Master Ruma (legal name John Saint, also called Tran Tam) — who faces multiple allegations of sexual abuse and financial exploitation from former followers

What follows is a translation of the public warning originally posted by “Victims of RUMA” and shared on Facebook by Le Trung. According to the post, Master Ruma (legal name John Saint, also called Tran Tam) — who faces multiple allegations of sexual abuse and financial exploitation from former followers — organized a seven-day event in Cambodia from September 23 to 29, 2026, during which children of supporters were separated from their parents. The authors urged Cambodian authorities to investigate, providing the location of the event, links to his official channels, and a detailed list of allegations.

Le Trung’s Facebook Post By “Victims of RUMA”

Dear Cambodian Media, URGENT: Currently in Cambodia, a fake spiritual teacher and alleged sexual predator is holding an event at which the children of followers are being held isolated from their parents for 7 days. The event started on September 23rd and finishes on September 29th. The fake teacher is known as Master RUMA, and his legal name [in his USA passport] is John Saint [Born in Vietnam] [Current preferred name: Guruji Sagarrumagarmatha]. Below are some reported cases of sexual abuse and financial fraud involving the fake monk, Master RUMA (also known as Tran Tam or John Saint). We believe the evidence provided warrants immediate federal and local attention to ensure public safety and justice. We believe the seven-day event with the children is being held at the following address, google map link is also provided: Phum Khsom, Banteay Daek Commune Kien Svai District, Kandal Province Cambodia Here is his [Master Ruma’s] official YouTube channel

Below are some incidents of Tran Tam abusing men, women, and children. These are from genuine witnesses and victims, however they wish to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation by Master RUMA and his followers. There must be hundreds of more victims, however many are too afraid to come forward. Some fear that Tran Tam will kill them or he may put a curse upon them. NOTE: Tran Tam is another name for Master RUMA, also known as John Saint.

1) Same-sex assault on 20-year-old victim In 1996, whilst in Vietnam, Tran Tam sexually assaulted a male 20-year-old victim follower multiple times. Source: Former follower and victim of Tran Tam

2) Many abused, many left, many threatened A former follower of Tran Tam shares their experience, revealing financial exploitation and sexual harassment within his group. Followers were pressured into costly offerings, some even selling their homes out of fear. Victims reported sexual harassment and abuse, while Tran Tam issued curse threats to those who left. Source: Former follower and victim of Tran Tam

3) Follower of eight years describes many sexual assault victims A former follower heard that Tran Tam had assaulted both male and female followers. Reports include an incident involving a teenage boy in the US, whose mother was misled into leaving him at the meditation center. They know of over 50 victims and noted that others publicly accused him on social media. Source: Former follower and victim of Tran Tam

4) List of allegations discussed between 2 victims Follower got “handled” by the old man (Tran Tam). Women are involved, risk of pregnancy. Another follower was mentioned to be with “the old man”. Victim said he was abused every day. Another follower they know was abused once. People hand Tran Tam money directly. Follower went bankrupt due to financial coercion by Tran Tam and due to fear of his toxic curse. An auction was held for Tran Tam’s bowl and robe; the winner would get a visit from Tran Tam, but he didn’t visit Vietnam due to being banned from the country. Tran Tam sleeps with male and female followers; some are underage. Source: Conversation between two victims / former followers of Tran Tam

5) Tran Tam sexually abused close followers and others Victim was told he had “karmic obstacles” by Tran Tam as an excuse for multiple sex assault/rapes committed on the victim. A woman the victim became acquainted with mentioned she knows “that the master has done things that are even more horrifying.” Sexually assaulting his attendant. Another woman knows that Tran Tam had promiscuous sexual relationships. Mentions about a boy in the USA that was abused and posted on social media. Many other attendants/assistants have been abused. Tran Tam called many male monks to his quarters for group sex. Senior monk allegedly sexually assaulted women. Tran Tam permitting monks to have relations with any female monk in the center. Rumors of a monk attempting suicide after sexual assault by TT (Ruma). Source: Former follower and victim of Tran Tam

6) Tran Tam victim decided to share sex abuse story on social media Victim was called to meet Tran Tam privately and was told he carried a lot of karma and the abuse was Tran Tam’s way of releasing the victim’s karma. Victim decided to share his story on social media after keeping his story hidden for years. Source: Former follower and victim of Tran Tam

