Girlfriend of former abbot arrested in temple fund scandal
Another arrest warrant was issued for Sarit Chanprathat, 67, formerly known as Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun (Thid Sarit), who was expected to report to the police on Thursday evening.
Phuthinee Kawinpaisarn was arrested on Thursday at a residence in Khu Khot district of Pathum Thani province by police from the Anti-Corruption Division with a warrant issued on Aug 6.
She was charged with abetting misappropriation of state assets and misconduct in public office. Monks with ecclesiastical titles receive monthly allowances from taxpayers and are considered public officials.
The former abbot, who also served as the ecclesiastical chief of the central plains province of Nakhon Sawan, was accused last month of having a romantic relationship with Ms Phuthinee and embezzling temple funds with her help.
The case came to light following widely shared photos of the two embracing while the senior monk was wearing a wig. Investigators found Ms Phuthinee had substantial assets, including cars, valuable jewellery and land plots, despite having no clear sources of income.
Thid Sarit, who left the monkhood on July 19, was also accused of secretive affairs with two other women.
The investigation revealed that between March 1, 2024 and July 10, 2025, Thid Sarit had ordered a monk residing at the temple, identified as Phra Sataya Phumdetch, to withdraw money from the temple's bank account. Phra Sataya was then told to transfer the money to his account before transferring it to that of Thid Sarit.
The total sum withdrawn amounted to 4.1 million baht, police said. Investigators later found a total of 405,000 baht had been transferred from Thid Sarit to Ms Phuthinee.
Phra Sataya reported to police to confirm the misconduct, saying he had witnessed Ms Phuthinee coming to visit the former abbot regularly at the temple.
Police gathered enough evidence about both the romantic relationship and the misuse of temple funds, leading to arrest warrants being approved by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
Thid Sarit was also found linked to suspected financial irregularities in the Nakhon Sawan Buddhist Park project, which has been under way for more than 15 years and is still not complete. The police investigation is continuing.
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Bangkok Post
19 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Girlfriend of former abbot arrested in temple fund scandal
Police have arrested a 57-year-old woman, who was a romantic partner of the former abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, for alleged involvement in the embezzlement of temple funds. Another arrest warrant was issued for Sarit Chanprathat, 67, formerly known as Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun (Thid Sarit), who was expected to report to the police on Thursday evening. Phuthinee Kawinpaisarn was arrested on Thursday at a residence in Khu Khot district of Pathum Thani province by police from the Anti-Corruption Division with a warrant issued on Aug 6. She was charged with abetting misappropriation of state assets and misconduct in public office. Monks with ecclesiastical titles receive monthly allowances from taxpayers and are considered public officials. The former abbot, who also served as the ecclesiastical chief of the central plains province of Nakhon Sawan, was accused last month of having a romantic relationship with Ms Phuthinee and embezzling temple funds with her help. The case came to light following widely shared photos of the two embracing while the senior monk was wearing a wig. Investigators found Ms Phuthinee had substantial assets, including cars, valuable jewellery and land plots, despite having no clear sources of income. Thid Sarit, who left the monkhood on July 19, was also accused of secretive affairs with two other women. The investigation revealed that between March 1, 2024 and July 10, 2025, Thid Sarit had ordered a monk residing at the temple, identified as Phra Sataya Phumdetch, to withdraw money from the temple's bank account. Phra Sataya was then told to transfer the money to his account before transferring it to that of Thid Sarit. The total sum withdrawn amounted to 4.1 million baht, police said. Investigators later found a total of 405,000 baht had been transferred from Thid Sarit to Ms Phuthinee. Phra Sataya reported to police to confirm the misconduct, saying he had witnessed Ms Phuthinee coming to visit the former abbot regularly at the temple. Police gathered enough evidence about both the romantic relationship and the misuse of temple funds, leading to arrest warrants being approved by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Thid Sarit was also found linked to suspected financial irregularities in the Nakhon Sawan Buddhist Park project, which has been under way for more than 15 years and is still not complete. The police investigation is continuing.
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Thailand's letter to the United Nations
The Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations and has the honour to inform the latter on the grave situation affecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand as a result of Cambodia's act of military aggression as follows: 1. On 16 and 23 July 2025, Thai army personnels, while conducting a routine patrol along an established route within Thailand's territory, stepped on PMN-2 landmines. As a result, two soldiers sustained severe injuries, leading to permanent disability while the remaining were seriously injured. All of these PMN-2 landmines found were in new conditions, still with clearly visible markings. Evidence suggest that these landmines were newly planted. As a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Thailand has dutifully submitted her annual transparency reports on the implementation of the obligations under the Convention in accordance with article 7. The reports documented that Thailand completed the destruction of all its stockpile of anti-personnel mines in 2003, and subsequently destroyed all mines retained for training and research purposes in 2019. In contrast, Cambodia's latest report indicates that, as of 31 December 2024, Cambodia continues to retain PMN-2 landmines. 2. On 24 July 2025, at 08.20 hrs. Cambodian soldiers opened fire on a Thai military base at Ta Muen Thom in Surin Province of Thailand, resulting in the immediate injury of two Thai soldiers. Shortly after, Cambodian troops launched indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory across four provinces of Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani. These aggressive, indiscriminate and unlawful acts against Thai civilians have caused serious harms and led to the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including women and children. Civilian infrastructure, including a hospital and a school, also sustained significant damages. As of 14.00 hrs. on 24 July 2025, the attacks had resulted in 11 deaths and 24 injuries, 8 of which are in critical conditions. More than 102,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes. 3. These series of unprovoked armed attacks initiated by the Cambodian Armed Forces constitute a clear violation of Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of good neighbourliness and peaceful coexistence between States. Thailand has exercised utmost restraint against Cambodia's premeditated armed attacks and is compelled to exercise its inherent right of self-defence pursuant to Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The self-defence measures taken by Thailand are strictly limited in scope, proportionate to the threats and directed solely at neutralizing the imminent danger posed by Cambodian Armed Forces. 4. Thailand further strongly condemns Cambodia's indiscriminate attacks against civilians, civilian objects, and public facilities, particularly hospitals, which constitute a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, specifically Article 18 of the First Geneva Convention (Wounded and sick III. Protection of hospitals) and Article 19 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (Protection of medical units and establishments). Such inhumane acts have caused human suffering and hardship to innocent civilians. 5. Thailand remains firmly committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes and categorically rejects the use of force as a means to resolve international disputes. We call upon the international community to urge Cambodia to immediately cease its hostilities and resume dialogue in good faith. Thailand also reaffirms its readiness to engage through established bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Boundary Commission, which is scheduled to take place in early September 2025, to resolve any outstanding differences. The Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations the assurances of its highest consideration.
