Former monk Phra Yantra Ammaro Bhikkhu surprised some when he returned to Thailand last week after the statute of limitations on a lawsuit for his alleged defamation against the late Supreme Patriarch reportedly expired.
Winai La-ongsuwan has returned to Thailand now cases against him, including sexual misconduct while serving as a monk, have expired. Nucharee Rakrun
It is the first time in more than 20 years that Winai La-ongsuwan, whose monkhood attracted a large following in the 1980s, returned to his hometown in Ban Bang Bo in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Pak Phanang district.
He was welcomed by several people who were his former disciples.
With long, grey hair and a beard, Mr Winai, 60, entered Thailand via Malaysia during the Songkran festival to pay respect to Phra Khru Suthammachan, the abbot of Wat Rattanaram in Pak Phanang. The monk ordained Mr Winai in 1974.
He left Pak Phanang district for Khanom district where he gave a brief interview with reporters on Tuesday night.
"All lawsuits have expired," Mr Winai said. "All the news was fabricated and I never insulted the Supreme Patriarch.''
His long, white hair and beard distinguishes him from monks.
His clothing looks similar to those of monks, but that is not enough to press charges against him for wearing inappropriate attire, said Amnat Buasiri, deputy chief of the National Office of Buddhism.
"I plan to come back to stay in Thailand permanently when the [political] situation calms down," Mr Winai said, who intends to live in the Sunyataram Religious Centre in Kanchanaburi.
He said he decided to return to Wat Rattanaram after learning that Phra Khru Suthammachan had fallen ill.
The trip was sponsored by his younger daughter who took care of him while he lived in the United States after his escape from the defamation case.
Mr Winai said he plans to return to the US on May 1.
He has attracted several visitors over one week in the South, especially those from Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Among them is Pak Phanang mayor Phichet Klasuthon who met Mr Winai at the Ton Hat community in Pak Phanang district on Monday.
The former abbot of the Sunyataram Religious Centre in Kanchanaburi faced legal action after he allegedly insulted the Supreme Patriarch who then chaired the Supreme Sangha Council investigating Phra Yantra’s alleged sexual scandal.
The alleged disgrace followed claims the former monk had sexual affairs with women including Chantima Mayarangsri.
The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a girl, who was later named Kratai.
The girl was five years old when the allegation went before the Supreme Sangha Council in 1995.
The Supreme Sangha Council resolved to disrobe Phra Yantra. But he denied committing the alleged wrongdoing and allegedly made inappropriate remarks to the late Supreme Patriarch.