A tragic incident occurred in Ayutthaya, Thailand, where a Buddhist monk has reportedly committed suicide after being deceived by a con artist posing as a benefactor. The monk, aged 68, the abbot of Wat Bo Sat (on), was found hanged in a meditation hall after being tricked into lending 650,000 baht (approximately $19,000) to a fraudster who had approached him under the pretense of wanting to sponsor a merit-making ceremony.
The incident was reported to the police early on October 20. The monk expressed in a handwritten note that the person who duped him had assured him that the money would be returned during a lottery sale that never materialized. This led to significant distress for the abbot, particularly as he had borrowed from parishioners to assist the scammer.
Witnesses stated that the scammer frequently visited the temple in the weeks leading up to the incident. The abbot’s family and local community are in shock, mourning the loss of a respected figure who had contributed much to the temple and its beautification.
Local law enforcement confirmed that they are investigating the scam and are working to locate the perpetrator, who is believed to be from Suphan Buri and had posed as a wealthy contractor involved in lottery sales. The scheduled funeral rites for the abbot will be held from October 21, with the cremation set for October 30, and the merit-making ceremony initially planned for October 27 will proceed as intended to honor his memory.
The police have acknowledged the legitimacy of the abbot’s report based on witness testimonies and the contents of his letter. Investigations are ongoing to ensure the fraudster is brought to justice.
Read more on “Thai Rath Newspaper” here.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
