A senior monk of Wat Bang Bua in Bang Khen district has been arrested and defrocked for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl reports The Bangkok Post. He was presented at a press conference in Bangkok by Social Development and Human Security Minister Pavena Hongsakula and Pol Col Chayuth Marayat, the Bang Khen police chief.
The disgraced Monk has apparently now admitted the charge, claiming he was drunk at the time.
Under Thai criminal law the age of consent is 15 years of age. If a minor is raped in Thailand, the offender is likely to be sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years and will be ordered to pay a fine ranging from 8,000-40,000 Baht.
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Flickr photo credit: Greg Waters