Thai Villagers Seek Investigation Into Abbot Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct
Thai Villagers Seek Investigation Into Abbot Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, November 9, 2026 — Villagers in Nakhon Si Thammarat have called for an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the abbot of a Dhammayut Buddhist temple, while urging authorities to urgently inspect and freeze the temple’s bank accounts over concerns about recently collected donations.
The complaint was submitted to the media on November 7, 2026, by residents from an area along the boundary between Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pak Phanang districts. The villagers also provided video footage and photographs that they claim show the abbot engaging in inappropriate conduct with a woman.
Villagers submit footage allegedly recorded in October
The complainants alleged that the abbot had repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with women and had threatened villagers who became aware of his alleged behaviour.
They said the footage and photographs were recorded on October 20, 2026, and allegedly show the abbot with a woman believed to be around 40 years old outside his quarters during daylight. According to the villagers, the monk stopped when he realised that he had been seen.
Sexual activity is prohibited under Buddhist monastic discipline, and serious violations may be addressed through the Buddhist ecclesiastical hierarchy. Any potential criminal offences would be subject to separate consideration by the relevant authorities.
Villagers raise concerns over more than 300,000 baht in donations
Residents said the location where the alleged incident took place was previously an abandoned temple. They claimed the abbot had arrived with the stated intention of restoring and reviving the site.
A kathin ceremony was reportedly held at the temple just days before the complaint emerged, collecting more than 300,000 baht in donations, according to the villagers. The main temple where the monk serves as abbot also held its own kathin ceremony on November 8.
Kathin is an annual Buddhist merit-making tradition during which devotees offer robes and financial contributions to support temples, including maintenance, community activities and religious operations.
The villagers fear that the funds could be withdrawn if the allegations develop into a major public controversy. They have therefore called for an urgent review of the temple’s financial records and the freezing of its accounts.
Residents and local Buddhists have asked the provincial ecclesiastical chief for the Dhammayut order, along with district and subdistrict monastic officials, to investigate the allegations and examine the temple’s finances.
No official findings or confirmation of the allegations were included in the information provided.
