A monk with Louis Vuitton luggage caused huge scandal

  It is known that the jet-set fugitive monk in Thailand, and its history, the country with daily headlines wasteful excess, promiscuity and crimes ranging from rape to murder riveted.

Until a month ago, was 33-year Wirapol Sukphol relatively unknown in Thailand. Well, it is the center of the largest religious scandal has seen predominantly Buddhist country for years.

In spite of his vows to a life of celibacy and simplicity Wirapol has had a penchant for luxury, says the police. His first appeared in the June surplus with a YouTube video that went viral. He showed the monk in orange dress aviator sunglasses. A ride in a private jet with a Louis Vuitton luggage

The video has been for its non-monkly behavior and a stream of humorous songs like criticizing "All aboard, Air nirvana."

(32 million dollars), including its accumulated around 1 billion baht assets - since then was a long list of darkest secrets. This week, authorities announced an arrest warrant against the monk in disgrace after he relieved in the absence of his office.

Wirapol had appeared in France as the scandal after it., A meditation retreat in a monastery near Provence It is believed to have then fled the United States, but his current whereabouts are unknown.

The warrant relates to three counts including rape, embezzlement and fraud online asking for donations. It is also accused of money laundering, drug trafficking and manslaughter for an accident with hit and run. The authorities are struggling to understand how he amassed so much money.

"Over the years there have been several cases of men who have abused the dress, but never a monk was involved in numerous crimes," said Pong Intarakhao, chief investigator of the case to the Department of Investigation Special, the equivalent of the FBI Thailand. "We have never seen such a widespread case where a monk has to do as much damage, caused so many people and Thai society seen."

If offense monk in recent years on the consumption of alcohol or cavort with women or men, concentrated all prohibited activities. Last year, about 300 of the 61,416 full-time monks from Thailand were reprimanded and in many cases, moved for violation of their vows, according to the Office of National Buddhism.

In case Wirapol, investigators believe they only scratched the surface.

Born in the poor northern province of Ubon Ratchathani, he entered the monastic life as a teenager and won local fame for claims supernatural powers, like the ability to fly, walk on water and talk to deities. Itself, Luang Pu Kham renamed Nen, normally reserved to themselves a title awarded for senior monks.

Gradually he grew wealthy supporters fund expensive projects in the name of Buddhism help - the construction of temples, hospitals and what is considered the biggest Emerald Buddha in the world account. 11 meters (36 feet) high Buddha, the temple was built in the northeast, touted as a solid jade, but colored concrete.

Office of the fight against money laundering in Thailand found 41 bank accounts in connection with the ex-monk. Multiple accounts about 200 million baht (6.4 million dollars) in constant circulation, increasing suspicions of money laundering.

Investigators suspect that Wirapol a man killed in a hit-and-run accident while driving a Volvo late into the night three years ago.

Critics say Wirapol is an extreme example of a broader crisis in Buddhism, which has been marginalized by a lack of monks and an increasingly secular society. The mode of the meditative life of monastic life offers little appeal to young Buddhist on shopping centers, smart phones and the Internet placed.

But the case of Wirapol also showed the benefits of social media, said Artchariyasarp Songkran, Buddhist activist and lawyer.

"Buddhists all over the world can learn from this case," said Songkran, which runs a Facebook group that collects advice on rebel monks. Photos uploaded on his side helped launch the investigation Wirapol.