French interior minister embarrassed by link to jet set Thai monk
France's interior minister is facing embarrassment after it emerged he unwittingly attended a Buddhist sermon in Paris given by a notorious "jet-set monk" wanted in Thailand for rape and embezzlement.
The monk has been attracted attention ever since the video of him flying a private jet went viral Photo: YouTube
By Henry Samuel, Paris
2:35PM BST 02 Aug 2013
Manuel Valls attended the ceremony at the Vincennes pagoda in Paris' 12th arrondissement in his capacity as minister in charge of religious cults to celebrate Vesak – the festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.
During the ceremony late May, devoted to "ethics and compassion", the minister listened to a sermon "on wisdom" from the venerable Luang Pu Nenkham Chattigo, who claims to be the reincarnation of a respected monk, according to Nouvel Observateur magazine.
However, the "wise" religious figure reportedly turned out to be a 34-year old charlatan now globally notorious for his penchant for private jets, expensive cars and Louis Vuitton luggage. A YouTube film of Nenkham in gold aviator shades in a private plane released by Thailand's Department of Special Investigation last month went viral.
Thai authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of Nenkham, who also goes by the name Weerapol Sukpol. He faces charges of violating Thailand's computer crime act by posting "deceitful information", having sex with a minor and rape.
According to the DSI, Nenkham, who is abbot of the Khantitham Forest Monastery in north eastern Thailand, also broke celibacy vows by being married and having sexual relations with at least seven other women, and committed fraud by wearing monk's robes he is not entitled to.
Posing and dressing as a monk is a criminal offence in Thailand.
Nenkham is thought to have left Thailand for Europe and then travelled on to the United States. The fugitive owns a Buddhist retreat some 75 miles south of Los Angeles.
Nenkham, now stripped of his religious leadership, owned at least 83 cars and a list of properties that include plots of land, houses and condominiums.
Authorities also estimate at least 300 million baht, or £6.3 million, have disappeared from his bank accounts since he vanished.
