THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Absconding Sa Ket Temple ex-abbot surrenders, denied bail

Absconding Sa Ket Temple ex-abbot surrenders, denied bail

THE FORMER abbot of Sa Ket Temple has become the latest senior monk to enter the Bangkok Remand Prison after he surrendered to police yesterday.

Previously known as Phra Phromsitti (Thongchai Sukhayano), the former abbot had absconded for nearly one week before he contacted police. 
“He claims he did not report himself to police earlier because he wanted to mark the Visakha Bucha Day,” an informed source said yesterday. 
Visakha Bucha celebrated the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha on Tuesday.

Absconding Sa Ket Temple ex-abbot surrenders, denied bail
A police source revealed that the monk’s surrender took place after the Crimes Suppression Division (CSD) circulated a letter instructing immigration officials to detain three people close to the former abbot on sight. 
According to the source, the CSD believes the trio – which includes a Laotian – might have helped the former abbot elude police last week.
On May 24, Phra Phromsitti was the only monk from Sa Ket Temple to elude capture during the police raid. The other monk who is on the run, Phra Phrommedhi (Chamnong Dhammajari), is the abbot of Samphanthawongsaram Temple. As of press time, the whereabouts of Phra Phrommedhi is still unknown. 
Five other monks implicated in the same scandal were arrested, denied bail and defrocked that day. 
The National Buddhism Office has accused several senior monks of embezzling state funds for temples. The Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) – the country’s highest body for monastic affairs – dismissed Phra Phromsitti, Phra Phrommedhi and Sam Phraya Temple abbot Phra Phromdilok (Euan Hasadhammo) as |its members last week. 
Yesterday, the Royal Gazette promulgated the King’s royal command to strip the monks of their monastic ranks. Under this royal command, the four other implicated monks also lost their monastic titles. 

Absconding Sa Ket Temple ex-abbot surrenders, denied bail
Even though the former abbot of Sa Ket Temple has already lost his monastic rank and left monkhood, he is still revered by many people. A number of his followers gathered at the CSD yesterday to support him. The former Phra Phromsitti surrendered at Sa Ket Temple. 
Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Thitiraj Nhongharnpitak headed the team to the monastery to take the monk into custody. The monk was brought to the CSD where he was interrogated for three hours. He was expressionless as he left the CSD. 
Police asked for permission from the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to detain him at a prison. 
The court granted the permission and decided to not grant bail to Phra Phromsitti. 
His lawyer had brought Bt1 million in cash for his bail plea.
Phra Phromsitti, 62, was ordained in 1976 and had been in monkhood until his defrockment yesterday. 
At the height of his monastic days, he was not just the abbot of Sa Ket Temple but also held several other important monastic positions.
He was an SSC member, the chief of the Monastic Region 10, and the chairman of Dhammaduta Office.
Following his defrockment, Phra Phromsitti is now known only as Thongchai Sukho. 
A source said Thongchai plans to hold a press conference on the allegations against him in the near future. 
The ongoing police investigation suggested that Thongchai must have played a role in illegitimately funnelling more than Bt79 million from the Sa Ket Temple in recent years. 
Some of the money reportedly went to a company that existed only on paper and was controlled by a woman who was close to a senior monk at the Sa Ket Temple. 

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