Two monks have been arrested in separate raids, in Nan and Bangkok, on charges of sexually molesting children.
One is accused of attempting to sexually molest two underage boys and the other with sexually abusing and backmailing an 11-year-old girl.
Pol Maj Manop Khakhai, crime suppression inspector at Muang district police station in Nan province, led a team to arrest Phra Pornthep Rujirachantho at Huay Sompoi monastery in Muang district about 9.30am on Thursday.
The arrest followed a complaint by a 33-year-old woman that the monk had attempted to sexually abuse her 12-year-old son and her 10-year-old nephew in his monastic quarters on Wednesday.
She alleged that the monk, who had arrived at the monastery only two weeks ago, had lured the boys into entering the novicehood to study the teachings of Buddha during the summer break.
She had allowed the boys to stay overnight at his monastery on Makha Bucha Day, on Wednesday, before their ordination. The monk had tried to sexually assault her son and her nephew that night, she alleged. The boys managed to flee unhurt.
According to police, Phra Pornthep admitted he had tried to molest the boys as alleged, but claimed he acted out of love and affection.
Police said an investigation found the monk was mentally deranged and previously sought treatment at a hospital in Chiang Mai. He was expelled from the monkhood and sent to hospital for mental treatment.
In Bangkok, Phra Sujin Thammatheepo, 56, of Wat Bang Pakok in Rat Burana district, was arrested when police raided his monastic room on Wednesday.
Police said the monk was about to sexually abuse an 11-year-old girl inside his room. Phra Sujin was reported to have been shocked when the police burst in.
In his room police found three packets of marijuana, four swords, three BB guns and a mobile phone used for videotaping his sexual acts, said Pol Lt Sakda Chakcharoensap, a duty officer at Rat Burana police station, who was alerted by the girl’s family on Wednesday.
The girl told her parents that she had known the monk for several years before he entered the monkhood. The monk often bought snacks and gave her money to buy clothes and a mobile phone.
The monk later lured the girl to his monastic room where he had sexually abused her and videotaped the sexual acts. He had threatened to post the tapes online if she refused to have further sex with him, Thai media reported.
The monk was expelled by the abbot before being taken to the police station for further action.
The former monk then told police he had known the girl for five years before entering the monkhood at a temple in Samut Prakan. After he moved to Wat Bang Pakok last year the girl stayed in touch with him and regularly visited him. He often gave her money to buy treats and clothes.
He confessed to having sexually abused her three times and given her money every time. He said he sometimes smokes marijuana, according to police.
Police initially charged him with depriving a girl below the age of 15 of parental care for purposes of sexually abusing her, and having drugs in his possession.