Police arrested a monk in the central province of Chanthaburi on charges of distributing child pornography depicting the sexual abuse of young boys, mostly novices at the temple.
Chanthaburi Provincial Police were alerted by the Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (TICAC) that child pornography was being circulated through Telegram and X accounts linked to the Pong Nam Ron district of Chanthaburi.
Following further investigation, police identified the accounts’ owner as a 29 year old monk named Pracha. A subsequent raid on his accommodation within the temple uncovered evidence supporting his criminal activities.
Officers seized a laptop, a tablet, and two mobile phones, which contained numerous explicit images and videos of young boys, many of them novices.
During questioning, Pracha admitted that he had been operating the accounts for approximately two to three years. He charged members a fee of 100 baht to access the illicit material.
The monk was immediately defrocked and charged with possession of child pornography for sexual exploitation, both personal and for others. The charge carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
Authorities are now investigating whether Pracha’s activities were limited to distributing child pornography or if he also committed direct sexual abuse against young victims.
The Chanthaburi Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security is working to identify the boys featured in the material, to provide both physical and psychological care.
This case follows a series of disturbing incidents involving members of the clergy. In early September, three boys accused a monk in Phichit province of sexual assault. The monk attempted to conceal his abuse by giving gifts to the victims, but the children’s distressed and suspicious behaviour eventually brought the matter to light.
In August, a male spiritual medium in Pattani province was accused of abusing nearly 30 boys. He allegedly lured children to work at his shrine or attend meditation sessions, seizing the opportunity to sexually exploit them.
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