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A former Buddhist monk who founded a Thai AIDS hospice has been convicted of embezzlement
The court ordered the former monk and his associate to repay more than 300 million baht after finding misuse of hospice donations.
- On Wednesday, The Central Criminal Court sentenced former monk Alongkot Poonmook, formerly known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, to 50 years in prison for embezzling funds from Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in Lopburi.
- Alongkot and his associate, fundraiser Seksan Sapsubbsakul, were convicted of misusing donations to the hospice; the court ordered them to repay about $9 million to the temple.
- The court originally sentenced Alongkot to a cumulative 742 years and Seksan to more than 386 years for embezzlement and money laundering, though Thai law automatically reduced both terms to the 50-year maximum.
- Online questions regarding the temple's finances prompted investigations that dented the institution's image in Thailand, where most citizens are Buddhist.
- Originally established in 1992 as a pioneering humanitarian project for people with HIV and AIDS, the hospice became less essential after antiretroviral drug distribution but continued offering treatment for other serious ailments.
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25 Articles
25 Articles
Former Buddhist monk convicted of embezzling donations for Thai AIDS hospice he founded
A former Buddhist monk in Thailand was convicted Wednesday of misusing donations to a highly praised hospice he established for people with HIV/AIDS and given the maximum term of 50 years in prison.
·Toronto, Canada
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Associated Press News+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
A former Buddhist monk who founded a Thai AIDS hospice has been convicted of embezzlement
A former Buddhist monk in Thailand has been convicted of misusing donations meant for a hospice he established for people with HIV/AIDS and given the maximum term of 50 years in prison.
·New York, United States
Read Full Article
Former Buddhist monk who founded AIDS hospice has been convicted of embezzlement
A former Buddhist monk in Thailand has been convicted of misusing donations meant for a hospice he established for people with HIV/AIDS and given the maximum term of 50 years in prison
·New York, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources25
Leaning Left10Leaning Right5Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Left
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Left
53% Left
L 53%
C 21%
R 26%
Factuality
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