A monk yesterday shot a fellow monk over a dispute relating to seniority surprising the community round Rat Samak Khee Temple in Nong Bua Lamphu province in the northeastern part of Thailand. The monk survived the shooting regardless of being shot five instances.
Officers from Na Klang Police Station rushed to the scene and discovered the injured monk, fifty seven yr old Weerapong Arsanarm, with 5 bullet wounds to his stomach and back. He was immediately despatched to Na Klang Hospital for treatment.
The gunman was recognized as 74 12 months old Wandee Phukhiaw. He shot his fellow monk, Weerapong, throughout a dispute over seniority at Rat Samak Khee Temple in Nong Bua Lamphu province.
Wandee didn’t attempt to escape and handed his .32 ASTRA gun to police after they arrived at the scene. He claimed to have obtained the gun from his older brother over 20 years ago.
Private and different monks at the temple confirmed that Wandee and Weerapong regularly argued over the order of their seats during ceremonies. The argument turned violent during lunchtime when Weerapong placed his belongings subsequent to Wandee’s seat and stared at him.
After yelling at Weerapong, the youthful monk returned to his quarters, received his gun and shot Weerapong as he walked past. Wandee was subsequently charged with attempted murder and forced to depart monkhood.
He will face a punishment equal to half of the punishment for Section 288, which stipulates a life sentence or imprisonment for 15 to twenty years for murdering one other individual.
Sadly, this is not the first time a dispute over seniority has led to a brawl between monks in Thailand.
Three weeks before this incident, two monks at a temple in Surin province engaged in an analogous altercation. The monk who instigated the fight was indignant that the other monk sat within the front row regardless of being late.
Aside from seniority disputes, cash also can lead to greed and corruption amongst Thai Buddhist monks.
Recently, former monk Khom Khonkaew, also called Phra Ajarn Khom Abhivaro, and his accomplices have been arrested and accused of embezzling money of 180 million baht from Wat Pha Dhammakiri in Nakhon Ratchasima. Khom denied the allegations, however Khon admitted to transferring a number of the temple’s money to his sister and having sex with an abbot.
Upon investigation of the temple’s surroundings, authorities found hidden property value virtually 300 million baht, including 19 million baht value of gold bars and 80 million baht in money..