Swingin’ monk gets the sack

BANGKOK (AFP): An abbot at a Thai temple was forced to leave the monkhood in disgrace today after being caught carousing with a group of women in a karaoke bar. Phra Pativetviset, from the Bangkok temple Wat Sriboonruang, was banished after being captured on film during a police raid on the karaoke joint last weekend. Despite wearing a disguise of a wig and chunky glasses, and sporting layman’s clothing instead of his saffron robes, he was identified when the footage was screened as part of a television news report. Phra has protested his innocence, but his superiors forced him to leave temple life or face being defrocked. Buddhist monks are forbidden from drinking alcohol or patronising entertainment venues. But reports said Phra was a well-known party-goer in his home province of Angthong where he spent freely at entertainment venues.