A Phetchabun monk who admitted to having sex with a male discipline has left the monkhood after being put under pressure by the National Buddhism Office and lay people, reports said.
Phra Kasem Ajinasila, head of Sam Yaek forest monastery in Nam Nao district, on Friday told a group of his lay disciples and monks during an "internal inquiry" that he had sex with a 34-year-old follower in the monastery's compound.
He said he did not have self-awareness during the sexual activity, so it was not necessary for him to leave monkhood.
The monk made the surprising declaration in front of about 50 monks and followers who had gathered at the monastery to hold an internal inquiry into the incident. The meeting was broadcast on the popular monastery's YouTube channel.
Phetchabun provincial Buddhism office director Thanyathep Muenyuth reported the incident to Phra Ratchapariyatbundit, chief of the provincial monastic committee, to initiate a probe.
Yielding to pressure, Phra Kasem finally disrobed at 1am on Sunday. He changed his robe from saffron to white and continued to stay at the monastery.