Sexual mischief

An elderly Buddhist monk, believed to be suffering from mental health problems, was defrocked this week after being accused of indecently touching a woman.

The 79-year-old monk is alleged to have stripped the 35-year-old woman, before touching and embracing her, following a dance party at Pailin town’s Ou Suosdey pagoda on Sunday night. It is claimed that the monk had asked her to sleep in his room after she fell asleep in the monastery, said Yoet Khorn, deputy chief of Pailin provincial anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection office.

An investigation was sparked after a complaint was made to the pagoda’s managing committee. Police said the woman is believed to have consented to the monk’s wishes.

Som Ungpov, director of provincial department of cults and religions, said yesterday that the elderly monk, who is also a retired official from the province’s department of education, youth and sports, was defrocked on Monday following the complaint.

“He will not face any prosecution. We defrocked him in accordance with the Buddhist law,” he said.  Earlier this week, a 19-year-old monk from Siem Reap province was  defrocked after having sex with married woman.