Fake monk’s act doesn’t pass the vest test in Khon Kaen
A man dressed as a monk was detained by police in Khon Kaen after residents reported suspicious behaviour. The alleged monk claimed he found methamphetamine on the roadside and consumed it. He also stated he was genuinely ordained but had not yet received official documentation.
Today, January 20, a report surfaced about a man resembling a monk, wearing sunglasses and a wool hat, walking along Mittraphap Road in the Khon Kaen municipality area. The man was seen crossing the road to a U-turn point controlled by a tunnel system before heading towards the mouth of the tunnel near a petrol station.
Local police officers, upon receiving a tip-off, arrived to investigate. When asked for his monk identification, the man failed to produce any.
Further inspection of his belongings, including a bag and a pouch, revealed several foil papers and lighters. Upon removing his hat, it was discovered that he had long hair.
Consequently, he was taken to the Khon Kaen City Police Station. While en route, Phra Khru Sumet Thammasan, the abbot of Mak Samran Temple and subdistrict monk dean of Khon Kaen District 3, informed the police about another man in similar attire collecting trash nearby. However, no such individual was found upon investigation.
Later, Police Lieutenant Colonel Methine Sriwanna, deputy superintendent of crime suppression at the Khon Kaen City Police Station, questioned the man, who identified himself as 35 year old Detdiao from Ban Kham Hai, Ban Pet subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen district. When asked about his impersonation of a monk, Detdiao claimed he was married and had previously been ordained at Wat Pa Chaiwan but had not yet received his certification.
The police, however, were sceptical. A urine test confirmed positive for drugs. Detdiao confessed to consuming one methamphetamine pill earlier that morning, claiming he found it by the roadside. The police doubted his story, suspecting he had bought the drug from a dealer, though none was found on him, reported KhaoSod.
Detdiao was taken to the police station for further investigation and charged with consumption of a Category 1 drug (methamphetamine) and violating Section 208 of the Penal Code, which states that anyone who dresses or uses symbols indicating they are a monk or religious figure unlawfully, to deceive others, may face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 20,000 baht (US$580), or both.
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