someone might have sought the temple’s assets.
Former monk, Denchai Phuniyom, his wife, and their two alleged accomplices Natee Seedorn, 42, and a former novice monk are all being detained.
“The temple owns and leases 89 residential units. We will have to find out where the rent has gone to,” Nakhon Si Thammarat’s police chief Pol Maj-General Wanchai Ekpornpich said yesterday.
He said authorities had been poring over the suspects’ financial transactions.
“The probe may lead to asset seizures,” he said.
Ekchai said police were also trying to locate Pisit Bussaban, a 55-year-old transvestite, as new evidence suggested he had played a role in the killing of the novice monk, Samanera Pleum. The victim’s father has collected his body for funeral rites.