A Thai monk has been arrested and immediately defrocked for shooting a man in the groin at Wat Mongkhol Nimit in the Bang Sao Thong District of Samut Prakan.
The incident occurred on Thursday night when the 46-year-old monk, named as Phra Apiram Ruengthip, was patrolling behind the temple and saw a man who also lived in the temple hanging around the same area.
The now-former monk told police that he was scolded by the man who used “rude words” and began walking towards him. He also told police he thought he saw something in the man’s hand.
According to his story, the monk had asked the man to stop but was ignored, prompting him to fire a gun into the water as a warning.
However, the shot did not deter the man who continued to approach the monk, leading to another shot being fired at the man and hitting him in the groin.
Local police made the arrest on Friday evening at the monk’s living quarters where they found the unregistered handgun and two bullets. The gun was hidden in a black plastic bag along with empty plastic bottles.
The police immediately took the monk to the abbot where he was defrocked before proceeding to the local police station.
The process of defrocking the monk was essential as according to Thai law, a Buddhist monk may only be questioned but not detained in jail unless he is first defrocked.
Police initially pressed charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm. The former monk is currently being held at the police station.
The victim was rushed to Bang Bo Hospital where he is in a stable condition.
Source: CTN News
