Culture
Dharma Army Lawyers Foundation Defends Monk Against Allegations
The Dharma Army Lawyers Foundation has publicly defended Phra Maha Theeranat of Phu Pha Sung, asserting his innocence against recurring accusations.
On September 15, 2026, Anantachai Chaiyadech, president of the Dharma Army Lawyers Foundation, held a press conference to address allegations made by various media outlets against Phra Maha Theeranat, the head of the Phu Kratrae (Phu Pha Sung) monastic residence in Nakhon Ratchasima. The accusations involved claims of marital relations, children, a past defrocking from Wat Ratchabophit, forest encroachment, and financial mismanagement.
Anantachai stated that these allegations have surfaced four times since 2007, with previous investigations by the Sangha, the National Office of Buddhism, and nine other government agencies consistently clearing the monk of any wrongdoing. The foundation maintains that Phra Maha Theeranat is innocent according to Buddhist monastic law and announced plans to pursue legal action against media organizations and officials who disseminated what they describe as false information.
For residents and travelers, this situation highlights the ongoing scrutiny of monastic conduct in Thailand and the role of legal advocacy groups in protecting religious figures from public defamation. While the foundation asserts the monk's innocence based on past investigations, the legal proceedings against the media and officials are ongoing. Observers should note that these claims have been subject to repeated official reviews, and the current legal challenge represents the latest development in a long-standing dispute.
