A monk who gained notoriety after being caught on video counting stacks of money on a Sriracha roadside was detained in Pattaya following complaints he was soliciting money here. Police, with guns drawn, tried to convince Mahaniphon Susutto to get out of the van, but he refused. Eventually police had to tow the van to the station with him still inside.
A monk who gained notoriety after being caught on video counting stacks of money on a Sriracha roadside was detained in Pattaya following complaints he was soliciting money.
Mahaniphon Susutto was spotted inside a white Isuzu van parked near the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. When police approached, he sped off and was chased up Pratamnak Hill before being stopped at the Naval Radio Station viewpoint.
A monk who gained notoriety after being caught on video counting stacks of money on a Sriracha roadside was detained in Pattaya following complaints he was soliciting money here. Police, with guns drawn, tried to convince Mahaniphon Susutto to get out of the van, but he refused. Eventually police had to tow the van to the station with him still inside.
The monk, however, refused to get out of the van, prompting officers to bring in a tow truck and haul it to Pattaya Police Station with the monk still inside. There he finally exited the van and got into a heated argument with authorities, insisting he had done nothing wrong.
Mahaniphon told police he was not soliciting funds and officers found only herbs and appliances in his van, but no illegal substances. He also pointed out nothing in Buddhist rules prohibit him from driving.
Police, however, fined him 800 baht for not having either a license or car registration. They also took him to the chief monk in Naklua to determine if he should be disrobed.
Mahaniphon Susutto said that there is nothing in Buddhist rules to prohibit him from driving. Police, however, fined him 800 baht for not having a license or vehicle registration.
On June 2, the 52-year-old monk was video-recorded counting bundles of banknotes in public. He told police the money was donated by Buddhist followers and that he would use it to build new monasteries.
He also was previously fined for failing to produce a driver’s license in Phatthalung province.
