Police are intensifying their investigation. The "Abbot of Wat Sanam Chai." He disappeared mysteriously. Police are checking CCTV clues in Tak province, finding him walking across a bridge into the city after being dropped off at a gas station.
Updates on the case of Phra Kru Palat Sombat Sirisuwan, 58, abbot of Wat Sanam Chai in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, who has been missing mysteriously since 17 Mar 2026, over a month ago. The abbot told the temple's manager he would go pick up his son, who suffers from mental illness and was receiving treatment at Ban Phueng Suk in Ratchaburi province, to temporarily leave him with his ex-wife in Khon Kaen province.
After that, no one has been able to contact him. His family and the monastic community have requested cooperation from the driver of the car, hired via an app, who was the last person with the abbot and dropped him off at his last known location—a gas station near Kitti Kajorn Bridge at the entrance to Tak city on Phahonyothin Road. This route leads to several northern provinces like Lampang, Lamphun, and Chiang Mai and is commonly used.
On 22 Apr 2026, investigative officers from Mae Tho Police Station, Mueang District, Tak province, went to the area to follow up on information about the gas station where the abbot got out to use the restroom before agreeing with the driver to be dropped off there, saying another vehicle would pick him up later.
The Mae Tho Police obtained CCTV footage from a shop next to the gas station, showing at approximately 04:48 on the night of 18 Mar 2026 a figure resembling a monk, identity unknown, walking on Phahonyothin Road toward Tak city, passing in front of the shop. This is believed to connect with the location where the abbot got out of the car and walked away from the gas station.
Officers then reviewed additional CCTV near Wat Phra Narai, located along the northbound Phahonyothin Road near the base of Kitti Kajorn Bridge in Mae Tho subdistrict, Mueang Tak district. This footage captured a figure resembling Phra Palat Sombat walking slowly, appearing distracted or deep in thought. He passed camera 1 and then camera 2 facing Si Maharaj Shrine, continuing along the road before veering right onto Phahonyothin Road, ascending Kitti Kajorn Bridge over the Ping River, then disappearing from the CCTV coverage area.
Police must continue following CCTV footage to clarify the abbot’s travel route further.
When shown the CCTV footage, relatives and close associates are quite confident the monk is the abbot of Wat Sanam Chai, noting his distinctive limping gait, consistent with a foot injury.
However, recent reportsindicate thatthe abbothastraveledto take a bus at the provincial bus station inTakprovince.Police will continue to urgently investigate this lead.Further updateswill be reportedas they become available.