Lamphun: A woman who endured seven years of harassment at the hands of a former monk has turned to Sai Mai Must Survive for assistance. Despite having reported the issue to the authorities and pursuing legal action, the harassment persisted, prompting her to seek further help.
According to Thai News Agency, the victim, Ms. Suracharttha (pseudonym), aged 30, began facing harassment from a man she had dated after initially meeting him at a forest temple in Lamphun Province during her Dhamma practice. The harassment continued even after she took legal measures, including filing lawsuits for defamation and infringement, which she successfully won. Despite these victories, the former monk repeatedly created over 20 new Facebook accounts to continue the harassment.
Ms. Suracharttha explained that the harassment began in 2016 when the monk, who was still ordained at the time, sought her contact information through mutual acquaintances. Their relationship took a dark turn when he used her identity to borrow money,
falsely accused her of causing his disrobement, and coerced her into providing financial support under threat of continued harassment. Her attempts to sever ties were thwarted by his persistent creation of new social media accounts to maintain contact.
The victim has decided to publicly reveal her identity in an effort to deter further harassment. She expressed her frustration at the former monk’s ability to continually access her contact information despite changes to her Facebook and phone number.
Mr. Ekkapop Lueangprasert, founder of Sai Mai Must Survive, pledged legal support by involving his lawyer in submitting the case to court, citing the man’s violation of court orders. He emphasized the need for the man to cease his threatening behavior, warning of potential legal consequences if the harassment continues. The ongoing nature of the case highlights issues related to enforcement and compliance with court-mandated compensation.