Patcharapol Panrak
Three men soliciting donations for temple
construction in Ratchaburi were arrested after police learned the trio
was, in fact, pocketing the money.
Sarawut Kaewto, 28, Chatchawan Kerdrian, 25, and
Tawan Jekkoi, 24, were apprehended by Sattahip Police June 17. The three
Bangpae men were caught with cheaply printed flyers advertising a
fund-raising effort for a Buddhist temple in Khao
Prarattanatraithepnimit in Ratchaburi along with 9,447 baht.
Police Maj. Parus Samart said the suspects had been
duping unsuspecting Buddhists across Thailand for some time, collecting
as much as 300,000 baht a month in bogus donations. The money was
allegedly sent back home to the men’s families.
Sattahip police urged people to be careful when making donations and
noted that genuine solicitors have licenses to ask for donations. The
three arrested men lacked any such license.
