Ex-convict in Thailand allegedly places underwear over religious statue & urinates beside it

Former convict allegedly places underwear over Buddha statue and urinates beside it

An ex-convict in Thailand allegedly placed a piece of underwear on the head of a reclining Buddha statue and urinated beside it.

His anger over being jailed for property damage and criminal intimidation led him to commit the act.

Monk shares photo on Facebook, criticising his behaviour

On Monday (17 Aug), Atthachai Parinyano posted images of a black pair of undergarments on the head of a reclining Buddha statue on his Facebook page.

“People like this are truly despicable. Putting underwear on the head of the Reclining Buddha, and even urinating on the main image until it reeked terribly. Utterly repulsive behaviour,” the caption read.

Urine left alongside statue’s body by perpetrator

Following the post, a local reporter visited Wat Sa Khet in Bo Yang Sub-district, Mueang District, Songkhla Province.

There, they found liquid alongside the statue’s body. This was confirmed to be urine left by the perpetrator.

He had climbed up the front of the altar pedestal, breaking an offering tray featuring the Dhamma wheel in the process.

It was also discovered that the offender had stuck a substance onto the face of an Emerald Buddha replica.

While it has been cleaned, visible stains remained.

Additionally, a donation box showed signs of forced entry, though the intruder failed to break in because maintenance workers had previously welded it permanently shut.

Man allegedly angry after monk reported him to police, resulting in his jail term

The Original Poster (OP), who was a monk at the temple at the time of the incident, recalled that about two months ago, a man named May, in his 30s, had snuck inside the pagoda to sleep.

When it came time to lock up the sanctuary, the monk asked him to sleep outside.

The following day, May returned to sleep inside again and began destroying property, smashing altar sets, flower trays, and ceremonial bush offerings.

He then went up to the second floor, broke off the topknot of a Buddha image, and scattered ancestral ash urns across the floor.

Monk Atthachai reported the incident to the Mueang Songkhla Police Station.

About two months later, police informed him that there was insufficient evidence to charge the suspect with theft.

Instead, he was charged with property damage and criminal intimidation, sentenced to prison, and recently released.

Abbot refused to pursue further legal action

Meanwhile, the temple’s abbot stated that he did not wish to pursue further legal action, preferring to let the matter rest.

However, he wanted the police to monitor the area regularly.

He mentioned that last time, the perpetrator carried a weapon when carrying out his act, making him concerned about his safety.

Also read: Youths in M’sia allegedly sneak into Penang temple & steal donations

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Featured image adapted from Atthachai Parinyano on Facebook.