CityNews – Police have arrested a 26-year-old man who dressed as a monk in order to receive free travel on public transport.
Photo: Weerasak Panyachod.
Monks at Wat Meun Larn, on Ratchadamnoen Road, called police after Pichet Chaimonkol asked to use a toilet in the temple. He was dressed in monks’ robes, but when he emerged from the toilet he had changed into civilian clothing.
Police went to the temple and arrested him. Pichet, from Saraburi province, said he had been a military conscript in Chonburi before being ordained at a temple in Ubon Ratchathani. He stayed there for almost a year, but was forced to leave the monkhood after quarelling with people living near the temple.
He said he had wanted to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai so he could worship at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. However, he didn’t have enough money so he decided to wear monks’ robes and travel on the train for free. Buddhist monks receive free or subsidised travel on public transport in Thailand.
He said he didn’t mean to offend anyone, and just wanted to worship at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. He would leave Chiang Mai at once, he told police.
Officers let him go with a warning, but said he will be arrested again if he behaves badly.