Former actress and Miss Teen Thailand Amelia "Amy" Jacobs was ordained as a nun in Prachin Buri province yesterday after being released from prison last month following sentencing in a court case for drug abuse.
Lawyer Sittra Bia-bangkerd was quoted saying his client was ordained at a Buddhist temple yesterday morning. He did not name the temple.
Her ordination was intended to show her regret for having caused sorrow and trouble for her family. Amy wanted to share the merits of her ordination with people who had both good and ill intentions towards her, Mr Sittra said. She had not decided how long she would stay in the order.
Amelia, who was Miss Teen Thailand 2006 and played the lead role in the popular TV Channel 7 drama Thida Wanorn (Monkey Daughter), was sentenced by the Min Buri Court late last month to three months in jail, suspended for two years, and fined 5,000 baht for using illicit drugs. She had spent 11 months in custody awaiting the trial.
The 29-year-old Thai-Dutch woman and her 41-year-old boyfriend Punyawat Hirantecha were arrested at a house in Sai Mai district, Bangkok, in September last year with 70 grammes of crystal meth, 16 ecstasy pills, scales and drug use paraphernalia.
The court found her guilty only of drug abuse but sentenced her boyfriend to 25 years in jail for possession and sale of illicit drugs. Amelia was acquitted of possession with intent to sell.
On Wednesday, lawyer Atchariya Ruangrattanapong filed a complaint with the Bangkok police in which he alleged that 13 people had helped Amelia escape the charge of possession for sale.