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The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said yesterday that a request for the United States' extradition of fugitive Wirapol Sukpol, better known as "jet-set monk" Luang Pu Nenkham, had been sent last year but the plea was still pending the US authorities' consideration and the DSI could not intervene.
DSI deputy chief Pol Lieutenant Pong-in Intharakhao said the Office of the Attorney-General had sent an extradition request to US authorities at the DSI's request last year but the matter was under consideration. He said the request stated that Wirapol was facing charges including public fraud, computer crime, and statutory rape of a minor under 15.
Pong-in's comment followed reports in Thai social media that Wirapol, the former abbot of Khantitham monastery in the Northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, claimed to have been granted refugee status and planned to establish a new cult in the US.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said yesterday that a request for the United States' extradition of fugitive Wirapol Sukpol, better known as "jet-set monk" Luang Pu Nenkham, had been sent last year but the plea was still pending the US authorities' consideration and the DSI could not intervene.
DSI deputy chief Pol Lieutenant Pong-in Intharakhao said the Office of the Attorney-General had sent an extradition request to US authorities at the DSI's request last year but the matter was under consideration. He said the request stated that Wirapol was facing charges including public fraud, computer crime, and statutory rape of a minor under 15.
Pong-in's comment followed reports in Thai social media that Wirapol, the former abbot of Khantitham monastery in the Northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, claimed to have been granted refugee status and planned to establish a new cult in the US.
And who said crime does not pay
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ↂ if there was a clock in my under pants, it would be at high noon ↂ
You can't go out now without stumbling across a SG gathering
The suckers , sorry faithful eagerly drop a daily donation into the orange bucket thinking it will go to at least providing a bowl of rice for the impoverished monks down at the wat
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ↂ if there was a clock in my under pants, it would be at high noon ↂ
sMl8rue.jpg Fugitive ex-monk Wirapol Sukphol, better known as Luang Pu Nenkham. PHOTO: THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
BANGKOK (THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A team of Thai officials departed to the United States on Saturday (July 15) to take the fugitive ex-monk Wirapol Sukphol, better known as Luang Pu Nenkham, back for prosecution in Thailand.
Amnart Chotchai, director of the Office of the Attorney-General's International Affairs Department, revealed that Thai authorities had been informed about the verdict of a court in California to extradite the ex-monk.
He is wanted in Thailand on charges of fraud, sexual harassment against a juvenile, and money laundering.
Amnart said that Wirapol still has the right to appeal to a higher US court, and the Thai officials will have to wait until next week to see if that happens.
"After we get him back to Thailand, he will be taken to the Department of Special Investigation for interrogation and informed about his charges, and then he will be transferred to Office of the Attorney General (before he appears in) court," he said.
"More details about the prosecution of his cases will be disclosed to the media soon."
Efforts to extradite Luang Pu Nenkham have been ongoing since last year after a request from the DSI to the Office of the Attorney General. The Office of the Attorney- General worked closely with US authorities until the court in California permitted the extradition.
Thailand and the US have a criminal extradition treaty.
Not only does he face charges for the criminal offences of fraud, sexual harassment against a juvenile, and money laundering, Luang Pu Nenkham has also been sued in the Civil Court for money laundering.
The Office of the Attorney-General has asked the court to seize his assets and those of eight other alleged conspirators, totalling 40 million baht (S$1.62 million).
Luang Pu Nenkham was once a famous monk and the abbot of Wat Pa Khanti Dhamma Monastery in Si Sa Ket.
He fled to the US in 2013 after he was found to have violated many religious rules and was forced to leave the monkhood.
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