A Cambodian monk was arrested in Najomtien for alleged money laundering.
Moo 1 Village Chief Supoj Inyaem and his deputy confronted a monk collecting alms around the neighborhood after complaints he was not Thai. Sure enough, 30-year-old Kongkum was found to be Cambodian.
While he had documentation showing he was indeed an ordained monk, Kongkum didn’t have a passport or visa.
The monk confessed he entered Thailand illegally from Aranyaprathet a month ago. He claimed that he was assigned to a temple in Sriracha, but ended up in Moo 1 Najomtien to wander and collect alms, donations and others items from local residents.
After he was arrested with 480 baht, the monk informed on two other Cambodian monks traveling with him. All were taken to the abbot of Najomtien Temple and disrobed.