Police Probe Temple Finances Amid Clergy Scandal
BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) - Thai authorities are intensifying investigations into alleged financial misconduct and illicit relationships involving senior Buddhist monks and a woman identified in media as "Sika Kor."
The widening scandal centers on Sika Kor's relationships with multiple monks, which violate the fundamental monastic vow of celibacy.
Police plan to examine the financial records of four prominent temples to determine if temple funds were embezzled and transferred to Sika Kor, particularly after revelations that some implicated monks centralized temple finances to facilitate transactions.
This comes as the Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body for Buddhist monks, held an urgent meeting, ruling that monks who committed grave monastic offenses (Parajika) will be immediately disrobed and stripped of their ecclesiastical ranks.
The scandal has already seen one senior abbot resign from his position after reportedly transferring over 11 million baht to Sika Kor, while a former monk detailed how Sika Kor allegedly cultivated relationships and even manipulated him into filing a complaint against another monk.
Of the 11 senior monks accused of involvement with Sika Kor, six have already disrobed. The Sangha Supreme Council and monastic leaders are concerned about the evidence for the remaining cases.
Therefore, the Council has tasked the National Office of Buddhism with coordinating with the Royal Thai Police to obtain all necessary evidence, including documents, clips, and images, to facilitate disciplinary action against the five monks who have not yet disrobed.
Investigators are also reviewing extensive video evidence. Preliminary findings suggest that some monks' involvement did not extend to physical sexual acts, but rather to video call sex.
The National Office of Buddhism has also issued a public warning to monks about women who approach them with hidden agendas, detailing manipulative tactics to gain trust and exploit them. -819 (TNA)
