The court has issued arrest warrants for the abbot and a senior novice monk of a prominent temple in Songkhla who schemed to coerce four novice monks at the temple into performing sexual acts. All victims fled to inform their guardians and report the case to the police. Authorities have since found that all suspects have disappeared from the temple.
In the case of four novice monks who had ordained at Phu Phayanatkaram Temple, also known as Nok Yoong Temple, in Ban Phru subdistrict, Hat Yai district, Songkhla, they fled the temple after being coerced by the abbot to assist in sexual acts. In addition to the abbot, some of the novices were also forced by a senior novice monk to perform such acts. This led them to secretly escape the temple, tell their guardians, and file a complaint at Thung Lung Police Station on 24 June, seeking full legal action against the abbot.
Regarding the legal proceedings, Pol. Maj. Gen. Theerasak Chaiyoyotha, Commander of Songkhla Provincial Police, ordered Pol. Col. Chansarut Saengarun, Superintendent of Thung Lung Police Station, to conduct a straightforward investigation by summoning the novice monks and witnesses for questioning and gathering evidence.
Most recently, on 28 June 2026, Thung Lung Police Station submitted a request for arrest warrants to the Songkhla Provincial Court, which approved two warrants each for the suspects: Phra Kru Worasanat Athichat Thanissaro, also known as Mr. Athichat Aditson, age 41, abbot of Phu Phayanatkaram Temple, under warrants No. J.402/2569 and J.403/2569 dated 27 June 2026. Charges include rape by force against someone unable to resist, sexual assault of a child under 15 who is not the spouse, regardless of consent, and acts against a child under 13.
Also charged is senior novice monk Chanakan, age 18, under warrants No. J.404/2569 and J.405/2569 dated 27 June 2026, for the same offenses: rape by force against someone unable to resist, sexual assault of a child under 15 not a spouse, regardless of consent, and acts against a child under 13.
Currently, investigative teams from three units—the Thung Lung Police Station, Songkhla Provincial Police, and the Crime Suppression Division's Unit 6—are urgently working to track down and arrest both suspects for prosecution. It was found that Phra Kru Worasanat turned off his mobile phone and disappeared from the temple after learning that the novices had reported the case to the police.