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Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Probe into temple funds intensifies
Authorities are intensifying an investigation into Wat Phrabat Namphu amid allegations of large-scale corruption, focusing on the temple's affiliated foundation as a potential "loophole" for embezzlement. The inquiry will extend to other assets, including land, buildings, and donated funds transferred through foundation accounts. Police note that misappropriating foundation money carries lighter penalties than directly stealing temple funds, exposing a legal gap that needs urgent reform. Pol Col Samoraphum Thaikaew, Deputy Commander of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), said on Friday that the case is being overseen by Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau. Multiple agencies are involved, with the ACD examining whether the temple abbot's conduct constitutes dereliction of duty. Preliminary findings from the Crime Suppression Division will be followed by a deeper probe, including collaboration with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division to inspect land holdings. Authorities are scrutinising the temple's 2,000-rai foundation, some of which is registered under five individuals or organisations rather than the temple. These holdings, along with incomplete buildings, are considered related assets and will be inspected. Pol Col Samoraphum explained that some temples use foundations to divert funds from accounts normally managed by the abbot and treasurer. If foundation administrators embezzle money, it is treated as a compoundable offence with lighter penalties, unlike the severe charges under Sections 147 and 157 for misappropriating temple funds directly. Despite this loophole, moving temple funds into a foundation can still be an offence, though harder to prove. He urged closer involvement from agencies such as the Ministry of Interior, which regulates foundations. Lopburi Provincial Buddhist Office Director Veera Chamlong said he visited the temple on Thursday to request financial records. The temple's treasurer revealed that the temple holds eight accounts, with turnovers in the low millions since October 2024. Some accounts contain only a few thousand baht. Although this is part of routine annual checks, irregularities with donations prompted earlier intervention. Findings will be submitted to the National Office of Buddhism. Mr Veera noted the temple's land totals only six rai, leased for 20 years to the Khao Sam Yot City Municipality. He requested asset documentation and reports for review. However, properties and accounts owned by private individuals, including bank accounts under Jaifa Prachanath, fall outside his office's jurisdiction. Meanwhile, a visit by local officials and reporters to the Dhamma Raksa Niwet 2 Village, the temple's HIV/Aids hospice facility on a 2,000-rai plot of land in Nong Muang district, earlier this week, revealed abandoned housing for patients and an unfinished hospital, 90% complete but unused. Donated supplies such as disinfectant alcohol, surgical masks, suction machines, and medicines were found stored in an unhygienic manner, with some reported to be expired or with traces of rodents and animal droppings.
Bangkok Post
3 days 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.
Bangkok Post
16-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Charges mount against woman at centre of temple sex scandal
Police charges are mounting against the 35-year-old woman known as 'Sika Golf' who allegedly had sex with many senior monks at well-known temples in many provinces and also blackmailed them. Pol Col Anek Taosuparp, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), said Wilawan 'Sika Golf' Emsawat was charged additionally with fraud in connection with an old complaint from a former director of Buddhism in the northern province of Phichit. 'Sika' is a Thai word that monks use to address a woman. According to the deputy commander, the former Buddhism official lent 400,000 baht to Ms Golf, who claimed she needed money for medical treatment and pointed out that she had evidence a relationship with a senior monk in Phichit. The former director filed his complaint in 2016 and the investigation was first revived in 2018, when there was clear evidence of money transactions. The CSD is also prosecuting Ms Wilawan for alleged extortion of money from a former assistant abbot at popular Wat Sothonwararam in Chachoengsao province. Pol Col Anek said the woman's methodology was to develop a close relationship with a monk before shifting to money issues. In this case, police had proof the former assistant abbot transferred 8,000 baht to her associate. Pol Col Anek said the CSD was handling fraud and embezzlement cases concerning 'Sika Golf' and other people, and the police Anti-Corruption Division was proceeding with cases concerning monks' misconduct and embezzlement. Ms Wilawan was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province on Tuesday and has alredy been charged with supporting a monk's embezzlement of temple funds, laundering money and receiving stolen goods. She is being detained at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. According to police sources, Ms Wilawan, aka Sika Golf, is a native of Phichit province. She was the wife of a local politician who left her after learning she phoned lovers at night and received banknotes, coins and daily necessities donated to monks and regifted to her. She reportedly had many pictures of monks on the walls of their home. The scandal around her activities erupted late last month when the abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep in Bangkok disappeared. Police suspect she had tried to blackmail him. Police searched her house and found a number of mobile phones storing about 80,000 sex photos and videos involving many senior monks at many famous temples. About 15 monks are suspected of having a special relationship with the woman and nine were known to have already left the monkhood as of Wednesday, when an ecclesiastical chief of monks in the northern province of Phisanulok doffed his robes and reverted to being a lay citizen. Meanwhile, an assistant abbot of Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan in Bangkok has denied he had sexual relations with her, although police have copies of their intimate conversations and his photo on a chat app. Police said on Tuesday that about 385 million baht was paid into Ms Wilawan's bank accounts over the past three years and she lost most of it gambling online.
