Monk injured in temple assault by abbot over sound system dispute
A shocking incident at a temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Phrom Khiri district has left a monk severely injured after being assaulted by the abbot. The attack, allegedly over a broken sound system, resulted in the monk’s left arm being fractured, prompting police involvement and potential severe charges against the abbot.
The incident occurred at a local temple where the victim, a 41 year old monk, Maha, had been accused by the abbot of damaging the temple’s sound equipment. The altercation took place as Maha was attempting to reconnect a loose speaker wire when the abbot, armed with a wooden club, approached him.
Despite Maha’s insistence that he had not caused any damage, the abbot struck him with full force. To protect himself, Maha used his left arm to block the blow, which led to the fracture. The situation escalated as the abbot not only continued to threaten him with further violence but also menaced him with death threats, suggesting he would hide the body on a mountain, said Maha.
“I was just reconnecting the speaker wires when the abbot accused me of breaking the equipment. Despite my denial, he attacked me, and when I tried to shield myself, my arm broke. He even threatened my life and warned me against reporting the incident.”
Following the assault, Maha sought medical attention at Phrom Khiri Hospital before returning to his father’s home to recuperate. The severity of his injuries prompted him to file a police report at Phrom Khiri Police Station against the abbot, who holds the title of Phra Kru at a temple in Phrom Lok, reported KhaoSod.
Phrom Khiri Police Superintendent, Veerasak Sritong, commented on the case, confirming that the investigation is underway.
“The police visited the scene and are awaiting medical reports to determine the extent of the injuries. This will help ascertain if they meet the criteria for grievous harm, particularly if the recovery period exceeds 20 days, which would classify the injuries as severe.”
