Buriram monk says he flirted with one woman, not three

Buri Ram — A 49-year-old abbot, Phra Khru Sophon Chitraphirom, of Wat Prasat Thong in Ban Kruat district has dismissed rumors of him being romantically involved with three women simultaneously, claiming he had only flirted with one woman on Facebook. This admission came during a lengthy inquiry at the district office on October 19, involving Buddhism officials, senior monks, local administrators, and community leaders.

The inquiry was prompted by an audio recording featuring a woman angrily confronting the abbot about jealousy, accusations of dating multiple women, and claims of property damage.

During the inquiry, the abbot admitted to exchanging flirtatious messages with the woman on Facebook but denied having a sexual relationship with her. He firmly denied the false reports of dating three women at once, stating that his online conversations did not violate the monastic code under Buddhist discipline. However, he decided to step down from his monkhood on October 26, the end of the current Buddhist Lent, to alleviate concerns among his followers and protect the reputation of the clergy.

The allegations and details from the audio recording are still under investigation by monastic authorities and government agencies.