7) Witness testimony of ex-followers of Tran Tam A monk and nun were told to perform sex acts in front of Tran Tam for his pleasure. Those monastics left the group afterward, realizing this was very wrong. Tran Tam told his male attendant to have sexual relations with him constantly for a week. Tran Tam sucked his private parts for days until he was in pain. The attendant ran away and told his family members. They no longer follow Tran Tam. During a retreat in Cambodia, Tran Tam told his followers that they must purchase blessed foods and drinks in order to see him. He collected so much money from his followers in this way. When they tried to transport this money back to Vietnam, the “bodyguard” who was carrying it was arrested and beaten by police as he had lied to them. After spending some time in prison, the bodyguard’s family had to spend a large sum to bail him out. Tran Tam did not care about the fate of his bodyguard. There was one very close female follower of Tran Tam who went with him everywhere. At one point, she had a child; she said the child is Tran Tam’s. Source: Former followers and victims of Tran Tam

8) Young male former follower and abuse victim of Tran Tam “So, Ruma told me that, and I believed him, so I did it. He said it was to eliminate karma, so I did it... So, he said he wanted to use the sexual act to eliminate my karma. Like he said he would play the role of the woman, and he wanted me to be the man. It’s like, no matter how much lust I had, he would absorb it all to eliminate karma.” “It happened repeatedly to many people. The incident that made me leave was the one in America. He did the same thing with a minor boy under 16 years old. After that incident, the police in America pursued him, so Tran Tam fled the US.” Incident in the US with a minor: “That minor boy, his mother also followed, and then she trusted Ruma and entrusted her son to him for teaching and guidance, but in the end, it involved sexual abuse. This boy told his mother, but at first, she didn’t believe him. Later, I don’t know who reported it to the police, so the police came directly to the meditation center. That’s when Tran Tam got scared and told someone to drive him away to hide.” Source: Former follower and victim of Tran Tam

9) Testimony from a former assistant of Master RUMA (Tran Tam) TT [Tran Tam] attempted sexual abuse on his former assistant. The former assistant knows Tran Tam sexually abused other monks. Monks and nuns engaged in sexual activity at Tran Tam’s centers. The former assistant saw drugs delivered secretly to Tran Tam’s centers. The former assistant saw the monks do drugs at the centers. The former assistant saw Tran Tam hit his parrots and throw them onto the ground. The former assistant saw Tran Tam lying about meditation and just many strange things in general. When the former assistant told Tran Tam that he was going to leave him, Tran Tam tried to break his legs. Source: Former follower, monk, assistant and victim of Tran Tam

10) Tran Tam could not secure visas for his followers in the USA, forcing them into illegal residency, US immigration violations. Source: Former followers of Tran Tam

11) There are children under his care at some of his South East Asian centers, former followers have claimed that some of these minors are forced to perform sexual acts on Tran Tam. Source: Former follower of Tran Tam

He has several so-called “meditation centers” and other business interests in Cambodia. Please see below.

Master RUMA Fake Temple locations in Cambodia

Master RUMA businesses in Cambodia:

Regards, Victims of RUMA

List of Trần Tâm (Ruma)’s real and fake names:

Tom Van Tran (Birth name)

John Saint (Current legal name and used on his USA passport)

Guruji Sagarrumagarmatha (The name he currently prefers)

Trần Tâm

Trần Văn Tâm

Trần Văn Út

Huỳnh Long

Trần Út Huỳnh Long

Tâm Trần

Tom Trần / Tom Tran

Master Tran Tam

Trấn Yăn Tom

Tran Yen Tom

Cậu Út

Ruma

Master Ruma

Ruma John Saint

Master RUMA John Saint

Minh Sư Ruma

Minh Sư Trần Tâm

Guruji Ruma

Om Ruma Sagarrumagarmatha

Additional warning: Bùi Tấn Kiệt is another fake master and Trần Tâm follower. We believe that Trần Tâm has instructed Bùi Tấn Kiệt to found his own spiritual group in Âu Lạc (Vietnam) to convince Hòa Hảo adherents there to follow Trần Tâm. Bùi Tấn Kiệt tells them that Trần Tâm is the reincarnation of Hòa Hảo founder, the Venerated Enlightened Master Huỳnh Phú Sổ (vegan), which is a lie. Bùi Tấn Kiệt also tells the public that Trần Tâm is the ‘Jade Emperor,’ another untrue fact, to further Trần Tâm’s appeal to the nation’s spiritual communities. Finally, Bùi Tấn Kiệt falsely declares himself the ‘Maitreya of Vietnam.’