A sum of about US$ 18,000, along with Baht 17,000 was stolen from the on-going construction site of the walking Buddha statue in Thimphu. The incident took place in the first week of March.
This was the second case of theft reported from the site. The first one took place on March 3, where about Nu. 100,000 were stolen from the site.
The Co-ordinator of the construction project said the second incident took place when all the workers were around the statue, chanting evening prayer. She said, she had just returned from Thailand with the money.
According to the Abbot of Thailand, although a huge amount of money had been lost, there won’t be any delay in the completion of the statue.
The Co-ordinator added that the Abbot personally took initiatives to arrange for the money. “The abbot personally looked for some donors and also he borrowed it from one of his devotees. The abbot has to pay back,” said the Co-ordinator, Prapavadee Sameruongs.
In the meantime, the case is registered with the police. The 45-feet tall statue of a walking Buddha is the first of its kind in the country.
