BURIRAM: A 70-year-old monk in Kanthararom Subdistrict, Krasang District, Buriram Province, was found locked in a room with a female layperson, prompting villagers to express concerns over his conduct. The monk, who emerged from the room sweating, explained that he was merely counting bottles of expired drinking water with the woman in question, attributing his perspiration to the lack of ventilation in the room. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Preecha, a resident of Nong Khon, raised alarms about the monk's behavior, which led to a media inquiry. He had observed the monk entering the storage room alone on multiple occasions. On this particular instance, Mr. Preecha decided to investigate further and set up his phone camera outside the locked door. After 30 minutes, the monk emerged, followed by the woman who attempted to conceal herself. Although Mr. Preecha recorded the encounter, he later deleted the footage after the monk fled the temple. Phra Boonsong, the monk involved in the incident, stated that he sought the help of Nang A, a worker at the temple's crematorium construction site, to assess the expired water bottles. He insisted that his actions were innocent and that his decision to leave the temple was an attempt to avoid further complications. The district abbot has since appointed Phra Suwat Thano, aged 35, as the acting abbot, replacing Phra Boonsong who relocated to another temple. Phra Suwat expressed uncertainty regarding the truth of the incident, noting the monk's previous secretive behavior with the woman. He questioned the monk's decision to flee instead of addressing the villagers' concerns. Villagers have voiced skepticism towards the monk, recalling past issues with female followers that led to his relocation. They have decided not to extend another invitation to him following this latest controversy. Additionally, rumors persist regarding the temple's lack of an abbot due to the construction of two crematoriums facing different directions, though Phra Suwat declined to comment on the matter.