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| Sripai Biadnok is accused of sexually assaulting and abusing children at this Uptown temple. | Google; CPD |
A Buddhist monk has been taken into custody on a warrant to face allegations that he sexually assaulted and fondled two children at an Uptown temple in 2001 and 2002, Chicago police Monday.
Sripai Biadnok, 48, victimized the children in a classroom area while they were attending Wat Phrasriratanamahatatu Chicago Buddhist Temple at 4735 North Magnolia Avenue, police said.
Prosecutors have charged Biadnok with felony predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Judge David Navarro ordered him held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Now, police are hoping to learn if other children were targeted by Biadnok during his years in Uptown.
Investigators issued a community alert Monday afternoon asking anyone with questions about the Biadnok cases or with information about other incidents involving him to call the CPD Special Investigations Unit at 312-492-3810.
Biadnok taught Thai language and culture to young children at the Uptown temple between 2000 and 2002 while wearing customary monk attire, police said. He stands about 5’1” tall and would have been in his early 30’s with a slim build at the time, according to the alert.
Recently, Biadnok operated a Buddhist temple in the Las Vegas area. Nevada authorities recently took him into custody on a warrant and extradited Biadnok to Chicago.
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