Monk defrocked after drunken outburst near Udon Thani shopping centre

UDON THANI — 23 May 2026, A heavily intoxicated Buddhist monk caused a disturbance near a shopping centre in Udon Thani on the eve of Wan Kon, allegedly attempting to enter a popular shabu buffet restaurant and later a nearby bar before challenging police officers to a fight.

A 55-year-old shopping centre security guard said he first saw the monk arrive by motorised tricycle at the railway station before later emerging in an extremely intoxicated state carrying belongings and smelling strongly of alcohol.

The guard said the monk initially asked whether anyone had seen his mother before attempting to enter a shabu restaurant. Security staff stopped him, telling him it was inappropriate. The monk then allegedly walked toward a nearby bar and attempted to enter before staff removed him from the premises and contacted police.

Police said the monk, identified as 60-year-old Phra Samorn Kusumo of the Dhammayut sect, had been ordained for more than 20 years at Wat Pa Lelai in Nong Bua Lamphu province.

Officers from Muang Udon Thani Police Station were called to the area behind a major shopping centre on Thong Yai Road at about 20:00 on Friday after reports of an intoxicated monk behaving aggressively near restaurants and bars about 300 metres from Udon Thani railway station.

When police arrived, security guards had already restrained the monk near the entrance of a bar. He was reportedly wearing only a shoulder cloth and saffron lower robe with flip-flops, and was heavily intoxicated, staggering, incoherent and shouting abuse at bystanders.

According to police, the monk claimed he had been drinking white liquor and insisted he could drink wherever he wanted because it was "not against the constitution." He allegedly continued rambling about politicians and the drafting of laws.

Police searched his belongings and found monk identification documents and a national ID card confirming his identity. Officers said he became agitated during questioning, insulted reporters and twice challenged police officers to fight, reportedly shouting in the Isaan dialect: "You want some?"

Authorities later loaded his belongings and monastic items from Udon Thani railway station onto a police pickup truck before transporting him for defrocking. During the journey, police said he attempted to jump from the vehicle, forcing officers to stop abruptly.

At one point, he allegedly grabbed a restraining pole used by police and tried to strike officers, leading to a struggle before police managed to handcuff him to the rear of the pickup truck, shocking passing motorists and pedestrians.

Police subsequently took him to Wat Phothisomphon, a royal temple in Udon Thani, where senior monk Phra Khun Sutthipanyawat, deputy ecclesiastical governor of the province, formally conducted the defrocking ceremony.

Even after leaving the monkhood, Samorn reportedly remained disoriented and intoxicated, telling authorities he did not know where he was going or where he had come from. He admitted to the charges.