Incident Overview
Rape charges were filed on Saturday against a Buddhist monk in Buri Ram who allegedly assaulted a woman attending a meditation retreat at his monastery.
Victim’s Account
The victim, a 38-year-old foreign woman referred to as “A,” was accompanied by Chalida Palamat, chairwoman of the Be One Foundation, to the Nong Song Hong police station to file a complaint.
The victim alleged that the monk, identified only as Wichai, 59, sexually assaulted her on Wednesday night while she was staying at the monastery, named the Saeng Tham Garden, for a meditation retreat. She had been drawn to the retreat after seeing videos on social media that promoted it as a path to enlightenment.
Events Leading to the Incident
- A arrived in Buri Ram on Monday to join the retreat, initially planning to stay for two months with her husband, who decided to remain in Pattaya.
- On Wednesday night, she alleged that Mr. Wichai entered her sleeping quarters and molested her. She did not resist out of fear that he might be armed.
- The next morning, the victim confided in a nun and recorded a conversation with Mr. Wichai, during which he offered her 8,000 baht to stay at the monastery, urging her to “stay because of love.”
Monk’s Activities Under Scrutiny
Ms. Chalida revealed that an investigation into Mr. Wichai’s Facebook account uncovered photos of him posing with luxury cars and promoting his retreats. Concerns were raised that he may have used the monastery as a front for exploiting or defrauding women.
Actions Taken
- The Buddhist clergy in Buri Ram unanimously expelled Mr. Wichai from the monkhood.
- Police ordered the closure of the Saeng Tham Garden meditation center and prohibited it from conducting any religious or fundraising activities.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing to investigate additional allegations against Mr. Wichai, including possible financial fraud and exploitation of other women who may have been lured to the monastery.