Close Aide of Former Wat Rai Khing Abbot Arrested in 300-Million-Baht Embezzlement Scandal
NAKHON PATHOM – Police on Friday arrested Ekkapot Phukhang, also known as Phra Maha Ekkapot, a close associate of the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, in connection with a massive embezzlement case involving temple funds.
The arrest came just a day after the former abbot, Yaem Intrangkrungkao—widely known by his clerical title, Phra Dharma Wachiranuwat—surrendered to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Bangkok. Yaem is accused of siphoning off at least 300 million baht from temple funds, allegedly to fuel an addiction to online baccarat gambling.
According to police, Ekkapot admitted to receiving large sums of money from Yaem, which he then deposited through various ATMs before transferring the funds to the account of Aranyawan Wangthapan, an online gambling broker who was previously arrested in Pattaya. Aranyawan is suspected of laundering over 800 million baht through a network of three companies.
Ekkapot was taken to the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Nakhon Pathom’s Sam Phran district for questioning by CIB Deputy Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew. Investigators believe the network was part of a wider money-laundering operation linked to illicit online gambling activities.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local religious community and raised renewed concerns over financial oversight in Thailand’s temples.
