Monk faces murder charge after gambling debt row

A Buddhist monk in Ayutthaya has been accused of hacking a man to death with a sickle following an argument over a football gambling debt on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred at Sai Noi temple in Bang Ban district shortly before 8pm when Chatchai Plertplai, 40, arrived on a motorcycle and reprimanded Phra Prayoon, 48, who was scything grass on the temple premises.

Ayutthaya police commander Sutthi Puangpikul said Phra Prayoon attacked Chatchai several times with the sickle in a fit of rage, killing him after being berated with vulgar words.

Police arrested him shortly after he fled into hiding within the temple area.

The monk, who has lived at the temple for two years, claimed Chatchai had borrowed money to buy an amulet and refused to repay it. Chatchai got angry and went to the temple to abuse him after he tried to tell him to settle the debt.

Weera Sangpraprai, 54, who lives near the temple, told police that Phra Payoon was known to gamble on football matches and had had arguments with the slain man several times over debts he owed to him.

The monk denied the allegation.

Pol Maj Gen Sutthi said the monk had been disrobed and would be charged with premeditated murder. Investigators will question him further about the debt.