Famous Temple Abbot Arrested Over 92 Million Baht Embezzlement
Police say the chief abbot used fake receipts and unauthorized withdrawals to divert donations meant for temple upkeep and charity.
- Police in Thailand recently raided a temple in Ayutthaya, arresting the chief abbot after discovering over 92 million baht in donations had vanished from the well-known religious institution.
- Authorities found the abbot siphoned donations meant for temple maintenance and illegally transferred funds to a close female companion over more than two years of unauthorized withdrawals.
- Investigators tracked unusual financial transactions for weeks, discovering fake donation receipts and unauthorized withdrawals that facilitated the misappropriation of temple funds and uncovered evidence of corruption and misconduct.
- Officers executed an arrest warrant at the residential quarters, successfully preventing the suspect from destroying evidence or moving the remaining funds abroad during the operation.
- Police are now working to recover the missing money and trace all connected assets, while the case raises serious questions about oversight within religious institutions in Thailand.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Famous Temple Abbot Arrested Over 92 Million Baht Embezzlement
BANGKOK – Police in Thailand recently carried out a major raid at a well-known temple in Ayutthaya province. Officers arrested the chief abbot after discovering that millions of donations had vanished. According to police, investigators moved quickly to stop the ongoing financial crime. Authorities found that the religious leader transferred massive amounts of temple funds […] <p>The post Famous Temple Abbot Arrested Over 92 Million Baht Embezzl…
Police raided and arrested "Phra Wachirayan Wi.", or Luang Pho Atichoti, the abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan Royal Temple in Ayutthaya Province, for embezzling over 92 million baht from the temple by transferring it to a close female follower.
In Thailand, a 66-year-old prior of one of the country's oldest Buddhist monasteries was detained, and it is believed that more than 92 million baht have been stolen from the temple in two years — about $2.8 million.
GELORA.CO - - The arrest of an abbot in Ayutthaya, Thailand, on September 10, 2026 opened a shocking scandal. Not only was there an alleged misuse of temple funds in a fantastic amount, the police also found CCTV footage from his residence showing inappropriate behavior with a woman. The abbot was Phra Vajirayan, or better known as Luang Por Chot, aged 66. He was arrested with a woman who was said to be his assistant, Punyavee Rungrueang (47). T…
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