Buddhist monk arrested in suspected $3m embezzlement scandal
Police also arrested a suspected female accomplice with whom the monk, who had taken a vow of celibacy, was filmed having sex.
**Buddhist monk arrested in suspected $3m embezzlement scandal**
Thai police have detained a Buddhist monk on suspicion of siphoning off 100 million baht ($3m; £2.2m) from his monastery, together with a suspected female accomplice with whom he was filmed having sex.
Phra Wachirayan Wi, a former abbot at the well-known 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, is accused of taking donations intended for the temple on more than 20 occasions over a two-year period.
In Thailand, Buddhist monks are expected to observe celibacy and give up material possessions. He was defrocked after being arrested. He has not yet spoken publicly.
The latest arrests come a little over a year after another sex-and-blackmail scandal involving senior monks shook Thailand’s monastic community.
The 66-year-old was widely known for making a highly sought-after coin amulet. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reportedly owns some of his creations.
Thailand’s Buddhist establishment has long faced allegations of monks violating their vow of celibacy, trafficking drugs and carrying out financial crimes.
In July last year, police launched a hotline for people to report "misbehaving monks" after at least nine monks were found to have had sex with a woman.
She then blackmailed them with photos and videos of the encounters for nearly $12 million.
Police said on Friday that they had identified two flows of money tied to donation receipts Phra Wachirayan had issued in the temple’s name — one intended for temple renovations, and the other as payment for amulets and other sacred objects.
"But the money from both streams did not enter the temple's account. Not a single baht," lead police investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan told a news conference, according to reports.
Police discovered cash and gold bars worth more than 100 million baht during a raid on Phra Wachirayan’s residence on Thursday, with counting continuing until late into the night, Thai news outlet The Nation reported.
While reviewing CCTV footage at the residence, police found a clip showing him having sex with a woman on his dining table.
Authorities identified her as 47-year-old Punyavee Rungrueang, who has been arrested on charges of abetting a state official in illegal activities. She has not yet commented publicly.
Many monks in Thailand receive stipends from the government and are therefore regarded as state officials.
Police seized 35 gold amulets, along with about 1.5kg of gold bars and jewellery, worth an estimated 6.04 million baht, from Punyavee’s home.
Police believe Punyavee assisted Phra Wachirayan in handling his embezzled proceeds, noting that tens of millions of baht passed through her bank accounts each year, The Bangkok Post reported.
Investigators say they began examining the case in mid July after receiving an anonymous tip accusing Phra Wachirayan of misconduct and misuse of temple funds.
They say two or three other people may also be involved in the case.