A Buddhist monk and a 51-year-old man in Chiang Mai have been arrested and charged with sexually exploiting children, according to a Department of Special Investigation (DSI) source.

 

The two suspects were identified as Surasak Keawman, a Chiang Mai resident, and Phra Vissanu Tejdhammo of Wat Pa Lan in Muang district.

 

The two were charged with six counts each of child molestation and six counts of depriving a child of parental care.

 

The DSI source said the men were partners in a business that catered to paedophiles.

 

The source alleged that Phra Vissanu drove to hill tribe villages in Chiang Mai and neighbouring provinces dressed as a layman to lure boys.

 

He then brought the boys to Mr Surasak, who sexually seduced them and then forced them to have sex with foreign paedophiles in exchange for money, the DSI source said.

 

The monk kept photos of Mr Surasak having sex with the boys on his mobile phone, according to the source.

 

Police arrested Mr Surasak in his house in Muang district and later nabbed the monk after Mr Surasak told them of his whereabouts.

 

Police found six boys in Mr Surasak's house and other evidence, including lists with the names of male and female teenagers, a baseball bat, an electric prod and condoms.

 

For the rest of the story:

Monk, local man nabbed for child abuse

 

It is articles like this that gives us all bad reputations. I am also surprised at the involvement of a monk.

Fry the bastards!

I am also surprised at the involvement of a monk.

After all the revelations about Catholic priests, you are surprised at a monk, who is also supposed to be celebate, being involved in something similar? I'm surprised you're surprised!