Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk accused of embezzling 100 million baht (US$3 million; £2.2 million) from his monastery, after investigators allegedly found evidence of financial wrongdoing and a video showing him having sex with a woman.
Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, a former abbot at the prominent 14th-Century Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya, was arrested along with a 47-year-old woman, Punyavee Rungrueang, who police suspect helped him manage the alleged proceeds.
Police allege Phra Wachirayan diverted temple donations on more than 20 occasions over a two-year period. The funds were reportedly collected through donation receipts issued in the temple’s name, with one stream intended for renovations and another linked to payments for amulets and other sacred objects.
“But the money from both streams did not enter the temple’s account. Not a single baht,” lead investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan reportedly told a news conference on Friday.
Police raided Phra Wachirayan’s residence on Thursday and found cash and gold bars worth more than 100 million baht, according to Thai media outlet The Nation. Investigators reportedly continued counting the seized assets until late that night.
While reviewing CCTV footage at the residence, police also allegedly discovered a video of the former abbot having sex with Punyavee on a dining table.
Punyavee was arrested on suspicion of aiding a state official in illegal activities. Police said she had received tens of millions of baht through her bank accounts each year and believe she helped manage money allegedly embezzled from the temple.
Authorities also seized 35 gold amulets, around 1.5kg of gold bars and jewellery worth an estimated 6.04 million baht from Punyavee’s home.
Phra Wachirayan was known for producing highly sought-after coin amulets, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reportedly among those who own one of his creations.
Under Buddhist rules in Thailand, monks are expected to observe celibacy and renounce material possessions. Phra Wachirayan was defrocked following his arrest and has not publicly commented on the allegations.
Police said they began investigating the case in mid-July after receiving an anonymous tip alleging misconduct and misuse of temple funds.
Investigators have not ruled out further arrests, saying two or three other people could potentially be involved.
The case comes just over a year after another sex-and-blackmail scandal involving senior monks shocked Thailand’s Buddhist community. Last July, police launched a hotline for reports of “misbehaving monks” after at least nine monks were allegedly found to have had sex with a woman who later blackmailed them using photographs and videos of the encounters.
