Thai constabulary person arrested a Buddhist monk connected suspicion of embezzling 100 cardinal baht ($3m; £2.2m) from his monastery, on with a suspected pistillate accomplice helium was filmed having enactment with.
Phra Wachirayan Wi, a erstwhile abbot astatine the salient 14th-Century Wat Phutthaisawan successful the past superior of Ayutthaya, allegedly pocketed donations meant for the temple connected much than 20 occasions implicit 2 years.
In Thailand, Buddhist monks instrumentality a vow of celibacy and besides renounce worldly possessions. He was defrocked aft his arrest. He has yet to remark publicly.
The latest arrests travel conscionable implicit a twelvemonth aft different sex-and-blackmail lawsuit involving elder monks rocked Thailand's monastic community.
The 66-year-old was known for creating a highly-coveted coin amulet. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reportedly owns immoderate of his creations.
Thailand's Buddhist instauration has agelong been plagued with reports of monks breaking their vow of celibacy, trafficking drugs and committing fiscal crimes.
In July past year, constabulary opened a hotline for radical to study "misbehaving monks" aft astatine slightest 9 monks were recovered to person had enactment with a woman. She past blackmailed them with photos and videos of the acts for astir $12 million.
Police connected Friday said they identified 2 streams of wealth linked to donation receipts Phra Wachirayan had issued successful the temple's sanction – 1 was meant for temple renovations, portion the different was outgo for amulets and different ineffable objects.
"But the wealth from some streams did not participate the temple's account. Not a azygous baht," pb constabulary researcher Pattanasak Bupphasuwan told a quality conference, according to reports.
Police recovered currency and golden bars worthy much than 100 cardinal baht portion raiding Phra Wachirayan's residence connected Thursday, with counting going connected until precocious into the night, Thai quality outlet The Nation reported.
While examining CCTV footage successful the residence, constabulary recovered a clip of him having enactment with a pistillate connected his eating table.
Authorities identified her arsenic 47-year-old Punyavee Rungrueang, who has been arrested connected charges of abetting a authorities authoritative successful amerciable activities. She has yet to remark publicly.
Many monks successful Thailand person stipends from the authorities and are truthful considered authorities officials.
Police seized 35 golden amulets, on with astir 1.5kg of golden bars and jewellery, worthy an estimated 6.04 cardinal baht, from Punyavee's home.
Police judge Punyavee helped Phra Wachirayan negociate his embezzled proceeds, noting that tens of millions of baht circulated done her slope accounts each year, The Bangkok Post reported.
Investigators accidental they started looking into the lawsuit successful mid July, aft receiving an anonymous extremity alleging Phra Wachirayan of misconduct and misuse of temple funds.
Two oregon 3 different radical could beryllium progressive successful the case, they say.
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