Quack doctor draws thousands of 'patients' in northwest

In Narith, white dress.

BANTEAY MEANCHEY (Cambodia Herald) – Thousands of people from Battambang, Siem Reap and Oddor Meanchey provinces have been flocking to be treated by a "magical doctor" at a temple in Ou Chrov district.

People say they believe In Narith, a 34-year-old former monk from Ek Phnom district in Battambang, can treat a hundred different types of diseases.

Authorities including police and Provincial Deputy Governor Chhum Vannarith have visited Wat Chansi Samakiram in Koub commune where he practices.

They he uses neither modern drugs nor traditional medicine and that he's not causing any problems.

In Narith told The Cambodia Herald, an affiliate of Cambodia Express News (CEN), that he has treated about 2,000 people in Banteay Meanchey over three weeks.

Patients are typically asked to consume water three times a day and sweet foods twice a day, paint their bodies with Pali words and chant.

After dropping out of school in Grade 7, In Narith said he was a monk for four years before getting married, having six children and ultimately getting divorced.

At some point, he says he was visited by four virtuous gods, fell unconscious for seven days and was told to save creatures in the north and in the west.

He said "virtue" orders him "not to charge patients or use medicines and that he has been treating people for three years in three different locations.

At Wat Chansi Samakiram, he says he was ordered to buy six bundles of charcoal, offer 100,000 riel to the temple each week and provide transport allowances of 10,000 to 20,000 riel to each patient. Since he cannot afford this, visiting residents also pay money.

Chhlong Oeun, a 65-year-old resident of Sisophon district, said she had mostly recovered from her unspecified illness after being treated for four days.

Yong Seth, 70, said he had made a similar recovery from his unspecified illness after three days of treatment.