Pak Phanang Abbot Disrobed After Sex Video Exposure
A Buddhist abbot in Pak Phanang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, was disrobed on November 7 after villagers leaked video footage of him engaging in sexual acts in front of his dwelling. Authorities including the deputy district chief and the provincial Buddhism Office investigated, confirmed his identity at a second temple where he served, and oversaw his immediate defrocking. The monk has a history of similar misconduct and was previously expelled from another temple in the province after claiming to be the son of the Buddha.
The abbot of a famous Pak Phanang temple was caught having sex in front of his kuti in broad daylight after villagers exposed a lewd clip, revealing he previously preached to villagers claiming to be the son of the Buddha. On November 8, 2026, media reported that a villager from the border area between Mueang and Pak Phanang districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat presented video evidence exposing the behavior of an abbot-level monk at a Dhammayuttika Nikaya temple in the rural border area. The monk regularly engaged in sexual misconduct despite knowing villagers were aware, often threatening those who knew. As previously reported, at 21:30 on November 7, Pak Phanang Deputy District Chief Kittipong Rongdech, along with Nakhon Si Thammarat Buddhism Office Director Saneh Singnui and administrative staff, inspected the temple in Pak Phanang where the incident occurred — another temple where this abbot had built a new kuti in an abandoned temple area, the exact location shown in the footage. They then traced him to the temple where he currently serves as abbot, questioned him until he admitted it was him, and escorted him to the governing abbot of the incident temple, located in Chian Khao, Chian Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat. There he was disrobed, changed into lay attire, and departed immediately. Officials inspected the kuti where the incident took place. The temple's governing abbot will assign monks to manage the assets, while the Buddhism Office will re-verify the temple's property. Reports indicate this monk was previously abbot at a temple in Sao Thong, Ron Phibun district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, but was driven out years ago for similar behavior. He often preached to relatives claiming "I am the son of the Buddha," vowing to develop temples, then have other monks take over as abbot while he moved on to develop other abandoned temples.
