Chon Buri: Four Cambodian men posing as fake monks apprehended in Si Racha

Four Cambodian individuals posing as fake monks were apprehended by immigration police on a mountain near a community in the Si Racha district, Chon Buri.

They were disguised as fake Buddhist monks in yellow robes, residing in makeshift shelters. The operation was carried out this morning, December 1, following residents’ grievances about several Cambodian nationals masquerading as monks and asking for food and money near Suparerk market on Kao Kilo road in Surasak subdistrict.

The residents disclosed the Cambodian men’s living conditions on the mountain close to their community. A team of immigration officers, directed by Police Colonel Prinya Klinkesorn, ascended the mountain this morning and discovered four Cambodians in yellow robes who had recently returned from alms collection.

The apprehended men did not have passports or any travel documents. They informed the police of the presence of many other Cambodians in the area. However, a subsequent search by the officers only revealed a few deserted bamboo shelters, cooking equipment, and a smattering of household items.

The four apprehended men were stripped of their robes and charged with illegal entry and unlawfully impersonating monks. They were set for repatriation post-completion of the necessary legal procedures.

Phra Khru Rangsan, the abbot of Wat Phutthanimit, a Buddhist temple in the vicinity, revealed that these Cambodians had falsely claimed an affiliation with the temple whilst seeking donations, reported Bangkok Post.

Bangkok’s temples and spiritual sites are a magnet for tourists eager to delve into local culture and religious customs. Regrettably, the serene atmosphere has been marred by deceptive individuals posing as monks to exploit the generosity of unsuspecting visitors.

These impostors, disguised in monk attire, approach tourists, seeking donations or peddling counterfeit religious items. Employing emotional manipulation, they coax travellers into parting with their money.

Authentic monks in Thailand, however, refrain from directly soliciting donations from visitors. If accosted by someone claiming monkhood and seeking financial contributions, it is advisable to politely decline and withdraw.

In related news, police apprehended a 53 year old resident of the Buriram province, who had been disguising himself as a monk to deceive local temple heads. Read more about this story HERE.