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Thai police arrest monk over 100 million baht
BBC News··11 Sept
Thai police arrested former abbot Phra Wachirayan Wi on suspicion of embezzling 100 million baht, about $3 million, from Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya. Investigators said renovation and amulet donations never entered the temple account. Cash and gold bars worth more than 100 million baht were found at his home. A 47-year-old woman was arrested as a suspected accomplice.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Temple donors in Ayutthaya face an allegation that receipts in the temple’s name did not reach its account.
- Police seized 35 gold amulets plus about 1.5kg of gold bars and jewellery from Punyavee’s home, valued around 6.04 million baht.
- The monk was defrocked after arrest and had not commented publicly.
What's Happening
- Police said not a single baht from two donation streams entered the temple account.
- CCTV in the residence showed the monk with the woman, investigators said.
- The probe began after a mid-July anonymous tip about misconduct and misuse of temple funds.
How Investigators Built The Case
- The 66-year-old was known for coveted coin amulets; Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reportedly owns some.
- In July last year police opened a hotline after monks were blackmailed for nearly $12 million in a separate sex case.
- Many Thai monks receive government stipends and are treated as state officials.
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