Page 5 - IAV Digital Magazine #622

Phuket Monk Guns Down Fellow Cleric In Temple
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO5ly9W3ZSY
Phuket, June 29 — A Buddhist monk in Phuket has been arrested after fatally shoot- ing 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 cas- ing were recov- ered 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 ammu- nition in his pos- session.
In his statement to police, Phra Jaruek claimed that he had endured pro- longed 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 some- thing 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 ecclesi- astical district gov- ernor and formally defrocked. He is now in custody and faces criminal prosecution.
The temple has yet to comment publicly on the incident.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine