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Fake Monk Arrested in Sai Noi Market for Scamming

Fake Monk Arrested in Sai Noi Market for Scamming

MGR Online•Society•21h ago

Reader Briefing

Two individuals masquerading as monks were apprehended by Sai Noi traffic police for collecting donations just before Visakha Bucha Day.

  • •Sai Noi traffic police arrested four individuals, including two impersonating monks, for collecting money under false pretenses.
  • •The arrests occurred at the Asia Village Market, M.10, Sai Noi Subdistrict, Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi Province.
  • •The suspects were collecting money for 'water and electricity bills' and had prior records related to drug offenses and impersonation.
  • •The incident happened on May 30, 2026, on the eve of Visakha Bucha Day, a significant Buddhist holiday.

Overview

  • •On May 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM, four individuals were apprehended by Sai Noi traffic police.
  • •J.So.To. Bannapob Sangkaphairoj and S.To.Tho Waranyu Konngern arrested suspects at Asia Village Market.
  • •The suspects were impersonating monks to collect money for alleged water and electricity bills.
  • •The arrests took place shortly before Visakha Bucha Day, a major Buddhist holy day.
  • •The apprehended individuals included Mr. Samruang Timthong (66), Mr. Panom Saeng-ngun (77), and Mr. Chainat Yim Mae Roeng (23). A fourth individual, Mr. Thawat Boonkhum (57), was accompanying them.
  • •Authorities are urging the public to report suspicious individuals soliciting money or impersonating monks to protect Buddhism.
  • •Mr. Samruang Timthong stated he was instructed by an abbot to collect money and lacked a monastic certificate due to a previous arrest.
  • •The suspects face charges of 'illegally dressing or using symbols to represent a monk, novice, ascetic, or religious recluse'.

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Key Quotes

J.So.To. Bannapob Sangkaphairoj
"Therefore, I invited them to the police station. Preliminary questioning revealed that all four were not actual monks or temple boys."
ตนจึงได้เชิญตัวมาที่โรงพัก สอบถามเบื้องต้นทราบว่าทั้ง 4 คน ไม่ได้เป็นพระ หรือเด็กวัดจริง
Unknown
"This is considered helping protect Buddhism. And tomorrow is Visakha Bucha Day, a major Buddhist holy day. I urge all Buddhists to help be vigilant."
ถือว่าเป็นการช่วยปกป้องพระพุทธศาสนาและในวันพรุ่งนี้จะเป็นวันวิสาขบูชาด้วย ซึ่งเป็นวันพระใหญ่ฝากชาวพุทธทุกท่านโปรดช่วยกันสอดส่องดูแล
Mr. Samruang Timthong
"I haven't done this for long because I tried to ordain, but the temple wouldn't ordain me due to a previous arrest. Therefore, I don't have a monastic certificate."
ตนเพิ่งเคยทำแบบนี้ไม่นาน เพราะไปบวชแล้ววัดไม่บวชให้เนื่องจากเคยโดนจับ จึงไม่มีใบสุทธิ
Mr. Samruang Timthong
"The reason I did this was because the abbot at the hermitage instructed me to. I don't know if many others are doing this."
สาเหตุที่ตนทำเพราะหลวงพ่อที่สำนักสงฆ์สั่งให้มา ตนไม่รู้ว่ามีใครทำอีกเยอะมั้ย

Key Entities

Person

Jah Jak Sai Noi Traffic Police(จ่าจักร จราจรไทรน้อย)
A nickname used in the article for police involved in the arrest, likely referring to the reporting Facebook page.
Pol.Col. Natthadecha Thanispathrapong(พ.ต.อ.ณัฏฐ์เดชา ฐานิสภัทราพงศ์)
Supervising officer of Sai Noi Police Station.
Pol.Lt.Col. Phaskorn Kittivanichanon(พ.ต.ท.ภาสกร กิตติวณิชานนท์)
Deputy Superintendent of Operations at Sai Noi Police Station.
J.So.To. Bannapob Sangkaphairoj(จ.ส.ต.บรรณภพ สังข์ไพโรจน์)
A traffic police officer at Sai Noi Police Station who was directly involved in the arrest and investigation.
S.To.Tho Waranyu Konngern(ส.ต.ท.วรัญญู ก้อนเงิน)
A traffic police officer at Sai Noi Police Station who participated in the arrest.
Mr. Samruang Timthong(นายสมหวัง ทิมทอง)
One of the individuals arrested for impersonating a monk.
Mr. Panom Saeng-ngun(นายพนม แซ่หงั้น)
One of the individuals arrested for impersonating a monk.
Mr. Chainat Yim Mae Roeng(นายชัยณัฐ ยิ้มมะเริง)
One of the individuals arrested for impersonating a monk.
Mr. Thawat Boonkhum(นายธวัช บุญคุ้ม)
An individual arrested who was accompanying the people impersonating monks.

Organization

Sai Noi Police Station(สภ.ไทรน้อย)
The police station responsible for the jurisdiction where the arrests were made.
Hermitage in Khao Yai Area(สำนักสงฆ์ย่านเขาใหญ่)
A religious hermitage where one of the arrested individuals claimed to reside and receive instructions from.

Place

Asia Village Market(ตลาดหมู่บ้านเอเชีย)
The location where the arrests of the fake monks took place.
Sai Noi Subdistrict, Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi Province(ต.ไทรน้อย อ.ไทรน้อย จ.นนทบุรี)
The administrative location of the market where the arrests occurred.
Chakrawat Police Station, Bangkok(ที่สน.จักรวรรดิ์ กทม.)
A police station in Bangkok where some of the suspects had prior records for impersonation.
Song Phi Nong Police Station, Suphanburi Province(สภ.สองพี่น้อง จ.สุพรรณบุรี)
A police station in Suphanburi Province where some of the suspects had prior records for impersonation.