Vancouver Buddhist monk named in sex abuse claim

GRAPHIC WARNING: The following details may disturb some readers. 

A Buddhist monk and the Vancouver temple where he is president are facing a lawsuit, alleging his sexual and physical abuse of a child between 2003 and 2005.

According to court documents, the victim, who now lives in Coquitlam, had been subjected to cruel treatment, such as spitting in his face, having boiling water thrown at him, being pushed down stairs, force feeding, beatings, and being forced to perform sex acts.

He is suing a man who has since become president of the World Vietnamese Buddhist Order Chân Quang Temple, but at the time had legal guardianship of the boy and was known as “teacher.”

The lawsuit includes the story of how the boy wound up in the hospital. He claims the accused stomped on his abdomen, causing a ruptured stomach.

“After approximately three weeks of hospitalization at BC Childrens Hospital in late 2005 the plaintiff was placed into foster care and an investigation was commenced by the Vancouver Police Department,” the claim states.

The document explains that the boy protected his teacher during the investigation, saying he was groomed to do so.

The plaintiff was six years old at the time of the earliest alleged abuse. The document details how he has suffered physical and emotional trauma ever since.

The suit seeks compensation for loss of past and future earning capacity, the cost of future care, punitive damages, and more.

Neither the temple, located on East 1st Avenue near Commercial Drive, nor its president has filed a response.