CHIANG RAI – Another scandal has surfaced in the monkhood, where a news report of a leaked viral video that claims to show a head monk from a temple in Mueang District, Chiang Rai, involved in alleged gay sexual activity with another man. The footage has caused shock and anger among residents.
On Thursday, officials from the Chiang Rai Provincial Office of Buddhism visited the temple to investigate. They questioned the people involved, including the layman featured in the clip earlier this morning. The office is still gathering evidence.
Meanwhile, the local Buddhist council has assigned the district monk leader to do further questioning. Results from their discussions are expected around 3:00 p.m. The incident has led many locals to express disappointment and call for action from the council of monks.
Several people want the accused head monk to be defrocked so the community can move forward and regain trust in the temple.
A reporter from CTN News went to the temple in Mae Khao Tom, Mueang Chiang Rai. The head monk, who is also a subdistrict ecclesiastical chief and the person allegedly involved, shared his side of the story. He is now 72 years old and has been ordained for more than 30 years.
He explained that he has a habit of speaking bluntly, which may have upset some locals. He claims someone secretly filmed him while he was relaxing outside his quarters and then shared the video. He denied any wrongdoing, saying the news does not reflect the truth.
This morning, authorities already questioned him, and this afternoon, more discussions will happen at another temple within the city.
A resident, Ms. Kai (name changed), who is 68 years old, said she has not seen the video herself, but those who have say the man in the video looks like the head monk. She does not know what to believe but admits feeling uneasy, as she often visits the temple.
Many in the community feel disillusioned and say they no longer want to attend the temple’s events. Some have even decided to skip the next merit-making day. The controversy has shaken trust in the temple.
Senior Monk Disrobes
This is the second scandal to hit Chiang Rai’s monkhood in a week. On August 6th, a senior monk in Chiang Rai, who served as both abbot at a well-known local temple and secretary to the district’s chief monk, resigned from the monkhood earlier this month following several complaints.
His sudden departure surprised and saddened both the local community and fellow monks who had long respected him.
According to the district chief monk, the abbot was reported for three separate issues. The main complaint involved leaving the temple at night to drive around, which led officials from the provincial religious affairs office to suggest he step down.
There were rumours of involvement with a woman, but the chief monk only learned about these claims after the resignation.
The temple’s lay manager explained that he was informed about three complaints, the first being repeated late-night driving out of the temple. The other two issues were not discussed in detail.
The former abbot admitted his faults and chose to leave the monkhood, accepting responsibility for all the allegations.
Later, villagers heard that the matter may have involved a woman, but no one could confirm the exact details. The former abbot had been at the temple since he was 20 and had taken on his role following the previous abbot’s passing, so news of his departure was a blow for many locals, especially older residents.
With no abbot taking over yet, locals and the temple committee have been keeping watch at the temple to maintain a calm and respectful atmosphere as they wait for the situation to settle.
Recent scandals involving Buddhist monks in Thailand have significantly impacted public trust in the monkhood, a cornerstone of Thai society where over 90% of the population is Buddhist.
These incidents, widely reported in 2025, highlight issues of financial misconduct, sexual impropriety, and other breaches of monastic vows, prompting calls for reform.
