A SENIOR Buddhist monk has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of embezzling US$2.8 million (about RM11.4 million) in funds intended for his monastery, in the latest scandal to hit the clergy in the Buddhist-majority country.
Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, the abbot of the 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, was arrested on Sept 10 on charges including embezzlement and money laundering, lead police investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan said yesterday.
A 47-year-old woman accused of helping convert and conceal the funds was also arrested.
Police began investigating the abbot in mid-July after receiving an anonymous tip alleging misconduct and misuse of temple funds.
AFP reported Pattanasak, commander of the police Crime Suppression Division, saying investigators had identified two streams of money linked to donation receipts issued in the temple’s name.
About 89 million baht was donated for temple renovations, while another 2.8 million baht was received for Buddhist amulets and other sacred objects, he said.
“But the money from both streams did not enter the temple’s account – not a single baht,” he told a news conference on Sept 11.
Authorities have seized assets worth about 215 million baht, including 16kg of gold bars and jewellery and 28 land title deeds. Police are investigating whether the assets were the monk’s personal property or belonged to the temple.
Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Nattasak Chaowanasai said the investigation would be expanded to identify other people who may have been involved.
“We will expand the investigation to identify other people involved and restore public confidence in Buddhism,” he said.
The case has also drawn widespread attention after leaked CCTV footage allegedly showing the monk and the woman having sex inside his residence was broadcast by Thai media.
Buddhist monks in Thailand take vows of celibacy and renounce material possessions.
Wat Phutthaisawan is a prominent royal monastery with a large following that includes government officials, businesspeople, police and military personnel.
The temple’s former abbot, also known as Luang Pho Atichot, was well known for making Buddhist amulets. He was defrocked shortly after his arrest.
The latest case follows a major scandal in 2025 in which police arrested a woman accused of blackmailing at least 11 monks with whom she had sexual relationships and extorting nearly US$12 million from monastery funds, triggering public outrage and calls for greater scrutiny of temple finances. - September 11, 2026
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