UTTARADIT, Thailand — A monk has been expelled from his temple after being arrested on suspicion of involvement in a land fraud scheme that occurred two years ago, authorities reported.
The monk, identified as Tassanai, was taken into custody Sunday at Wat Go Lom in Lap Lae district, Uttaradit. Police said he is a native of neighboring Sukhothai province and is one of 40 individuals suspected of participating in a gang that forged land title deeds and other land rights documents.
Authorities allege the gang used the fraudulent documents to secure personal and auto loans from private lenders in Sukhothai and Uttaradit. The estimated financial damage caused by the group is approximately 5 million baht (around $140,000 USD).
Police said the suspects include a former land official in Sukhothai, who remains at large and is believed to be the leader of the gang. Tassanai is accused of supporting the crime by allowing his personal data to be used to open mule accounts for the operation. He was named in a court-issued arrest warrant in October of last year.
