10 hours ago
2
All monks successful temple neglect cause trial
Thai constabulary person arrested a Buddhist monk implicit allegations helium embezzled much than $9 cardinal from the salient temple helium ran which was funded by donations from devotees.
Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) impeach Abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning much than 300 cardinal baht ($9.05 million) from the temple's slope relationship into his own.
Investigators traced funds from the temple connected Bangkok's occidental outskirts to an amerciable online gambling web moving baccarat paper games, section media said.
Temples successful Buddhist-majority Thailand trust heavy connected income from "merit-making" ceremonies wherever worshippers marque donations successful hopes of gaining bully luck and amended reincarnation.
Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and malfeasance, CIB lawman commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters astatine a property league connected Thursday.
"This (arrest) is to assistance purify our religion," Jaroonkiat said.
Authorities person arrested a 2nd fishy and are investigating whether others were involved, portion section media reported the abbot has present near the monkhood.
Wat Rai Khing, believed to person been founded successful 1851, houses a replica of the Buddha's footprint.
Buddhist monks marque merit during the Visakha Bucha Day oregon Vesak Day celebrations astatine Wat Dhammakaya Buddhist temple successful Pathum Thani province, northbound of Bangkok connected May 11, 2025.
LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images
The apprehension from 1 of the Bangkok suburb's astir salient temples has triggered important backlash connected societal media.
"Next clip I volition donate to a infirmary oregon schoolhouse for bully causes, not a temple," 1 idiosyncratic posted connected societal media.
Others cautioned their chap Buddhists to stay steadfast successful their faith.
"Not each monks are bad. Don't generalize," different societal media idiosyncratic wrote.
Buddhist temples successful Thailand person made headlines for antithetic reasons before. Last November, Thai constabulary launched an probe of a Buddhist monastery aft authorities discovered 41 bodies connected tract which were allegedly utilized for meditation practices.
In 2022, each azygous monk astatine a Buddhist temple successful cardinal Thailand was defrocked aft they tested positive for methamphetamine. The monks were sent to a wellness session to acquisition cause rehabilitation.
English (US) ·