Scandal over monk robes: Police raid monks' quarters at a famous temple in Nonthaburi Province, find five monks with purple urine, and disrobe them in the middle of the night. Police from Bang Sri Muang Police Station, local government officials, and relevant agencies raided a famous temple in Tambon Bang Sri Muang, Amphoe Mueang Nonthaburi after receiving complaints from locals that several monks were using drugs and that laywomen were hiding in their monk's quarters. The incident occurred in a monk's quarters at the back of the temple, which is two stories high and has six quarters on each floor, totaling 12 quarters. In quarter number 6, drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine pills, ice, condoms, and sex stimulants were found last night (October 22). Officers found five junior monks with drugs in their systems, so they were taken to Phra Khru Sophitkittiyaphon, abbot of Wat Bot Don Phrom, Amphoe Mueang Nonthaburi, to be disrobed. They are Mr. Anuwat, 26 years old, Mr. Itthiphon, 40 years old, Mr. Kittisak, 4 0 years old, Mr. Saran, 27 years old, and Mr. Yuthana, 31 years old. Initially, all of them confessed to using drugs. As for those who were involved in the distribution, the investigation is being expanded to track down those who distributed to these monks. They have been charged with using drugs and possessing narcotics before being sent for legal proceedings. The latest news is that reporters went to the temple and asked Mr. Uthai, 65 years old, the temple's abbot. He said that the five monks who were disrobed had only been ordained for one Lent. At first, they behaved well, but then they started hanging out in groups at night. The temple called them to warn them, but they didn't listen and didn't improve. He had reported the incident to the abbot, but the abbot said he would deal with it after the end of the Lent. That's when the police came to arrest them. As for the female laypeople, there were two monks who had just left shortly before the police arrived. If the police had come sooner, they would have found the women in the room with the drugs and condoms, because the women come there every day. Phra Ratcha Thammathirat or Phra Payom Kalyano, the abbot of Wat Suan Kaew, commented after hearing the news that the monk who had just disrobed had misunderstood the purpose of ordaining as a monk, claiming that he wanted to earn money to send to his family, but was stressed because he had no invitations. When stressed, he took methamphetamine and had affairs with laywomen, which was inappropriate behavior. The temple was not a place to earn money, but a place to study the Dhamma. If one wanted to earn money to send to his family, one should go out and find work outside rather than ordaining, which would damage the reputation of the religion. These people were like fools, greedy people, and animal humans who ordained only to make a fortune, and also had sexually addicted behavior, bringing laywomen into their quarters, which was shameful and unbecoming of a monk. Source: Thai News Agency
