UDON THANI — A Japanese man was detained by police in northeastern Thailand after he was found crying inside a Buddhist temple, claiming he had come to atone for his sins while awaiting trial in a theft case, police said on Thursday.
At about 2:40 p.m. on December 25, Udon Thani police received a report of a suspicious foreign man sitting and crying inside Wat Srikunmuang, also known as Wat Ban Lao, in a residential area of Udon Thani municipality. Tourist police and local officers were dispatched to investigate.
At the temple, officers were directed by a 71-year-old resident monk to the man, who was wearing a black suit with insignia resembling military symbols. A search of his shoulder bag revealed documents identifying him as Yamaguchi, 37, a Japanese man.
Police also found a court appointment notice from Udon Thani Provincial Court dated January 30, 2025, related to a night-time theft case, along with a small bag of dried cannabis and smoking paraphernalia.
During questioning, Yamaguchi told officers he had come to the temple to cleanse himself of wrongdoing because he had a criminal case pending. He knelt on the floor, paid respect to the monk and appeared remorseful for an extended period.
Through an interpreter, the monk advised him not to commit further offences and to take responsibility for his actions. He also encouraged Yamaguchi to explain his circumstances to the court at his upcoming hearing.
The monk later told police that the man had visited the temple on three consecutive days, often sitting beneath a large sacred tree, sometimes kneeling or crying, and occasionally following monks around the grounds. Initially, the behaviour was not considered alarming, but concerns grew as the man appeared distressed and refused to leave, prompting a call to police.
Police said Yamaguchi had previously been arrested on December 11, 2025 for allegedly stealing 100 baht in cash and a JBL Bluetooth speaker worth more than 5,000 baht from a dormitory in Udon Thani during the early morning hours.
He was taken to immigration authorities for further questioning to verify his passport and length of stay in Thailand, which was found to be within the permitted period. The cannabis and related items were seized, and he was later transferred to Udon Thani police station for further legal proceedings. Police also warned him against causing further disturbances in public places.
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