Ayutthaya abbot held in embezzlement and sex scandal

A 66-year-old abbot accused of embezzling 100 million baht from a well-known temple in Ayutthaya was arrested on Thursday, along with a female aide who was seen having sex with the monk in security video taken in his quarters.

Police at 6am raided the quarters of Phra Vajirayan, also known as Luang Por Chot, at Wat Phutthaisawan, an ancient royal monastery in tambon Samphao Lom in Muang district, said Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai.

The investigation began after a complaint was filed alleging that the abbot had misappropriated temple funds and handed the money to a female associate to disguise the funds under other people’s names, Pol Lt Gen Natthasak said.

Investigators subsequently conducted a covert investigation and found evidence supporting the allegations, Pol Lt Gen Nathasak said.

Over a period of more than two years, the monk allegedly issued more than 20 donation receipts in the temple’s name without authorisation, causing total losses of about 100 million baht. (Story continues below)

Police show an arrest warrant to Phra Vajirayan, the 66-year-abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya, who is charged with embezzling temple funds, on Thursday. (Photo: supplied/ Wassayos Ngamkham)

Punyavee Rungrueang, 47, an associate of the former Phra Vajirayan, is taken to the Crime Suppression Division for questioning on Thursday. She faces charges of abetting fraud by the former abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Compromising video

During the arrest, police examined CCTV footage inside the abbot’s residence, in which they found video showing him engaging in sexual activity with a woman on a table inside his quarters. The table was also used for meals, police said.

The woman was an aide who reportedly helped the monk manage the embezzled money. Police found that tens of millions of baht had circulated through her bank accounts each year.

Punyavee Rungrueang, 47, was arrested on charges of abetting a state official in illegal activities, Pol Lt Gen Natthasak said.

Many monks are considered state officials under the law as they receive monthly stipends from the government. (Story continues below)

Phra Vajirayan was appointed abbot of the ancient temple in 2022. He was also widely known in the amulet trade for creating renowned Buddhist amulets, including the “Nuea Duang” (Elevating Status) coin, which was sought after by many devotees.

After his arrest, Luang Por Chot was escorted to the temple’s ordination hall, where white robes were prepared for his defrocking ceremony. The suspect, now known by his former name Atichote Thammavaro, was then taken into police custody before being taken to the Central Investigation Bureau for further questioning. (Story continues below)

Similarities to Lop Buri scandal

Investigators say the former abbot misappropriated proceeds from the sale of amulets and other religious objects. Instead of depositing the money into the temple’s accounts, he reportedly established a foundation and transferred funds into personal accounts, while donation receipts were issued in the temple’s name.

The embezzlement pattern resembled a model used in the high-profile scandal involving Wat Phrabat Namphu, the Aids hospice temple in Lop Buri province where losses were estimated at 10 billion baht, said Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Choawanasai, the CIB commissioner.

The sex videos, meanwhile, were provided by a group of the former abbot’s followers, who said they “could no longer tolerate his behaviour”, he said.

A search of Ms Punyavee’s house in Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani led to the seizure of 35 gold amulets, along with gold bars and jewellery weighing a combined 90 baht (1.36kg), worth an estimated 6.04 million baht.

Police also seized 3.6 million baht in cash, three mobile phones, an iPad, 10 sets of land and bank documents, two land title deeds, seven bank passbooks, one land sale contract, 18 investment documents, one health insurance policy, six gold insurance certificates, seven gold purchase and sale receipts, and four Government Savings Bank lottery certificates.

Investigators said the case might be linked to two or three other individuals and that more than one woman may have been involved.

A lay administrator of Wat Phutthaisawan, identified as Chettha Ninsukhum, was also brought to the CIB for questioning. He declined to answer reporters’ questions before being taken inside the building.