Four “fake” Cambodian monks who crossed into Thailand to seek alms as a moneymaking ploy were arrested and deported by authorities there on Monday, according to police.

The group were kicked back over the border by Thai soldiers and “educated” at Banteay Meanchey police station before being repatriated to their home province of Kampot, according to Banteay Meanchey deputy police chief Dy Socheat.

“I did not punish them. We just educated them not to do that, because it affects Cambodian Buddhism and is bad for Cambodian Buddhist monks,” he said.

“They said that doing it was a good way to get money, so they tried.”

The quartet – all in their 20s – had shaved their heads and eyebrows and wore robes to disguise themselves as monks, said Malai district police chief Sao Bun.

They had crossed the border at Malai and were repatriated via the same crossing.