After the coup d'état of 22 May 2014 led by army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha, Suthep like other leaders of the two rivaling political camps was detained by the military for a few days. The prosecution charged him with insurrection but released him on bail terms. In July 2014 he was ordained to the Buddhist monkhood in Wat Tha Sai, Surat Thani. He took the monastic name of "Prapakaro" and took up abode at the Suan Mokkh meditation centre in Chaiya District (Surat Thani Province).