In the wake of an alleged love affair with a woman 30 years his junior, a 70-year-old monk was defrocked yesterday in Kampong Thom’s Prasat Balang district.

Sala Visay commune chief Im Orn told the Post that the pagoda committee and several religious followers decided to force Hib Lay out of monkhood after it was discovered that he was involved in an affair with a 40-year-old widow.

He added that the monk would frequently dress in civilian clothing, slip out and spend nights with the widow, which he said was against monk principles.

“He stayed with the widow from 7pm until 3am on the night of March 10 and was encountered by the villagers. It was undeniable because they saw how he was dressed [in civilian clothing],” the commune chief said.

Sala Visay pagoda committee member Krouch Chea, 60, said he has been living at the pagoda for two years and noticed that the affair began last year, when Hib Lay started to give the widow money.

“This action, of course, opposes the Buddhist religion ... so he was defrocked by the followers,” he said.