Sisaket: In a disturbing incident, the abbot of a renowned temple in Sisaket Province has been accused of luring an 8-year-old girl into a bathroom under the pretense of cleaning it, where he allegedly committed acts of sexual abuse. The abbot has denied the allegations, claiming he is being bullied after assuming his position and has refused to disrobe.
According to Thai News Agency, the mother of the young victim, a Grade 3 student, filed a complaint with the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women. The complaint detailed how the abbot tricked her daughter into the temple’s bathroom, which is adjacent to her school, on June 24. The mother recounted that the abbot closed the door behind them and ordered the girl to remove her underwear and sit down to urinate. When the girl was unable to comply, the abbot allegedly touched her private parts before being interrupted by the arrival of the girl’s younger brother and a school friend.
The child’s mother described her daughter’s distress following the incident. She noted that the girl returned home silent and later exhibited signs of trauma, such as talking in her sleep and developing a fever. The next day, while at her grandmother’s house, the child confided in her about the abuse. The concerned mother then took her daughter to Khukhan Police Station to file a complaint. A multidisciplinary team interviewed the girl, who provided a detailed account of the events. Despite this, the police released the abbot after issuing a summons for him to acknowledge the charges. The abbot remains at the temple and has not disrobed.
When approached by reporters at the temple in Prasat Subdistrict, Khukhan District, the abbot declined to give an interview but maintained his innocence. He claimed to be a victim of ongoing complaints and bullying since taking on the role of abbot, particularly related to temple management and finances. He asserted that he only instructed the boy to clean the bathroom and insisted he would not disrobe as he believes he has done nothing wrong.