Ex-Phra Buddha Isara and five ex-senior monks of three well-known temples in Bangkok slept poorly on their first night at the Bangkok Remand Prison, the prison chief said on Friday morning.
Phra Buddhga Isra, abbot of Wat Omnoi, and five senior monks from Wat Sa Ket, Wat Sam Pnraya and Wat Samphanthawongsaram were arrested on Thursday. Suwit Thongprasert, former Phra Buddha Isara, was arrested on charges of illegal association for his role in the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protests and the unauthorised use of the initials of the late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM Queen Sirikit in amulets. The five other monks were arrested on charges of corruption.
After being refused bail by the court, they were all defrocked. Monks cannot be put in jail before being defrocked. They arrived at the remand prison at 9pm on Thursday, exhausted after a day of interrogation, and were even more exhausted on Friday morning after having difficulty sleeping, said Krit. Further interrogation is expected.
