'Disgusting' attack leaves monastery founder unconscious and bleeding on temple floor
A diminutive middle-aged monk was bashed unconscious and left in handcuffs during a violent robbery at a monastery.
Senior Venerable Thich Phuoc An, known as Master An, was seriously injured in the attack at Quan Am Buddhist Monastery south of Auckland.
Police were called to the Bombay Hills monastery onFriday night and the Eagle helicopter was used in an unsuccessful hunt for three men who attacked the monk and robbed the monastery, developed by Master An over the past 15 years.
Police at the Quan Am Buddhist Monastery yesterday. Photo / Doug Sherring
He said Quan Am had invested more than $1.3 million in developments and provided jobs for locals.
Senior Venerable Thich Phuoc An, founder and abbot of Quan Am Buddhist Monastery
"I hope they get a good hiding," he said of the three offenders.
Detective Sergeant Tom Gollan said the incident was "a particularly nasty attack on a defenceless older man".
"It's disgusting. I think most people, even in the criminal fraternity, would find it pretty despicable."
The Vietnamese Buddhist Association also reacted with shock. "I can't believe someone would go to the temple and do that silly thing," said association member Tan Huynh.
Gollan said burglary was probably the attackers' motive.
The monastery complex includes a temple, workshop, and dining room.
The attackers smashed a ranch-slider door, found Master An and assaulted him before handcuffing him and taking him to the temple.
There, they continued beating him and stole property. They left Master An unconscious and with numerous fractures and a head wound.
Master An was treated in Middlemore Hospital and discharged yesterday evening.
