KANCHANABURI: A 51-year-old abbot is accused of detaining a 13-year-old novice for several days, forcing the lad to give him massages with a "happy ending".
The 33-year-old father took his boy to file a complaint at the Nong Khao police station in Tha Muang district on Tuesday.
They alleged that Phra Khru Sangkharakwinai Inthawinyo, abbot of Wat Intharam, at one stage detained the novice inside his residence for five days and forced the boy to fellate him every day.
The man said his son was ordained in July and had since stayed at the temple. The boy informed his family of the sexual abuse early last month.
The novice first phoned his aunt for help in getting a transfer to another temple. After questioning, the boy told her what happened. The father said he told his son to be patient and gather evidence to support a legal complaint. The evidence included messages the abbot allegedly sent to the boy.
The novice, identifying himself only as Nat, said the abbot had often called him to his residence and ordered him to massage and then fellate him. At one stage he was detained in the residence for five days. The abbot allegedly intimidated the boy into staying, saying he had a gun.
After the phone calls for help, a local monk rescued him from the abbot's residence, and was then assaulted by the abbot, the novice said.
Phra Natthee Sirijantho, 41, who reportedly rescued the novice, alleged the abbot kicked him, stepped on his chest and repeatedly hit his face. He also said he earlier accused the abbot of failing to perform his duties.
Abbot Phra Khru Sangkharakwinai denied the accusations.
Somsak Sammano, Buddhism affairs chief of Kanchanaburi, said senior local monks would form a committee to investigate the case.