Thai man, 43, chants concealment spell before allegedly stealing S$79 from temple, gets caught

Bangkok police arrested a security guard on Jun. 3 for allegedly stealing cash from temple donation boxes after he purportedly scaled the temple wall.

During questioning, the 43-year-old suspect, known as Ratchathan, allegedly confessed to the crime and said he apologised to the spirits and chanted a concealment spell before the alleged theft.

The Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau police announced the arrest through a Facebook post on Jun. 4.

According to Thai police, the alleged theft occurred at 1:25am local time on May 30 at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram temple, better known as Wat Pho.

Wat Pho is renowned for being the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok; it is also a designated UNESCO "memory of the world" site.

The arrest came after the temple's representatives filed a complaint on May 30.

Smashed open donation boxes

Thai police said two wooden donation boxes inside the temple's pavilion were moved to the building's rear and smashed open.

A small tripod was found nearby, and investigators believed this was used to smash the boxes.

The suspect allegedly stole 100 20-baht (S$0.79) banknotes, equivalent to 2,000 baht (S$79).

CCTV footage checked by temple staff showed a man wearing a white cloth covering his face and all-black clothing entering the pavilion.

Investigators gathered the footage, including pictures of the suspect moving the boxes and the damage, to obtain an arrest warrant from the Thai criminal court on Jun. 2.

Apologised to spirits before theft

On Jun. 3, Ratchathan was arrested at the entrance to Soi Lat Phrao 136 in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district 12:30pm.

According to Khaosod, Ratchathan, who works as a security guard in Bangkok's Pinklao area, told police that he targeted the donation boxes as he needed money to pay his rent.

He said that he had previously visited the temple and knew there was money in the boxes.

He added that prior to carrying out the theft, he apologised to the temple's spirits and recited a concealment spell to prevent others from noticing him.

Thai police said Ratchathan had previously admitted to a separate theft conviction in another province and moved to Bangkok after serving his sentence.

Ratchathan was charged with theft and trespassing at night, criminal damage and identity concealment while committing an offence.

Thai police also said Ratchathan would be transferred to investigators at Phra Ratchawang Police Station in the centre of Bangkok for further legal proceedings.