Sunday, December 20, 2009

Sivarak enters monkhood

20/12/2009
Bangkok Post

Freed convicted spy Sivarak Chutipong entered monkhood on Sunday morning.

Mr Sivarak, a 31-year-old engineer who was sentenced to seven years in jail and fined 10 million riels (about 80,000 baht) on Dec 8 after being arrested by Cambodian authorities last month on charges of stealing sensitive state information, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's flight plan when he visited Phnom Pehn, and passing it to Thai diplomat Kamrob Palawatwichai.

He was later granted a pardon by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, and returned to Bangkok on Monday.

Before entering monkhood for nine days at a temple in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Mr Sivarak said he was intent to enter monkhood next year but decided to be ordained sooner following his involvement in the spying case.

Mr Sivarak said he forgave Mr Kamrob and would not take legal action against anyone, as he did not want the issue to prolong.

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