A senior Buddhist monk in Thailand has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling around 100 million baht ($3 million) from his monastery, in the latest financial scandal to shake the country’s Buddhist clergy.
The monk, Phra Wachirayan Wi, an abbot at Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya, was arrested alongside a woman who police allege helped him move and conceal the money. The investigation began after authorities received information about suspected financial misconduct at the temple.
Police allege temple donations were diverted
Investigators reportedly identified two streams of money connected to donation receipts issued in the monastery’s name.
Police said the money from those transactions did not reach the temple’s bank account.
Instead, investigators suspect the funds were diverted and subsequently concealed through a wider financial operation involving the monk and the woman arrested with him.
The allegations have raised fresh questions about the management of donations at Buddhist temples, where contributions from worshippers can amount to substantial sums.
Cash and gold worth millions discovered
During a search of the monk’s residence, authorities reportedly found cash and gold bars worth about 100 million baht, approximately $3 million.
The discovery forms a central part of the investigation into the suspected embezzlement.
Police have not yet established the full flow of the money or whether additional people were involved. The investigation is continuing as authorities examine financial records and other evidence.
Monk allegedly broke religious vows
The financial allegations are not the only controversy surrounding the case.
Police reportedly discovered CCTV footage showing Wachirayan Wi in an intimate relationship with the woman arrested alongside him. Buddhist monks in Thailand are expected to observe celibacy and renounce personal material possessions.
Following his arrest, the monk was defrocked, ending his status within the Buddhist clergy.
The woman, identified as Punyavee Rungrueang, is suspected of helping convert and conceal money allegedly obtained from the temple.
Investigation adds to wider Thai monk scandal
The case comes amid a broader period of scrutiny of Thailand’s Buddhist clergy.
Authorities have investigated a series of allegations involving senior monks, including claims of financial misconduct, improper relationships and other violations of monastic rules.
The latest case has renewed concerns about whether temple finances are being adequately monitored and whether senior religious figures face sufficient oversight.
Thailand has a large Buddhist monastic community, and temples receive donations from millions of worshippers. Allegations involving prominent monks can therefore attract significant public attention.
Authorities continue financial investigation
Police are now examining the suspected money trail and the relationship between the monk and his alleged accomplice.
Investigators are expected to determine how much money was allegedly taken from the monastery, where it went and whether other individuals or institutions were involved.
The accusations remain allegations, and the suspects are entitled to due process as the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings continue.
For Thailand’s Buddhist community, however, the case represents another serious challenge to public confidence in the financial accountability and conduct of religious institutions.
