BANGKOK – The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sentenced a former abbot and his female associate to 50 years in prison on Tuesday for embezzling nearly 28 million baht from a prominent royal monastery.
The court found the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, identified as “Thid Yam” (Mr. Phra Thammavachiranuwat), and his primary accomplice, “Sika Ken,” guilty of multiple counts of misappropriating temple funds and money laundering. The crimes occurred between March 2021 and September 2024.
According to court documents, the defendants must jointly repay 27,950,000 baht (approximately $760,000 USD) to Wat Rai Khing to cover the financial losses incurred by the religious institution.
Court Details Systemic Theft of Religious Funds
The investigation revealed that the former abbot exploited his high-ranking position to withdraw money from nine separate bank accounts belonging to the temple. As the official authorized to manage the monastery’s property, he directed staff to transfer funds into his personal accounts or those of his associates.
The court ruled on case number Ot 144/2568, which was filed by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office 1. The prosecution successfully argued that the abbot acted as a state official under the Criminal Code and the Sangha Act of 1962, making the embezzlement a serious breach of public and religious trust.
Key Details of the Sentencing
The court handed down varied sentences for the four individuals convicted in the scheme:
- Defendant 1 (Former Abbot): 50 years in prison and ordered to repay 27,950,000 baht.
- Defendant 2 (Sika Ken): 50 years in prison and ordered to jointly repay 27,450,000 baht.
- Defendant 3: 12 years and 12 months in prison and ordered to jointly repay 2,850,000 baht.
- Defendant 5: 8 years and 8 months in prison and ordered to jointly repay 5,100,000 baht.
A fourth defendant was acquitted after the court found no evidence of their participation in the conspiracy.
Money Laundering and Legal Violations
The judges determined that the group engaged in a complex money laundering operation to hide the origin of the stolen funds. “After the first defendant embezzled money from Wat Rai Khing, he transferred, possessed, and used the assets together with the other defendants,” the court stated in its official judgment.
The charges included violations of:
- The Criminal Code (Sections 147 and 157): Related to officials misappropriating property.
- The Anti-Corruption Act 2018: Misconduct by state officials.
- The Anti-Money Laundering Act 1999: Concealing the proceeds of crime.
- The Technology Crime Suppression Act 2023: Using electronic systems to facilitate fraud.
Because the former abbot confessed to 19 counts of misappropriation, the court applied specific sentencing guidelines, though the cumulative nature of the 20 counts resulted in the maximum legal imprisonment limit for these types of crimes.
Impact on the Community
Wat Rai Khing is a major royal monastery located in Nakhon Pathom province, known for its significant cultural and religious importance to the Thai people. The news of the embezzlement has caused widespread concern among the Buddhist community regarding the oversight of temple donations and assets.
Religious authorities have signaled that they will review financial management protocols for royal monasteries to prevent similar incidents. The recovery of the 27.9 million baht is expected to be used for the upkeep and continued religious services of the temple.
The sentencing serves as a stern warning to officials within religious institutions about the consequences of financial misconduct. The case highlights the increasing use of the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to handle high-profile embezzlement involving state-recognized entities.
