BURI RAM — A 49-year-old abbot in Buri Ram has denied rumours that he was romantically involved with three women at the same time, admitting only that he had flirted with one woman on Facebook.

Phra Khru Sophon Chitraphirom, abbot of Wat Prasat Thong in Ban Kruat district, made the statement during a nearly two-hour inquiry at the district office on 19 October, attended by provincial Buddhism officials, senior monks, local administrators and community leaders.

The inquiry followed the circulation of an audio clip in which a woman was heard angrily confronting the abbot inside his quarters over alleged jealousy and claims that he had been dating multiple women. The recording also included allegations of property damage.

The abbot acknowledged that he had exchanged flirtatious messages with the woman on Facebook but denied having a sexual relationship with her. He said reports that he had been dating three women simultaneously were untrue, insisting that he had been involved with only one woman.

Speaking through tears, he said the online conversations did not constitute an offence requiring him to leave the monkhood under Buddhist monastic discipline.

However, he said he had decided to leave the monkhood on 26 October, which marks the end of Buddhist Lent this year, to ease concerns among his followers and local Buddhists and prevent further damage to the reputation of the clergy.

The allegations and details in the audio recording remain under investigation by the relevant monastic authorities and government agencies.