Spiritual Leader Apologizes for Sitting in Lap of ‘Magic Grandma’

Khmer Times / Tin Sokhavuth

 

Sunday, 24 January 2016

 

Sralanh Sras was arrested for “violating a public place” in Siem Reap city. Supplied

A Khmer spiritual leader or “kru sel” in Siem Reap city, who goes by the name Sralanh Sras, has been arrested and released for violating one of the city’s public sacred places by sitting on the lap of the statue.
 

On Saturday, January 16, Ms. Sras and her followers “went to do a ritual prayer asking the spirit of “Magic Grandma” to incarnate in her body by sitting on the thighs of the statue,” according to Colonel Nhim Sela, deputy commander of the provincial gendarmerie. He also reports, “People who saw this event got angry. They thought this kind of action was a violation of their sacred place. So they reported this ritual prayer to our gendarmerie.”
 

In response to the public complaint, authorities determined that the spiritual leader must publically apologize in front of the “Magic Grandma” statue. So, Col. Sela said, the police arrested Ms. Sras at her house in Siem Reap city and transported her to the sacred place on Street 6, where she was forced to publically apologize. Police also required her to sign an agreement not to commit this kind of offense again.
 

Col. Sela added that the suspect guru was not charged with anything. However, she was instructed about the law and regulations concerning public scared places, he said.