NBB Buddhism protection director Kanok Saenprasert told a seminar on monastic conduct at the Buddha Monton Complex yesterday the "recycling" of alms topped the list of offences.

Kanok and 2,000 tamruat phra - literally monk police - monitor wayward activities committed by the country's 400,000 monks and novices.

Tamruat phra chief Phra Rattanamethi said the problem of alms recycling was evident at almost all markets and communities in greater Bangkok. Impostors committed 80 per cent of offences.

There was "cooperation" between lazy monks and greedy food vendors, Kanok explained.

Hawkers had monks linger near their stalls so passers by would purchase offerings later returned to vendors for re-sale.

"The same food is sold over and over, increasing profits," Kanok said.

This vicious cycle was so profitable some food sellers would have their sons ordained so they could attract merit makers to their stalls. The fast pace of life in Bangkok contributed to the problem. People were in such a rush they seldom stopped to consider if monks were genuine.

Others were criminals or those recently released from prison. They were looking to make a quick baht from donations.

These impostors were not afraid of being exposed because penalties were light - a maximum of one year in jail and/or a fine of Bt10,000. Kanok urged the government to increase those penalties five-fold.

Last year the NBB caught 513 "monks" involved in wrongdoing. Of those, 376 inappropriately took alms or accepted only cash donations, 26 gambled or consumed drugs. Twenty-five were exposed as impostors.

The phoney monks were handed over to the police, 233 monks received a warning and 72 were defrocked.

The Nation

Nakhon Pathom