The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Monk Committee on Tuesday defrocked Srel Vanna, a former chief monk at Phnom Bakleu pagoda, for allegedly having a love affair with a 19-year-old woman.
The deputy director of the provincial Cults and Religion Department, Prak Sophorth, said the committee of monks decided to defrock Vanna at 1:15pm on Tuesday, after they had investigated and questioned him since Monday.
“The Disciplinary Committee found evidence of violation of the monkhood, with a confession from the monk himself,” Sophorth said.
After questioning, Vanna, 36, admitted to having consensual sex “at the girl’s house, not at the pagoda”, Sophorth said.
However, he said the woman, only identified by her Facebook username of Nhom Lita, accused Vanna of raping her.
Banteay Meanchey Deputy Provincial Police Chief, Seth Los, confirmed on Tuesday that action had yet to be taken in the matter.
“This matter concerns religion. It will be dealt with by the monk committee. The police can pursue the case if the woman files a complaint or the police caught the man red-handed.
“But until now, we have not received any complaint or witnessed a crime taking place,” Los said.
