Thai police have arrested Phra Wachirayan Wi, the 66-year-old abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan, on suspicion of embezzling $2.8m (£2m) intended for his monastery. He was arrested on Thursday on charges including embezzlement and money laundering, according to lead police investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan.
A 47-year-old woman, accused of assisting in converting and concealing the money, was also arrested. Leaked CCTV footage reportedly showing the pair having sex in the monk’s residence was widely broadcast in Thai media.
Police began their investigation in mid-July following an anonymous tip-off regarding alleged misconduct and misuse of temple funds. Pattanasak stated that investigators identified two streams of money, totalling approximately 91.8m baht ($2.8m), linked to donation receipts issued in the temple’s name, but none of this money entered the temple’s account.
Authorities have seized assets valued at around 215m baht, including 16kg of gold bars and jewellery, and 28 land title deeds. Police are currently investigating which of these assets are personal property and which belong to the temple. Nattasak Chaowanasai, commissioner of Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau, said the investigation would expand to identify other individuals involved and to restore public confidence in Buddhism. The abbot was defrocked shortly after his arrest.