A rape suspect who entered the monkhood to escape a court warrant has been caught at a temple in Chon Buri after eight years on the run.
Chokchai “Don” Thongyoi, 41, was apprehended at Wat Nong Jabtao in tambon Na Jomtien of Sattahip district on Thursday night, said Pol Capt Chatree Thepburi, a deputy police investigator at Pattaya police station.
The suspect, or Phra Chokchai, was donning a saffron robe when police raided the temple. He was taken to see a senior monk and expelled.
Mr Chokchai was wanted on a court warrant issued by the Pattaya provincial court on Aug 6, 2007 on charges of sexually abusing a girl aged below 15 and depriving her of parental care.
Police had been unable to locate him but recently learned he had taken refuge at Wat Nong Japtao, where he entered the monkhood three months ago.
The defrocked monk denied the charges. He was held in police custody.