A senior monk of Wat Bang Bua in Bang Khen district has been arrested and defrocked for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl, a crime he has now confessed to reports The Bangkok Post.
He was presented to a news conference in Bangkok over the weekend, where it was confirmed a warrant for arrest was issued on 21 June, and the monk had been on the run ever since, taking refuge in a temple.
Under Thailand criminal law, the Thai Penal Code states that any person who commits sexual intercourse with a woman who is not his wife, and against the latter’s will, by threatening her, or doing any act of violence, or by taking advantage of her being in a condition where there is less resistance, shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of 4 to 20 years and a fine which ranges from 8, 000 Baht to 40, 000 Baht. Further, if the victim of rape is a minor who is not over 15 years of age, whether the sexual intercourse was with or without the consent of the victim, the offender shall be imprisoned for 20 years and shall pay a fine ranging from 8,000-40,000 Baht.
The news of course comes very soon after it was revealed that senior monk, Phra Wirapol Sukphol – better known as Luang Pu Nen Kham Chattiko was being investigated for money laundering irregularities.
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