Police and the NOB launch sweeping probe into monks

The Royal Thai Police will work with the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) to scrutinise the backgrounds of more than 300,000 monks and conduct comprehensive audits of over 40,000 temples nationwide, as part of a sweeping monastic reform campaign.

- WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankeaw, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), convened a meeting of police officials and working group members yesterday to outline the framework. He said all procedures must be transparent, lawful, and carried out with fairness.

Within just two days of the centre's launch on Monday, 26 public tip-offs had already been received — eight via the CIB's Facebook page and 18 through its hotline [phone]), he said.

Initial discussions have taken place with the national police chief, deputy national police chiefs, and state agencies to coordinate a response.

Next steps include formalising the structure of a centralised reporting and monitoring unit to investigate alleged misconduct by monks. This will cover breaches of monastic discipline, financial irregularities, and other acts that could damage the public perception of Buddhism.