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Law enforcement authorities in Thailand have taken a high-profile Buddhist monk into custody under accusations of siphoning roughly 100 million baht ($3 million; £2.2 million) in monastery donations, alongside an alleged female co-conspirator with whom he was recorded engaging in sexual acts.
The primary suspect, identified as 66-year-old Phra Wachirayan Wi, previously served as the abbot of the historic 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan located in the ancient provincial capital of Ayutthaya. Following his arrest by police, the senior monastic figure was immediately defrocked, stripping him of his religious status. He has not released any public statements regarding the allegations.
According to investigators, the former abbot carried out his illicit financial operations over a span of two years. During this period, he is accused of pocketing charitable contributions intended for the monastery on more than twenty separate occasions, systematically redirecting funds meant for the temple into private holdings.
Police detailed that the suspected embezzlement involved two distinct streams of revenue generated through official temple receipts issued under Phra Wachirayan’s authority. One stream was officially designated for monastery restoration and structural renovations, while the second came from payments made by devotees for sacred amulets and other blessed items.
However, none of these proceeds were ever transferred to the religious institution's financial accounts. Lead police investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan confirmed during a press briefing that every single baht generated from both the sacred artifact sales and the renovation fundraisers was diverted away from the monastery.
The scale of the alleged misappropriation came to light during a search of Phra Wachirayan’s living quarters on Thursday. Law enforcement officers discovered an extensive cache of physical cash and solid gold bars valued in excess of 100 million baht, with the process of cataloging and tallying the seized assets extending late into the night.
While reviewing surveillance recordings recovered from the residence's closed-circuit television system, detectives uncovered explicit footage showing the monk having sex with a woman on top of his dining table. The act directly breaches the fundamental vows of absolute celibacy and asceticism required of ordained Buddhist monks in Thailand.
Police identified the woman in the video as 47-year-old Punyavee Rungrueang. She was subsequently arrested and faces formal charges of aiding and abetting a state official in the commission of unlawful activities. Like the former abbot, she has not yet offered any public comment on the matter.
In Thailand, ordained monks who receive formal government stipends are classified under the legal framework as state officials. This specific status allows prosecutors to pursue serious anti-corruption and misconduct charges against both the clergy members and any secular individuals who assist them.
A subsequent search of Punyavee’s residence yielded significant assets suspected of being tied to the scheme. Officers confiscated 35 gold amulets as well as roughly 1.5 kilograms of gold bars and assorted fine jewellery, carrying a combined estimated market value of 6.04 million baht.
Financial investigators tracking the money trail believe Punyavee played a central role in laundering and managing the embezzled monastery funds. Police revealed that bank accounts registered in her name handled transactions totaling tens of millions of baht on an annual basis.
Phra Wachirayan had established a prominent reputation throughout Thailand as a creator of highly sought-after coin amulets, which are widely collected for spiritual protection and prestige. His creations attracted numerous high-profile patrons, including Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who reportedly owns pieces crafted by the former abbot.
The formal investigation into the temple's leadership was initiated in mid-July after authorities received an anonymous tip-off. The informant detailed severe ethical misconduct and pointed to widespread irregularities in how donations and monastery revenues were being handled inside the historic Ayutthaya complex.
Authorities have indicated that the current arrests may only represent the initial phase of the crackdown. Detectives are continuing to review financial ledgers and transaction histories, noting that two or three additional accomplices may have assisted in orchestrating the multimillion-dollar scheme.
This case adds to a growing list of controversies that have shaken Thailand's deeply revered Buddhist clergy in recent years. The national monastic establishment has faced sustained public scrutiny over repeated incidents involving illicit financial enrichment, drug trafficking, and blatant violations of celibacy vows.
The latest revelations follow another major scandal from last year involving widespread blackmail and sexual misconduct within the sangha. In that case, at least nine monks were caught on camera having sexual relations with a woman who subsequently extorted nearly $12 million from them using recorded footage and photographs.
In response to the escalating pattern of clergy misconduct, Thai police established a dedicated telephone hotline in July of last year, urging citizens to report errant monks. The arrest of Phra Wachirayan highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address deep-rooted corruption and enforce accountability within the country's religious institutions.
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