The Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) has confirmed Phra Phromsuthi, the 58-year-old former abbot of Wat Sa Ket in Bangkok, died of asphyxiation. Monks found him hanging from the ceiling of his room on Monday. No signs of other significant physical injuries were found in the IFM's post-mortem examination that led to the conclusion regarding the cause of death, said Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Suthirakhun, chief of the lFM yesterday. "This is what we have found based on the examination and the facts we've traced. As for other wounds, only a minor wound was found on one of his knees. Others are not suspicious," he said He said it was difficult to say what caused that wound on the knee as forensic officials did not have exact information as to how the body of the monk was moved Investigators who inspected the scene told them the body had already been laid down on a bed, he said. A younger monk was said to be the first at the scene in Phra Phromsuthi's room on Monday, when he found the monk hanging, said Pol Maj Gen Songpol Watthanachai deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police on Monday. Some monks at the temple told police they had untied the monk's belt found around the monk's neck, he said No signs of the monk being hurt by others were detected in the examination, nor were there signs of a struggle found at the scene, said Pol Maj Gen Pornchai. Some monks said Phra Phromsuthi was depressed.
Referring to the marks caused by the belt on the monk's neck, Pol Maj Gen Pornchai said nothing was found suggesting the belt was tied in an "unusual" manner. Laboratory test results on blood, urine, food and DNA samples were not immediately available, he said. Asked if the IFM was concerned a follow-up examination could be requested if new developments emerged, as has happened in previous cases, he said the lFM had kept records of every detail of the forensic examination for later reference if needed, even after the body is cremated. In another development, Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas confirmed Phra Phromsuthi had been cleared of allegations he misspent state budget in an investigation by the Office of the Auditor-General. Questions had been raised over 25 million baht of the 67 million baht which was paid from the state budget granted for the funeral of Somdej Phra Buddhacharn, the former acting supreme patriarch and the former abbot of Wat Sa Ket.