Woman Files Complaint Against Monk For Assault

On July 9, 2569, a 61-year-old woman from Phatthalung, accompanied by lawyer Santhichai Chaikeht, filed a complaint with provincial reporters after being assaulted by a monk at a temple in Phatthalung province. The woman was allegedly lured into the monk's quarters and severely assaulted, suffering injuries that required five days of hospitalization. The incident occurred on June 28 before she reported it to Muang Phatthalung Police.

The woman explained that she had gone to the temple in the evening to collect rice for the temple's dogs and cats. She encountered the 84-year-old monk, who allegedly invited her into his quarters to get the rice, then forced her to remove her clothes and assaulted her with a bottle, claiming it was a method to resolve her karma and bring happiness. She rode her motorcycle home about one kilometer away before discovering her injuries and bleeding. Her sister called an ambulance, and she spent five days in the hospital before filing a complaint.

Lawyer Santhichai Chaikeht stated that based on the victim's account, she had deep respect for the monk due to her frequent visits to feed the animals, which made her confused about what happened. He noted that the victim's reverence and faith made it difficult for her to resist. "Whether there will be a settlement is unknown, but the monk's actions appear inappropriate. After the incident, some people blamed the woman for the damage, but I believe that's unfair. Given her respect for the monk, the victim did not willingly consent, but her deep faith made it hard to object," he said.

Reporters visited the temple and found the 84-year-old monk, who stated that all matters would be discussed in court. The monk's daughter expressed skepticism about the allegations, noting that her 84-year-old father has poor eyesight and hearing, and questioned how he could commit such an act. She asked her father to tell the truth, but he requested time to collect his thoughts first.