Bangkok - A Thai civil court on Thursday seized a former Thai
monk's assets worth a total of 43 million baht (R15 million)
for offences including public fraud and money laundering.
Wirapol Sukphol, 38, was extradited from the US and arrived in
Thailand late Wednesday after he fled the country in 2013 once he was
issued with an arrest warrant for multiple allegations.
Months before Wirapol left Thailand, he made headlines when a video
showing him in aviator sunglasses carrying a Louis Vuitton bag on a
private jet surfaced on the Internet, leading to an uproar over his
unusual wealth and materialistic lifestyle contrary to Buddhist
teachings.
Soon after, he was accused by a woman of impregnating her when she
was 14 years old. Up to 10 people have filed complaints to the police
that they have been tricked by Wirapol on the Internet to donate
millions of dollars.
Wirapol's assets seized by the Thai authorities include an
8.3-million-baht Porsche, a property in north-eastern Thailand and
money in his bank accounts.
Despite the asset seizure by the civil court, Wirapol has yet to
stand trial for criminal offences. Prosecutors on Thursday charged
him with public fraud, money laundering and a computer crime, all of
which he denied.
Wirapol was initially wanted by the authorities for child abduction
and molestation, but the charges have already expired.
Following the many allegations - including alcohol consumption, which
violate Buddhist monastic rules - Wirapol was also expelled from the
monkhood.