A defrocked Thai monk, extradited from the United States a year ago, was sentenced on Thursday in Thailand to 114 years in prison for fraud and money laundering.
And his photo taken in a private jet, big sunglasses on his nose, Louis Vuitton bag by his side, had toured the social networks in 2013.
No more than 20 years behind bars
Thursday, he was convicted of money laundering, fraud and breaking the law on computer crime for raising funds online, told AFP a court official. According to Thai law, however, there will not be more than 20 years in detention, he added.
Wiraphon Sukphon, 39, better known as Luang Pu Nen Kham, his monk’s name, was also ordered to return 28.6 million baht, about 743,000 euros, to 29 donors who lodged a complaint.
Cavalry in the United States
He was arrested in July 2017 when he landed after his extradition from the United States, where he fled in 2013 when the police began investigating him.
Rape on minor
The former monk is also accused of rape on minor. A verdict in this case is due in October.
Some 95% of Thais are practicing Buddhists, one of the highest rates in the world, and the country has about 300,000 monks.
When monks skid
But in recent years the clergy of the kingdom has often made headlines in cases of drug use, intoxication, questionable gambling, prostitution or corruption.