Not in Tak, "Phra Kru Palat Sombat," abbot of Wat Sanam Chai, was found taking a bus from Tak Province to Phitsanulok before hiring a motorcycle taxi, whose driver said he could not recall where he dropped him off.
Regarding the case of Phra Kru Palat Sombat Sirisuwanno, 58, abbot of Wat Sanam Chai in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, who mysteriously went missing on 17 March 2026, it has now been one month. He was last seen boarding a public bus on the Tak-Sukhothai-Phitsanulok route on 18 March 2026.
According to CCTV footage from the Tak Provincial Administrative Organization along the route near the Kittikhajorn Bridge east side, the side facing Tak city, a monk resembling Phra Kru Palat Sombat was seen slowly walking down from the Kittikhajorn Bridge at 05:50, heading toward Tak city. Then, at 06:20, he was seen passing the wastewater treatment plant intersection riding on the back of a black motorcycle on Phahonyothin Road toward Tak city. It is believed he flagged down the motorcyclist to take him to the Tak Provincial Bus Terminal, arriving at about 06:31.
Upon arrival, Phra Kru Palat Sombat purchased a ticket for the first trip of the Tak-Phitsanulok minibus line M.2, license plate จ.128-2, which departed the terminal at 07:34.
Update at 12:00 on 23 April 2026: Reporters met Mr. Jinda Sae Nim, 57, a driver of the shared bus that Phra Kru Palat Sombat rode on. He said he departed from Tak on the first trip at 07:20 and arrived in Phitsanulok at 10:10. Upon arrival at Phitsanulok Bus Terminal 1, the bus stopped at bay 10, and passengers gradually disembarked. At that moment, he noticed a monk sitting near the back of the bus, but he was unsure if it was Phra Kru Palat Sombat. The monk carried one bag, no other belongings, and walked toward the front of the bus terminal with a mask covering his face, walking at a relaxed pace.
Later, reporters obtained CCTV footage showing the monk who got off the bus walking to a motorcycle taxi stand in front of Phitsanulok Bus Terminal 1. The motorcycle belonged to Mr. Phitsanu Pinphat, 64, who said he did take the monk but could not remember where he dropped him off as the event was some time ago. He added that monks arriving by bus in Phitsanulok usually visit Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Wat Yai), Phitsanulok railway station, or Phutthachinarat Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Investigation Team 1 conducted fieldwork in Phitsanulok Province to inspect the bus terminal and question witnesses who saw the abbot, aiming to find out where he was taken and gather clues for further investigation.