Thai monk arrested over alleged US$2.8m temple fund embezzlement, sex scandal

Thai police have arrested Phra Wachirayan Wi, a senior Buddhist monk, on charges of embezzling approximately $2.8 million intended for temple renovations, alongside a woman accused of helping him conceal the funds.

Investigation revealed that none of the money entered the temple's accounts, leading to asset seizures worth around 215 million baht.

This incident, accompanied by leaked footage of personal misconduct, adds to a series of scandals affecting Thailand's Buddhist clergy, prompting calls for greater oversight of temple finances.

The former abbot has been defrocked as investigations continue into his and others' involvement.

BANGKOK, Sept 11 — Thai police said today they arrested a senior Buddhist monk on suspicion of embezzling US$2.8 million intended for his monastery, alongside a suspected female accomplice he was having sex with.

The case is the latest scandal to hit the clergy in Buddhist-majority Thailand, after a sex and extortion case involving senior monks last year prompted public outrage and calls for greater scrutiny of temple finances.

Phra Wachirayan Wi, the 66-year-old abbot of the 14th-century temple Wat Phutthaisawan in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, 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 helping convert and conceal the money was also arrested.

Leaked CCTV footage of the pair having sex on a table in the monk’s residence was widely broadcast on Thai media.

In Thailand, Buddhist monks take a vow of celibacy and also renounce material possessions.

Police began investigating Phra Wachirayan in mid-July after receiving an anonymous tip alleging him of misconduct and misuse of temple funds.

Pattanasak, commander of the police Crime Suppression Division, said investigators identified two streams of money linked to donation receipts issued in the temple’s name.

Some 89 million baht ($2.69 million) was donated for temple renovations, with another 2.8 million baht in payments for Buddhist amulets and other sacred objects, he said.

“But the money from both streams did not enter the temple’s account—not a single baht,” Pattanasak told a news conference on Friday.

He said authorities had seized assets worth about 215 million baht, including 16 kilogrammes (35 pounds) of gold bars and jewellery and 28 land title deeds.

Police are investigating which were personal property and which belonged to the temple.

“We will expand the investigation to identify other people involved and restore public confidence in Buddhism,” said Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Nattasak Chaowanasai.

Wat Phutthaisawan is a prominent royal monastery with a large following that includes government officials, businesspeople, police and military personnel.

The former abbot, also known as Luang Pho Atichot, was well known for making amulets, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reported to be among those who wore his creations.

The abbot was defrocked shortly after his arrest.

Last year, police arrested a woman accused of blackmailing at least 11 monks she had sex with, extorting nearly $12 million of monastery funds from them, in a case that shook Thailand. — AFP

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泰国警方逮捕了高级佛教僧侣帕瓦奇拉扬·维，指控他挪用约 280 万美元的寺庙修缮资金，同时逮捕的还有一名女子，她被指控帮助他藏匿这笔资金。

调查显示，这些钱没有一分钱进入寺庙的账户，导致价值约 2.15 亿泰铢的资产被查封。

这一事件，加上泄露的个人不端行为视频，加剧了泰国佛教僧侣的一系列丑闻，引发了人们对加强寺庙财务监管的呼吁。

这位前住持已被革除教籍，目前对他和其他人涉案情况的调查仍在进行中。

曼谷，9 月 11 日——泰国警方今天表示，他们逮捕了一名高级佛教僧侣，他涉嫌挪用本应属于其寺院的 280 万美元，同时被捕的还有一名与他有性关系的女性同伙。

这是泰国佛教徒中的最新一起丑闻。此前，去年一起涉及高级僧侣的性侵和敲诈勒索案引发了公众的愤怒，并呼吁对寺庙财务进行更严格的审查。

据首席警官帕塔纳萨克·布帕苏万称，14 世纪古都阿瑜陀耶的佛陀萨万寺（Wat Phutthaisawan）66 岁的住持帕瓦奇拉扬·维于周四被捕，罪名包括挪用公款和洗钱。

一名47岁的女子被指控帮助转移和藏匿赃款，也被逮捕。

一段泄露的监控录像显示，这对男女在僧侣住所的桌子上发生性关系，这段录像在泰国媒体上广泛传播。

在泰国，佛教僧侣发誓守贞，并放弃物质财富。

7月中旬，警方接到匿名举报，称帕瓦奇拉扬行为不端并滥用寺庙资金，随后开始对他展开调查。

警方犯罪镇压部门指挥官帕塔纳萨克表示，调查人员发现了两条与以寺庙名义开具的捐款收据有关的资金流向。

他说，约有 8900 万泰铢（269 万美元）被捐赠用于寺庙修缮，另有 280 万泰铢用于购买佛教护身符和其他圣物。

“但这两笔捐款都没有进入寺庙的账户——一分钱也没有，”帕塔纳萨克周五在新闻发布会上说。

他说，当局查获了价值约 2.15 亿泰铢的资产，其中包括 16 公斤（35 磅）金条和珠宝以及 28 份土地所有权证书。

警方正在调查哪些是私人财产，哪些属于寺庙。

“我们将扩大调查范围，以查明其他涉案人员，并恢复公众对佛教的信心，”中央调查局局长纳塔萨克·乔瓦纳赛说。

佛泰沙旺寺是一座著名的皇家寺院，拥有众多信徒，其中包括政府官员、商人、警察和军人。

这位前住持，又名龙婆阿提乔，以制作护身符而闻名，据报道，总理阿努廷·查恩维拉库尔也佩戴过他制作的护身符。

修道院院长被捕后不久就被革除了教籍。

去年，一名女子因涉嫌敲诈勒索至少11名与其发生性关系的僧侣而被捕，该女子从他们手中勒索了近1200万美元的寺院资金，此案震惊泰国。——法新社

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