Thai monk arrested for multi-million baht embezzlement and sexual misconduct
Phra Wachirayan Wi, the 66-year-old abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan, was detained on charges of embezzling millions of baht and engaging in sexual activity with a woman in the monk’s residence.
The Crime Suppression Division detained Phra Wachirayan Wi, the abbot of the historic Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya, on allegations of embezzlement, money laundering and sexual misconduct. An anonymous tip prompted a July investigation that uncovered two donation streams—approximately 89 million baht earmarked for temple renovations and 2.8 million baht for Buddhist amulets—that were never deposited in the monastery’s accounts.
A 47-year-old woman suspected of assisting in the concealment of the funds was also arrested, and CCTV footage of the two engaging in sexual activity on a table circulated widely in Thai media. Police have confiscated assets valued at about 215 million baht, including 16 kilograms of gold bars, jewellery and 28 land deeds, and are determining which belong to the temple and which are personal. The Central Investigation Bureau pledged to broaden the probe to restore public confidence in Buddhism. The former abbot, also known as Luang Pho Atichot, was defrocked shortly after his arrest, adding to a series of recent scandals involving Thai clergy.
Why it matters
The case highlights deep concerns over financial mismanagement and moral breaches within Thailand's influential Buddhist institutions.
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