Phuket
Monk disrobed after telephone sex

BANGKOK (AFP): A senior monk left the Buddhist clergy today after he was caught engaging in phone sex, officials within the monkhood say. Phra Si Visuthyarn, deputy abbot of Bangkok’s Tritosthep temple, delivered his resignation this morning, an official told AFP. The monk quit after religious officials in the Sangha Supreme Council received a tape recording of him having phone sex with women and requesting meetings for physical intercourse, the official said. “We have proven that it is his voice on the tape, so the case is closed. He had to quit, since phone sex is inappropriate for the monkhood,” he said. Monks are forbidden by the Buddhist scriptures from having sex. Other abbots at Tritosthep temple previously told reporters that they had received complaints about Si Visuthyarn for sexual misconduct, but Si Visuthyarn has denied all charges against him. The incident was the first reported case of a monk having sex by telephone, but only one in a number of recent scandals that have plagued Thailand’s Buddhist clergy. Last Sunday, police began investigating allegations that a Buddhist abbot repeatedly raped an 11-year-old girl who lived with her mother inside his temple compound. Three days before that, an abbot and his girlfriend were charged with possessing and dealing in illicit drugs. And earlier in the week, Adhikarn Arn Wattanadhamo, from another northeastern temple, was charged with murdering a woman who was found strangled and dumped in a septic tank. The rash of arrests, as well as a number of embarrassing incidents where monks have been spotted drinking, hiring prostitutes and driving luxury cars, has put the spotlight on shortcomings in the Thai clergy. Newspaper editorials have expressed concern that misbehaviour is more widespread than authorities claim, and that little is being done to bring errant monks into line.
Get more from The Thaiger
Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.
Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.
Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

- Phuket3 days ago
Runway temporarily closed for repair, flights to and from Phuket affected
- Economy3 days ago
Inflation causing a problem for airlines coming to Thailand
- Expats4 days ago
Koh Pha Ngan ranked top workation location in the world
- Best of2 days ago
The best local seafood restaurants in Phuket for 2022
- Bangkok3 days ago
BKK Airport reports increase in flights after Thailand Pass nixed
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days ago
Unvaccinated tourist turned away at check-in desk en route to Thailand
- Patong3 days ago
King tide in Phuket spurs online fears of a tsunami – it wasn’t
- Road deaths3 days ago
Student’s body ripped in half in freak motorbike accident in central Thailand
You must be logged in to post a comment Login