"Phra Ton," or Phra Marut, was found after fleeing on a bus from Nong Khai Bus Terminal to reside in Sikhio. He has a history of gambling with over one million baht in transactions. He claims no knowledge of the theft of the 5-baht gold Buddha relic. Police defrocked and took him into custody to proceed with legal action.
In the case of a thief climbing the principal Buddha statue in the Ubosot at Wat Haisok, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nong Khai Province, stealing a 5-baht gold Buddha relic from the nearly 4-meter-high statue and escaping, suspicion arose about one of the temple novices, Phra Marut Chantaban, 36. He refused to go with other monks and related persons to have his fingerprints taken at the police station but secretly drove the temple vehicle to park at Nong Khai Bus Terminal, then bought a bus ticket and disappeared. It is believed his destination was Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, on the evening of 21 May 2026.
Reporters visited the Mittraphap Road area, a bus drop-off point for Sikhio District in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, where locals said long-distance buses stop there for passengers to disembark. Passengers can cross the overpass to enter Sikhio District or transfer to other destinations, but no one saw any monks arriving on the bus at that time.
It was found that road construction in the area caused the municipality to remove cameras, so monitoring was not possible. However, some CCTV footage from the 2nd Highway District Office remained. As news teams prepared to request this footage, a tip came in that Phra Marut was hiding in the Sikhio area. Police from the 3rd Provincial Investigation Division then coordinated to search various temples located on hills and within forests.
At 17:00 on 22 May 2026, police led by Lieutenant Chailan Plamklang, Lieutenant Attakan Sairam, and Sergeant Rung Chomking, with a warrant, raided Wat Sub Krasang, Moo 6, Don Muang Subdistrict, Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. They arrested Phra Marut Chantaban, 36, from Nadee Subdistrict, Fao Rai District, Nong Khai Province, wanted on a theft warrant from Nong Khai Province No. J.190/2569 dated 22 May 2026. He admitted to driving the temple vehicle to park at the bus terminal and leaving the keys but denied stealing the gold Buddha relic.
Police investigations found Phra Marut had a gambling addiction, with online betting activity and millions of baht flowing through his accounts. He admitted to gambling and said he had been doing so for a long time.
Phra Ajarn Thawatchai Katapanyo, 46, acting abbot of Wat Sub Krasang, said he had just met Phra Marut after posting on Facebook seeking monks to stay at the temple. Phra Marut contacted him to ask to stay for the Buddhist Lent period. They agreed Phra Marut would update him during his journey. When Phra Marut arrived in Sikhio District, the abbot picked him up at a gas station. At the temple, they had little conversation as Phra Marut mostly stayed in meditation. The abbot affirmed the temple’s innocence and said it had no involvement in the theft.
Police immediately defrocked Phra Marut and took him into custody. Phra Marut said he came to the temple to observe the Buddhist Lent period. He claimed he took the temple pickup truck without informing the temple and that he learned of the theft after leaving the temple. He insisted he was not involved in stealing the gold Buddha relic.
Authorities found a deposit of 150,000 baht into Phra Marut's account on 18 May and over one million baht in account activity. Phra Marut admitted the money came from online gambling. Police took him to the 3rd Provincial Investigation Division headquarters to coordinate with authorities in Nong Khai Province for further prosecution.