Religious authorities in Preah Sihanouk province have defrocked a monk after he injured two people in a traffic accident on Monday night, according to provincial traffic director Prom Pov.

The monk, who was based at Rokharam pagoda in Pailin province, violated the religious order’s rules by operating a motor vehicle. He compounded his guilt by hitting a motorbike with his car, injuring two people.

Pov said yesterday that the monk, Den Makara (who was known in the monastic order as Yu So Te), had been visiting relatives in Kampong Speu and was on his way to see a friend in Preah Sihanouk when the accident occurred.

Following the accident, religious officials defrocked Makara and turned him over to Preah Sihanouk provincial traffic police for questioning and possible legal action.

Pov confirmed that the former monk was accused of violating religious principles by “driving and causing a traffic accident”.

The car and motorbike were impounded temporarily at the provincial traffic police station.