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Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Crime drops after 'Pattaya Model' launch
Provincial Police Region 2 has attributed a sharp decline in crime and improved response to complaints in Pattaya to the "Pattaya Model" -- a safety initiative launched in April that was designed to rebuild the city's image as a safe destination for tourists. Pol Lt Gen Yingyos Thepchamnong, chief of Provincial Police Region 2, said the initiative involves increased surveillance across three high-risk areas, with two checkpoints set up along Pattaya Beach, two on Walking Street, and another at Bali Hai Pier. A key feature is a crime mapping system that is driven by data collected from local police and community sources, which the police can use to identify high-risk zones. The system is backed by smart surveillance cameras equipped with a real-time, facial recognition system which is linked to a shared database of wanted individuals, persons under surveillance, and other high-risk individuals. It was developed in collaboration with Pattaya City and the Central Investigation Bureau. The system also enables the police to send real-time alerts to officers on duty to ensure rapid response, Pol Lt Gen Yingyos said. Since the initiative was launched, physical assault cases dropped from 111 in April to 50 in June, while property-related crimes declined from 81 to 48 over the same period. "These improvements are the results of a targeted and proactive policing," said Pol Lt Gen Yingyos. "Our officers can now identify risk areas and act quickly, leading to visible and measurable results. We've also accelerated the arrest of individuals with outstanding warrants." The initiative relies on the use of technology to pre-empt threats, enhance operations with artificial intelligence, and engage local stakeholders, making it easier for tourists to seek help, and ensuring swift action when incidents occur, he said. The results of the initiative were presented to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong during his visit to Pattaya last week. The minister praised the initiative as a big step toward enhancing tourist safety and confidence. Pol Lt Gen Yingyos said police are committed to using the latest technological innovation to improve law enforcement, saying the ultimate goal is to ensure public safety and make Pattaya a safe destination for both residents and visitors.
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Cops to speed up probe on Nakhon Sawan temple abbot
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has promised to expedite its probe into allegations of misconduct against the former abbot of a temple in Nakhon Sawan, after photos of the senior monk embracing a woman while wearing a wig made the rounds online. The former Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, who left the monkhood just before midnight on Saturday, is also under investigation in connection with financial irregularities in the Nakhon Sawan Buddhist Park project, which has been delayed for about a decade. Reports said the 67-year-old left monkhood at 11.49pm on Saturday, in a ceremony chaired by the deputy abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan in Muang district. CIB investigators discovered a trove of chats and photographs which indicated the former abbot is in a romantic relationship with a 57-year-old woman seen in the pictures. It was said the pair has been in a relationship for 15 years. In one of the photos, the former monk could be seen embracing the woman while wearing a wig and layman clothes. The CIB says the former monk, who was Nakhon Sawan's ecclesiastical chief, regularly solicited donations from devotees in Nakhon Sawan and its surrounding province. Investigators also found his alleged companion has vast assets, including cars, valuable jewellery and land plots, despite having no clear sources of income. The temple had earlier denied any irregularities in the construction project and insisting it has financial records to dismiss such claims. The delay, it said in a statement, was due to dishonest contractors abandoning the work they had been paid to do. Despite the remarks, the CIB said the investigators will continue reviewing the temple's financial statements to see if there are any irregularities. The former Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun wrote in his resignation letter on Friday that he chose to resign due to health problems and prevent any further damage to the nation's Buddhist order. It is unclear if his woman companion will also face increased scrutiny. In light of recent scandals involving monks, the CIB recently opened a special centre to handle complaints about monks' misconduct. One such case is the sex scandal involving Wilawan Emsawat, a 35-year-old woman also known as "Sika Golf", and senior monks from several well-known temples. Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party spokesman Danuporn Punnakanta on Sunday said the party supports the push for a new law to address concerns over temples' finances and monks. He said a bill is being prepared to bring temples' financial matters under a transparent, auditable, accounting system, adding several other laws are being reviewed to support the reform effort. However, he added that as the matter is highly sensitive, the public will be invited to take part in the process.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Ecclesiastical chief of Nakhon Sawan quits monkhood amid sex scandal
NAKHON SAWAN: The abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, who was also the ecclesiastical chief in this lower northern province, left the monkhood just before midnight on Saturday night. It was reported that Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun, 67, disrobed at Wat Nakhon Sawan in Muang district at 11.49pm on Saturday. A deputy abbot of the Buddhist temple chaired a ceremony for his departure from the monkhood. The development followed his resignation as the abbot and the provincial ecclesiastical chief on Friday. Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun wrote in his resignation letter dated Friday that he had health problems and was the subject of reports that had a seriously negative impact on Buddhist monks. The departure after 47 years as a monk came after Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, told reporters that he was investigating a scandal concerning a senior monk who was outside Bangkok. On July 15, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat arrested Wilawan "Sika Golf" Emsawat, 35, who allegedly had sexual relations with many senior monks from well-known Buddhist temples. Police found numerous video clips of sexual affairs with the monks as well as evidence of extortion and blackmail against some of them. Police said that the woman had received 385 million baht in her bank accounts over the past three years. After the Sika Golf case, the Central Investigation Bureau opened a special centre to handle complaints about monks' misconduct. His Majesty the King has issued a royal command to revoke the royal appointments and ecclesiastical titles previously conferred upon a total of 81 monks, in light of recent reports of monastic misconduct.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Thai police to probe senior monks involved in large-scale fraud, extorting funds for temple construction
Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thai police investigate senior monks in connection with extorting hundreds of millions for temple projects. The case is unrelated to the 'Femme Fatale Golf' scandal but raises concerns over corruption. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, on Friday discussed the ongoing investigation into senior monks allegedly involved in fraudulent activities, including extorting funds for the construction of religious sites. This case, he clarified, is separate from the "Femme Fatale Golf" case, which involves a 35-year-old woman named Golf, but also includes the involvement of certain monks. This case had been previously reported to the Department for Religious Affairs but had yet to be fully disclosed. It involves senior monks accused of misappropriating donations meant for building temples, with the funds totalling several hundred million baht. There are also allegations linking these monks to the 'Femme Fatale Golf' scandal, but the police are still gathering evidence to pursue criminal charges. Investigators have already found clear indications of serious misconduct, but they are ensuring they have sufficient proof before making formal charges. Jaroonkiat confirmed that the monks under investigation hold higher ranks than those involved in the 'Femme Fatale Golf' case. However, he did not specify the names of the monks or the temples involved, stating that further details would be disclosed as the investigation progresses. He assured the public that searches and actions would be taken against all those implicated shortly. The case follows an extortion scheme involving Phrathep Wachirapamok, also known as "Chaokhun Arj", the former abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep, with authorities identifying financial transactions exceeding 385 million baht over the past three years. The investigation continues, with additional links to several other monks being traced. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Senior monk linked to new scandal not from Bangkok, say police
A prominent monk implicated in an alleged embezzlement case involving temple funds and affairs with a woman is based outside of Bangkok, a senior police officer said on Saturday. The case is also separate from the 'Sika Golf' sex scandal that has rocked the Buddhist clergy, said Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). Recent reports circulating in the media had misinterpreted information supplied to police investigators about the new embezzlement investigation. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat stressed that the details received from a newly established centre handling complaints about monks' misconduct involved a prominent provincial monk and had no connection to any monks based in Bangkok. 'We are aware of reports circulating in the media, but police have not yet taken any action (against the accused monk),' said the senior officer known as 'Big Tao'. He also dismissed as inaccurate speculation that the senior monk in question may hold the rank of Somdet, the highest ecclesiastical title. He said the monk held a high-ranking title but it remained unclear whether the rank was Phra Thep, Phra Phrom or Phra Somdet. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat insisted that the monk under scrutiny was not the one with the rank of Somdet who was widely discussed on social media. The suspect has been the subject of long-standing complaints involving the misuse of temple donations, said the CIB chief. Several hundred million baht, raised from people over many years, were intended for the construction of a major religious site. However, the project remains unfinished after more than a decade. 'There are clear signs of misconduct. Some of the money was allegedly diverted for personal purposes, including supporting a woman,' he said. 'At this stage, we are not disclosing whose account the funds were transferred to.' Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said that while police do not have the authority to defrock a monk, they will present the evidence to the relevant religious authorities for consideration. 'If a monk lacks proper conduct, he should not be revered,' he added. Asked whether an arrest warrant or search warrant will be issued, he said there is sufficient evidence to proceed but added that authorities would follow due process and not act hastily. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat emphasised that both police and other agencies responsible were working to root out improper behaviour within the monastic community to preserve public trust. He called on the media to refrain from sensationalism and stick to verified facts. The scandal involving Sika Golf and senior monks has gripped Thailand in recent weeks. Sika Golf, whose real name is Wilawan Emsawat, was accused of developing intimate relationships with high-ranking monks and using them for financial gain, sparking a wide-ranging police investigation and multiple arrests. Ms Wilawan, 35, was arrested in at her home in Nonthaburi province last Tuesday and has already been charged with enabling a monk's embezzlement of temple funds, laundering money and receiving stolen goods. She is being detained at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. Police searched her house and found a number of mobile phones storing about 80,000 sex photos and videos involving senior monks at many famous temples. So far, 13 monks linked to the case have been disrobed. All will be questioned, including the latest, Phra Maha Yodpet, the former abbot of Wat Tha Bua Thong in Phichit province.
