Monk arrested

A prominent abbot in Chiang Mai province was arrested yesterday for allegedly selling amphetamine tablets inside a Buddhist temple.

Embarrassed about his wrongdoing, the 46-year-old monk agreed to be disrobed.

Police Major Pipat Naradej of the province's Chang Phuek police station led a team of narcotics suppression police to arrest the abbot, Phra Chatchawal Chotidhammo of Ratchamontian temple. The abbot confessed that he sold crystal methamphetamine to a group of gay men. Previously, police had attempted to arrest him several times but did not have strong enough evidence to take legal action against him.

But yesterday's police operation found several packages crystal methamphetamine tablets, many used and unused condoms and Bt80,000 cash in his personal room at the temple. "He was surfing porn websites when police arrested him," Pipat said.