Bangkok Post
10-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Ex-abbot admits to love affair
The former abbot of Wat Phra Phutthachai in Saraburi has admitted to a years-long romantic relationship with a woman known as "Sika Golf", saying he had even planned to leave the monkhood to marry her -- only to later discover she was also romantically involved with senior monks from other well-known temples. Police found that Ms Golf was involved with at least 15 senior monks who transferred money to her over the past several years. When combined with supporting evidence -- such as photographs, video clips, and chat logs -- investigators confirmed that at least eight of the monks had engaged in relationships with her. The scandal came to light following a July 4 police raid at the house of Ms Golf in Bangkok by the Anti-Corruption Division, during which over 80,000 images and video clips were recovered from five mobile phones belonging to her. She also has three children aged 13, 10, and 6 with some former high-ranking monks. Investigators initially expected to uncover evidence related to a temple corruption case, but instead found explicit material suggesting sexual relationships between her and several senior monks from well-known temples in many provinces. Deputy Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew said more than a dozen temples, but not yet over 20, are now under investigation, including prominent ones such as Wat Tri Thotsathep in Bangkok, Wat Phra Phutthachai in Saraburi, Wat Sothonwararam in Chachoengsao, Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok and other temples in Phichit, Phetchabun, Samut Sakhon and Khon Kaen. So far, eight monks have been identified, and three have been found in violation of monastic codes, warranting defrocking. At least five implicated monks have already left the monkhood. Police are also investigating possible financial misconduct, including whether Ms Golf misused temple funds or extorted money from monks for her alleged online gambling. "The scandals required further police investigation and action to ensure that the monastic institution remains composed solely of monks who uphold moral discipline," said Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat. He stressed that the police had no intention of undermining Buddhism, but urged monks across the country to exercise caution when participating in religious activities involving laywomen. "These individuals may present themselves as generous donors, wealthy benefactors or socialites, yet some may in fact be fraudsters seeking to gain the monks' trust, engaging them in conversations via Line or telephone and secretly recording clips," he said. Authorities are encouraging any monks who may have been blackmailed to come forward, although none have yet filed complaints. Meanwhile, Thep Wachirathiraporn, the former abbot of Wat Phra Phutthachai, told the police that he met Ms Golf in 2019 through Facebook, where she initially approached him with signs of devotion. Their contact continued for about a year before developing into a romantic relationship. The woman gave him a Toyota Alphard to use for monastic duties. Their relationship continued for several years, and they even made plans for him to disrobe and marry her. However, he eventually discovered that she was seeing other monks. He also claimed he was repeatedly extorted for money, which left him so distressed that he considered leaving the monkhood to expose her activities, only to be disrobed by police action before he could come forward, said the police. Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Religion, Morality, Ethics, Arts and Culture will next week summon relevant agencies to clarify the scandal, amid growing public concern. Senator Atcharaphan Homrot, the panel's secretary-general, acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue and its potential to severely damage public trust in Buddhism. "This matter is highly delicate and directly affects faith in the religion," she said, calling for strict yet constructive action from the Sangha Supreme Council and related agencies.
Bangkok Post
09-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Two senior monks defrocked over sex videos
Two senior monks have been defrocked following the seizure of sex videos and over 80,000 images featuring sex between a woman and high-ranking clergy at well-known temples in Bangkok and other provinces. Officers from the police Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) set out on Wednesday to negotiate with senior monks who had allegedly been romantically involved with a woman to voluntarily leave the monkhood to prevent damage to the reputation of Buddhism. The sex scandal was exposed after ACD police recovered over 80,000 images and videos from five mobile phones belonging to the woman, identified as 'Sika Kor', depicting intimate affairs between her and senior monks at well-known temples. Authorities have so far identified eight monks, with three already confirmed to have violated monastic discipline warranting defrocking. The first location police visited was Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen in Bangkok, where officers sought to hold talks with Phra Thep Wachiwatheerakun, the assistant abbot. However, he had reportedly left the temple the day before and travelled to Chiang Mai. Authorities are coordinating efforts to locate him. Police later went to Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan in Muang district of Chachoengsao province to meet Phra Khru Siriwiriyathada, the assistant abbot. However, he too was absent when the officers arrived. He had reportedly left for a religious ceremony and had not returned. His vehicle was also missing, prompting a search to track his whereabouts. On Wednesday afternoon, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), led a team to locate Phra Thep Wachiratheeraporn, the abbot of Wat Phra Phutthachai in Saraburi. The monk was intercepted in Samut Prakan while en route to purchase a new robe. After officers presented him with videos and images featuring him having sex with the woman, he agreed to leave the monkhood. He was taken to Wat Trimit in Bangkok to formally renounce the monkhood in front of the principal Buddha image. (Story continues below) Shortly afterward, police managed to locate the disgraced assistant abbot of Wat Paknam in Mae Taeng district of Chaing Mai. Phra Thep Wachiwatheerakun was at Wat Phrathat Sunantha at the time. The officers presented him with video evidence and urged him to show responsibility by leaving the monkhood. The senior monk agreed. Still at large is Phra Khru Siriviryathada of Wat Sothon. Despite the voluntary defrocking of the two senior monks, investigations into possible financial misconduct are ongoing, said police. Authorities are examining whether temple funds were misappropriated to support Sika Kor or for personal use, similar to the previous case involving Phra Thepwachirapamok, also known as Chao Khun Archawa, the former abbot of Wat Trisossathep in Bangkok. The senior monk, 54, suddenly left the monkhood for an unknown reason and fled to Laos.
