Disrobed Former Abbot and Associate Jailed Over ฿300 Million Temple Embezzlement
NAKHON PATHOM — The former abbot of the renowned Wat Rai Khing temple and a young female associate have been remanded in custody on charges of embezzling 300 million baht from the temple’s funds, authorities said Saturday.
Yaem Inkrungkao, 70, previously known in the monkhood as Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, and Aranyawan Wangthapan, 28, appeared at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, where police sought and were granted a 12-day detention order.
Both suspects appeared visibly exhausted and stressed as they were escorted from police cells to a waiting van at around 10:30 a.m. They declined to answer questions from the media.
Police opposed bail for both individuals, citing the severity of the financial losses and concerns over potential evidence tampering. Yaem did not request bail and was taken to Bangkok Remand Prison. Ms. Aranyawan’s bail request was denied, and she was transferred to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution.
Under Thai law, suspects can be held for up to seven 12-day periods—totaling 84 days—before formal charges must be filed by prosecutors.
The former abbot surrendered to authorities in Bangkok on Thursday just as police were preparing to issue a warrant for his arrest. He is accused of siphoning off temple funds to finance online gambling. He was formally disrobed later that evening.
Ms. Aranyawan, who was allegedly involved as a gambling facilitator, was apprehended the same day in Pattaya. Investigators said she previously faced arrest in connection with the Lagalaxy911 gambling website but had been released on bail.
Police allege she is linked to three companies involved in money laundering operations, with over 800 million baht in circulation in the last five months.
During police questioning, Ms. Aranyawan admitted she had known the former abbot since her time as a student at Wat Rai Khing School. She reportedly borrowed 40 million baht from him in 2021 for investment purposes and had maintained frequent contact with him through phone and video calls since then.
