A Buddhist monk has been removed from his role as abbot following allegations of stolen donations and forbidden sexual relations.
Hout Chhet was appointed abbot of the Khmer Buddhist Temple Association in Thomastown, a suburb of Melbourne, in 2012 - but following a dispute among committee members, the argument has ended up in the Victorian Supreme Court.
The abbot allegedly had sex with a woman and stole donations to purchase a house and material from adult shop, Sexyland. The abbot also possessed large amounts of cash without the association's knowledge or authority.
Under the Patimokkha - a set of 227 rules for monastic discipline - sexual intercourse, lying and stealing are forbidden.
In his affidavits, Chhet said he did not believe he had breached any of the rules of the Patimokkha that would require him to step down as abbot or cease to be a monk.
In evidence against the abbot provided by the treasurer for the temple, the court heard of missing donations and unexplained withdrawals from the association’s account, as well as evidence of three opened bank accounts.
"The sharp decline in the association's income is consistent with the cash deposits paid into the abbot’s bank accounts," Justice Garde says, according to The Australian.
The judge went on to say that Chhet also received Newstart and JobKeeper payments as a salary from Omni-Care Pty Ltd.
"As a monk, the abbot is forbidden from paid employment, and must live on the charity of the community," he continued.
In announcing his decision, Justice Garde found the temple was suffering ongoing harm to its reputation and to its relationship with the community following the allegations against Chhet.
Garde said the fundamental problem is "the loss of confidence, respect and trust for the abbot by a sizable part, if not the majority, of the temple community", according to The Australian.
"They no longer accept that he has any religious or moral authority and they do not hold him in good standing."
The judge granted an injunction until the trial or further order restraining the Chhet from acting as the abbot of the temple, or from residing or remaining at the temple, after August 12, 2021.
