Monks in private jet 'connected'
Published: 17 Jun 2013 at 20.26Online news: Local News
Monks in private jet 'connected' | Bangkok Post: news
A group of monks seen in a YouTube video riding in a private jet might be more than just holy men after a villager living near their temple said they have close ties with senior police and army officials.
According to a Matichon report on Monday, the private jet belongs to Luang Pu Nenkham Chattigo, abbot of Wat Pa Khanti Dhamma in Si Sa Ket’s Kanthararom district.
Monks accused of materialistic lifestyle
The temple was unusually quiet and there were no monks or worshippers, just a few housekeepers. This could be because the abbot and about 10 monks were in France at this time, the report said.
There is also a helipad near the entrance of the temple and several donation boxes for Khanti Dhamma Kaowna Company Limited. The company, which sells Buddhist relics, was registered on Aug 17, 2012, with a capital of one million baht.
A local villager said people living in the area usually stay away from the temple because they think the monks might be involved in suspicious activities.
The villager said high ranking police officers and soldiers often visited the temple and Luang Pu Nenkham had a police escort when travelling.