Five People Face Corporal Punishment for Abbot Assassination

June 26, 2008

By HURFOM:

Thai courts in Thong Pha Phum have sentenced to death five of the eight Mon people arrested over the assassination of the new Wat Wiwangkaram abbot Reverend Jorndimar in Sanghklaburi last year.

The punishment decided on June 18th, 2008 in the Law Courts in Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi province. Eight people were waiting for over twelve months for investigation.

According to the Thai authorities in Thong Pha Phum prison, five people were sentenced to death and three remaining prisoners were sentenced to life in prison.

The death penalty was a shock among the Mon community in Sanghklaburi. Many Mon kept quiet and didn’t want to talk about the eight people. They expressed very lightly sentiments like, ‘if they committed the crime they have to suffer for it.’ However, some critics in the community said the assassination of one man should not result in the death penalty of five men.

Ajar Tala Uttama, a famous monk, passed away in December, 2006. The Thai king held the funeral celebrations for Uttama. According to a Thai police officer in Thong Pha Phum, the eight people who murdered the new abbot did not respect the king’s decision, which was a large part of the reason they now faced such severe punishment.

The eight prisoners were sent to the Central Prison in Lopburi. According to their families, they will appeal in a second court in 45 days’ time. In accordance with Thai law, they will be issued three chances to appeal in court.

There were three initial charges against the eight; one for the assassination of Jorndimar, one for financial disputes at the temple and the third was regarding disrespect and abuse of the sovereignty of the King of Thailand.

Anong, the son of one of the eight prisoners Nai Aung Nyein, told the Irrawaddy he will visit his father next week when he will appeal in the second court. He denied the accusation his father was involved in any financial disputes, and claimed his father was innocent.

A monk Eainda Kari and his followers, Nai Aung Nyein and Nai Nit were former followers Reverent Uttama, a famous monk in Sangkalaburi who set up Wangka village. Three people escaped civil war in Burma with Uttama in 1949.

Three people believed after Ajar Tala Uttama passed away, they can control the power of temple. Reverend Uttama didn’t offer his legacy to three people and he offered to Reverend Jorndimar before he died.

Three people were jealous and they accused Reverend Jorndimar used financial for his own business and sent money back to his family in Burma.

Over the financial dispute, monk Eainda Kari and his two followers hired five people to assassinate Reverend Jorndimar. Jorndimar was assassinated on December 29th, 2006.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News