Warrant issued for Rai Khing Temple’s abbot over embezzlement allegation

[misskit]

The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases issued a warrant this afternoon for the arrest of the abbot, Phra Dhamvachiranuwat, of the well-known Rai Khing Temple in Nakhon Pathom province, on charges of embezzlement and malfeasance in office.


The warrant is in response to a request from the commander of the Police Counter Corruption Division, Pol Maj-Gen Prasong Chalermbhand. It is expected to be served on the abbot today.


Phra Dhamvachiranuwat reported to the commissioner of Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) this morning to proclaim his innocence, after he was allegedly implicated in the embezzlement of about 300 million baht from the temple’s bank accounts. The abbot, who is also the chief monk of Region 14, was accompanied by a lawyer and a few aides.
At the time of his visit to the CIB, a warrant for his arrest had not yet been issued.


According to police reports, public donations to the temple are deposited into seven bank accounts. Between 2021 and this year, however, the abbot, who has the authority to withdraw money, had assigned his assistants to withdraw 1 or 2 million baht at a time from the accounts and deposit the money into his own bank accounts via CDMs.


It has been disclosed that the abbot had allegedly made 11 transfers from his bank accounts, amounting to 63 million baht, into the account of a 26-year woman, who is alleged to be a broker for an online gambling network.


The police report also claims that the amount of money in the abbot’s bank accounts exceeded 500 million baht at one point.


Phra Dhamvachiranuwat entered the monkhood at the age of 12 and ultimately became an abbot.


Regarding the female broker, the police report claims that she is known to have had links to online gambling for a long time and was arrested last year for her involvement with the “LAGALAXY911” gambling platform, but was released on bail, with an ankle-worn monitoring device.


Police say that a warrant has been issued for her arrest as well.

Warrant issued for Rai Khing Temple’s abbot over embezzlemen

[misskit]

Woman Arrested in Pattaya Condo for Allegedly Facilitating High Profile Monks Online Gambling of Over 300 Million Baht

In a major development in a high-profile case of the Rai Khing Temple abbot in Nakhon Pathom, who allegedly embezzled over 300 million baht of temple funds to play online baccarat, authorities have made a connected arrest in Pattaya. On May 15th, 2025, at approximately 4:30 PM, officers from the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption Division (CIB) apprehended Ms. Aranyawan Wangthaphan, a 28-year-old broker allegedly linked to an online gambling network.

Ms. Aranyawan is accused of receiving money transfers from the abbot to fund credits for an online gambling website. She was detained alongside her boyfriend in a condominium on Pattaya Second Road in Pattaya. Following her arrest, CIB officers immediately escorted her to the Central Investigation Bureau headquarters for further questioning.

Reporters from The Pattaya News who visited the condominium found residents reluctant to provide details, and many were unaware of the arrest. The case continues to draw major attention as investigations into the broader gambling network and the temple’s financial misconduct deepen.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to uncover the full extent of the scandal.

The case of Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, the 70-year-old abbot of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom, has shocked Thailand, exposing an alleged scandal that intertwines faith, greed, and systemic vulnerabilities in temple governance. Accused of embezzling over 300 million baht (approximately $8.3 million USD) from temple funds, the abbot allegedly funneled the money into his personal account to fuel an addiction to online baccarat, a popular gambling game.

The scandal came to light after the Crime Suppression Division received complaints, prompting an eight-month investigation that revealed the temple’s coffers were nearly depleted, forcing the abbot to borrow large sums—often six- and seven-digit amounts—from senior monks at other temples. On May 15th, 2025, Phra Thamma surrendered to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Bangkok, just as authorities were preparing to issue an arrest warrant, and was charged with malfeasance and embezzlement as a regional Buddhist official.

The Abbot has not released detailed statements to the press.

Woman Arrested in Pattaya Condo for Allegedly Facilitating High Profile Monks Online Gambling of Over 300 Million Baht - The Pattaya News

[harrybarracuda]

The police report also claims that the amount of money in the abbot’s bank accounts exceeded 500 million baht at one point.

I have a sneaky suspicious he has failed one of the basic tenets of Buddhism: "Refrain from taking what is not given".

Presumably he'll just say "Well it was given, just not to me personally".

[misskit]

Ex-abbot Yaem makes no bail request in temple fund scandal

Former abbot Yaem declined to seek bail in a temple embezzlement case, while his co-accused was denied release due to risk of evidence tampering and flight.
Yaem Inkrungkao, former abbot of the prominent Wat Rai Khing and formerly known by his monastic title Phra Thammavachiranuwat, has chosen not to seek bail as he faces multiple serious charges related to the alleged embezzlement of millions of baht from the temple’s funds.


Yaem appeared before the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Taling Chan on Saturday for his first pre-trial detention hearing. He faces charges of malfeasance in office, misappropriation of state assets, and abuse of official authority, including allowing others to unlawfully benefit from assets under his control.


Also appearing in court was Ms. Aranyawan Wangthaphan, 28, an alleged online gambling broker, who faces charges of aiding and abetting a state official in committing corruption-related offences. Prosecutors submitted a 12-day detention request for both suspects.


While Aranyawan filed a bail application, the court denied her temporary release, citing the severity of the charges, the risk of tampering with electronic evidence, and her involvement in a separate criminal case. In contrast, Yaem did not submit a bail request, remaining silent throughout the proceeding.

Following the hearing, Yaem was transferred to Bangkok Remand Prison, and Aranyawan to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution, pending further investigation.


Earlier that morning, at approximately 10:30 a.m., officers from the Anti-Corruption Division escorted the pair from their holding facility to the courthouse. Both appeared visibly fatigued and emotionally distressed.


In a related development, former monk Ekkapoj Phukang, previously known as Phra Maha Ekkapoj and a close associate of Yaem, was also taken to Ratchada Criminal Court by cyber police for a separate detention hearing.

Speaking briefly to reporters, Ekkapoj revealed that he had met Yaem during his ordination at the temple in 2018. He admitted to regularly transferring large sums of money—often in the millions of baht—to Aranyawan at Yaem’s request. He claimed he was unaware of the source or purpose of the funds and received no compensation for his actions.


When asked if he still respected the former abbot, Ekkapoj replied candidly: “Now, it’s every man for himself,” before being led away by authorities.


Reporters have learned that investigators are now intensively examining the financial trail between Yaem and Aranyawan.


Evidence indicates that between 2020 and 2024, Yaem transferred large sums, ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million baht per transaction, to Aranyawan.


These transfers were conducted either directly via bank accounts or disguised, using temple monks to deposit cash into automated teller machines. The total value of the transactions is estimated to exceed 300 million baht.


A deeper investigation revealed that in 2023 alone, Yaem transferred 80 million baht to Aranyawan in the span of just one month.


Further inquiries uncovered that Yaem not only diverted temple funds to Aranyawan but also withdrew money into his personal accounts, later transferring it to close associates. Some of this money was allegedly used to purchase luxury vehicles, which were then "donated" back to him for personal use.


Investigators are also probing an additional suspicious flow of funds, including a 200 million baht transfer to Ekkapoj and another 60 million baht traced to a male associate residing at the temple.


The investigation into this extensive financial network is ongoing, as authorities work to uncover the full scope of what they believe to be a multi-layered embezzlement operation centred around the former abbot.

Ex-abbot Yaem makes no bail request in temple fund scandal