Abbot Surrenders Over B300m Embezzlement, Allegedly Tied to Gambling
Bangkok, Thailand — A 70-year-old senior monk turned himself in to authorities on Thursday over allegations of embezzling 300 million baht from a revered Buddhist temple and using the funds to fuel online gambling activities.
Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, abbot of the century-old Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom and an ecclesiastical governor for the region, reported to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Bangkok around 10 a.m., just as police were preparing to request an arrest warrant.
According to a senior police source, the Crime Suppression Division had been investigating the case for eight months following a formal complaint. Undercover officers observed financial irregularities at the temple, which revealed that the abbot had authorized the transfer of temple funds into his personal bank account.
Investigators allege that over five years, approximately 300 million baht was moved from the temple’s coffers to the abbot’s personal accounts. A substantial portion of the funds was later funneled into accounts linked to a woman previously arrested for her involvement with illegal gambling platforms, including the website Lagalaxy911.
The alleged financial misconduct left Wat Rai Khing nearly depleted of funds, prompting the abbot to reportedly seek loans from senior monks at other temples, often asking for amounts in the hundreds of thousands or millions of baht.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases approved an arrest warrant Thursday afternoon. Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat is now facing charges of embezzlement and malfeasance in his capacity as a religious and government official.
The woman implicated in the case, identified only as Aranyawan, was previously arrested in connection with online gambling operations and was released on bail.
Wat Rai Khing, located in Samphran district, is one of the most visited temples in central Thailand, drawing large numbers of both Thai and international visitors seeking spiritual blessings.
