Monk jumps 21 floors but misses safety airbag in Thonburi drama

A monk being investigated for stealing 11 million baht from a temple jumped to his death from a 21st floor balcony in Thonburi yesterday evening.

He missed an airbag that police and fire services had positioned to try and save him, reports Thairath.

Police said that Jarupat Sriwaranon was a serial fraudster and thief from Rayong. After a series of cases against him he had been ordained and got a high ranking position at the Chak Yai temple in Chantaburi.

Instead of devoting himself to a life of pious denial he pinched 11 million baht from the temple coffers to spend on himself. Police trailed him to the Tha Phra area of Thonburi where he came to have cosmetic surgery.

In arresting him in his rented room on the 21st floor of a 28 storey block, Jarupat asked to go to the toilet. While officers were distracted he went onto the balcony.

Police and fire services coordinated to position an air bag below the balcony but 45 minutes later Jarupat jumped – and missed it. He died instantly at the scene.

Investigators said that Jarupat had been convicted multiple times for fraud and theft on the eastern seaboard before entering the monkhood where he stepped up his criminal ways.

Thai Visa / Thai Rath

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