PHNOM PENH – The chief monk of a Cambodian Pagoda was arrested after he allegedly crashed his sports utility vehicle while being drunk and disguised as a military official, a media report said on Friday.
Khan Heng, who headed a pagoda in Southern Kandal province, was reportedly driving to his father’s funeral on Wednesday, wearing a military police uniform over his saffron robes.
Report says other monks at the pagoda were quoted as saying that the head monk had long been suspected of drinking in secret and other bad behaviour.
“I always suspected he was drinking, he would slur his words and curse at other monks, but we never had the proof,’’Sdoeung Sar, a Lay Priest at the pagoda, reported.
He was charged with driving under the influence and impersonating an official and now in pre-trial detention.
Reports say the monk has been defrocked based on these allegations. (dpa/NAN)
