Monk on the run: Abbott crashes and dashes after bail (video)

A Thai abbot crashed his pickup into a prison guard’s car on a road in Chiang Mai, seriously injuring the guard. The monk later disappeared after being granted bail.

The public raised suspicions of corruption in the road accident case involving the abbot and the prison guard in Chiang Mai. The accident occurred on October 24 but the suspect, the abbot of Charoenrat Temple, remains at large despite the seriousness of the case.

The incident took place in the morning on Chiang Mai-Hang Dong Road. CCTV footage of the accident showed that the abbot, 47 year old Yothin, was driving a black pickup truck at high speed before veering into the opposite lane.

A white van narrowly avoided a collision with the abbot’s pickup, causing the vehicle to crash directly into the dark blue hatchback driven by the prison guard, 47 year old Pongsakorn “Arm” Pongrattanaporn, better known as Director Arm.

Arm, who is the director of the welfare division at Lamphun Provincial Prison, was on his way to work at the time. He reportedly suffered severe injuries, including a fractured rib cage. He remains under close medical care at Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital.

Arm’s car was completely wrecked while the monk’s pickup sustained damage to its front bumper. The abbot managed to escape the accident unscathed.

When questioned about his journey, the monk only revealed that he had driven to Chiang Mai City centre but did not disclose whether the purpose was related to a social event or temple business.

Officers from Hang Dong Police Station were called to the scene and conducted an alcohol test on the abbot, which revealed a blood alcohol level of 150 milligrammes per cent, significantly above the legal limit of 50 milligrammes per cent.

Police reportedly granted bail to the abbot, stating that he did not exhibit any intention to flee. According to a report by MGR Online, the temple has since remained quiet, with the abbot no longer present.

The leader of the community near the temple, Thawee Khampa, informed the media that he saw a car from the provincial administrative office picking up the abbot from the temple on the morning of yesterday, October 30. Police have yet to clarify the progress of the case.