Regional News
28 Thai Men Arrested for Posing as Monks Collecting Money for Gambling, Pornography, and Narcotics
Twenty-eight Thai men have been arrested for posing as monks and temple assistants to collect donation money that they allegedly used for gambling, pornography, and narcotics, 4 Sept 2014.
SUPHANBURI – Twenty-eight Thai men have been arrested for posing as monks and temple assistants to collect donation money that they allegedly used for gambling, pornography, and narcotics.
Soldiers from 19th Cavalry Battalion raided a motel in Uthong district, Suphanburi province, early this morning to arrest the suspects, who were living in 14 rooms.
The suspects confessed that 18 of them shaved their heads and donned saffron robes to disguise themselves as monks, while the other 10 posed as their temple assistants. Manote Intaraklai, 47, identified himself as the ringleader and told soldiers the group used the donation money to buy food, pornography, and narcotics. They also used the money to gamble, Mr. Manote said.
Mr. Manote said he led the group out every day to ask for alms and donations around Suphanburi and neighbouring provinces. The “monks” donned their disguises on the way to the town centre, Mr. Manote added. Read More at Khaosod News
