Thai police arrested the Buddhist monk Phra Wachirayan Wi, the former abbot of the 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. He is suspected of stealing 100 million baht ($3 million; £2.2 million), and after his detention he was stripped of his monastic rank; in Thailand, Buddhist monks take a vow of celibacy and renounce material possessions.
Investigators believe that over two years he more than 20 times took donations, which were documented by receipts in the temple’s name. According to police, this money was intended for repairs and for amulets and other sacred items, but not a single baht reached the monastery’s account.
During a search of his home on Thursday, police found cash and gold bars worth more than 100 million baht. While reviewing camera footage, investigators allegedly found a video showing the monk having sex at the dining table.
In this case, 47-year-old Punyawi Rungruang, a Thai woman accused of aiding a public official in unlawful acts, was also arrested. Police believe she helped Phra Wachirayan Wi dispose of the stolen money; 35 gold amulets, about 1.5 kg of gold bars, and jewelry worth approximately 6.04 million baht were seized from her home.
The investigation began in mid-July after an anonymous report of violations and possible misuse of temple funds. Police believe that two or three more people may be involved in the case, and the arrests came just over a year after another sex-and-blackmail case involving senior monks. The 66-year-old Phra Wachirayan Wi was known as the creator of rare coin amulets, and, as reported, some of his items are owned by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
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