Phuket monk guns down fellow cleric in temple bathroom over loud phone, alleged bullying

Phuket monk guns down fellow cleric in temple bathroom over loud phone, alleged bullying



Buddhist monks make merit during Wesak Day celebrations at Wat Dhammakaya Buddhist temple in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok, May 11, 2025. — AFP pic

Sunday, 29 Jun 2025 4:08 PM MYT



PHUKET, June 29 — A Buddhist monk in Phuket has been arrested after fatally shooting a fellow monk at a temple this morning, allegedly following months of bullying.

Bangkok Post reported that the shooting occurred at around 6am at Wat Khao Rung in Talad Yai, Muang district.



Police said the victim, 36-year-old Phra Niwat, was found dead in a temple bathroom with gunshot wounds to his neck, arm and chest.

Four spent .38 calibre cartridges and a bullet casing were recovered at the scene, according to Pol Lt Jaruwit Juabkwarmsuk of Muang Phuket police station.


The suspected gunman, 47-year-old Phra Jaruek, initially barricaded himself in his room after the shooting but later surrendered. Officers found a loaded .38 revolver and 14 rounds of ammunition in his possession.


In his statement to police, Phra Jaruek claimed that he had endured prolonged bullying by the victim and was provoked again on the morning of the incident.

“He went into the bathroom without locking the door and played something loudly on his phone. It irritated me,” he said.


“So I took the gun from my room, shot him, and reloaded another six rounds.”

Following his arrest, Phra Jaruek was taken before the ecclesiastical district governor and formally defrocked. He is now in custody and faces criminal prosecution.

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kt comments:

The Buddhist temples in Thailand have been 'sanctuaries' for thugs and draft-dodgers for aeons. Those who sought 'sanctuary' from the law (including military) would be safe until they leave the temple precincts. Thus the above news is not strange as those two opponents would have been fellow thugs-in-sanctuary.

Sanctuary in holy places have been a tradition, eg. both Adonijah (Solomon's brother) and Joab (David's military commander) had also sought sanctuary in a temple by holding on to the horns of the bronze altar:

 “Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar.” (1 Kings 1:50NLT). 

In the Old Testament there is a piece of furniture referred to as the bronze altar. On it were four bronze “horns.” (Ezek. 43:15). It seems that all worshipers had access to the altar and fugitives seeking asylum might cling to the horns of the altar (Exodus  21:13-14).

The verse above come from a time where rightful King of Israel was Solomon. But one of his brothers Adonijah got it in his mind that he was to be King. Once David found out he proclaims Solomon as King and Adonijah was afraid that Solomon might kill him. His immediate reaction was to run the place of worship and grab the horns of the altar and ask for mercy. He received it that day.

- Soul Health Care