A Buddhist abbot in Thailand has admitted to maintaining a two-year relationship with a woman after intimate CCTV footage from his temple residence triggered a police investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, the former abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya, was arrested alongside the 47-year-old woman on Thursday.
Investigators have accused the pair of offences including embezzlement and money laundering.
The woman is alleged to have helped convert and conceal funds that were intended for the monastery.
CCTV Footage Brings Temple Investigation Into Focus
The investigation gained widespread public attention last week when footage from security cameras at the 14th-century temple was broadcast by Thai media.
The recordings showed the monk and the woman engaged in sexual activity inside his residence, where they were filmed on a table.
During police questioning, Phra Wachirayan reportedly acknowledged that his relationship with the woman had continued for approximately two years.
He was subsequently defrocked following his arrest.
Alleged Missing Donations Total Nearly £5 Million
While the sexual scandal brought the case into the public spotlight, investigators are examining allegations involving a much larger financial haul.
Police initially reported discovering 92 million baht, worth around £2.1 million, but said their investigation has since pushed the estimated value of the funds and assets involved to approximately 215 million baht, equivalent to about £4.8 million.
Authorities have also seized gold, necklaces, rings, gemstones, watches, cash and land documents as part of the investigation.
A raid on the woman’s home reportedly uncovered 90 baht weight of gold alongside cash and other assets worth several million baht.
Police Trace Donations Made to the Temple
Investigators began examining the former abbot’s activities in mid-July after receiving an anonymous allegation concerning both his personal conduct and the handling of temple finances.
Police commander Pattanasak Bupphasuwan said investigators subsequently identified two separate streams of money connected to receipts issued in the monastery’s name.
One stream involved approximately 89 million baht, or around £2 million, reportedly donated to fund temple renovations.
A further 2.8 million baht, worth about £63,000, was linked to payments for Buddhist amulets and other sacred objects.
According to Pattanasak, the money did not reach the temple’s official bank account.
“But the money from both streams did not enter the temple’s account – not a single baht,” he said at a news conference on Friday.
Prominent Monastery Had Influential Following
Wat Phutthaisawan is a prominent royal monastery in the historic city of Ayutthaya and has attracted a large following that includes government officials, business figures, police officers and members of the military.
Phra Wachirayan, also known as Luang Pho Atichot, was particularly well known for producing Buddhist amulets and other sacred objects.
Among those reportedly associated with his amulets was Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who was said to have worn one of the monk’s creations.
Police Investigate Possible Wider Network
Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Nattasak Chaowanasai said authorities intend to examine whether other individuals were involved in the alleged financial activities.
“We will expand the investigation to identify other people involved and restore public confidence in Buddhism,” he said.
The former abbot has not yet publicly commented on the allegations against him.
Latest Scandal Follows Previous Monk Investigations
The case comes amid a series of scandals involving Buddhist clergy in Thailand, including a major sex and extortion investigation that shocked the country last year.
Police previously arrested a woman accused of having sexual relationships with at least 11 monks and allegedly using those encounters to blackmail them.
Authorities said almost $12 million in monastery funds was extorted in the case.
Another investigation last year involved Luang Phor Alongkot, also known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, a Buddhist monk celebrated for establishing a hospice for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Alongkot was arrested on allegations including embezzlement, dereliction of duty and money laundering.
A fundraiser associated with the project, Seksan Sapsubbsakul, was also detained.
Alongkot, 65, was required to disrobe when he was taken to the Crime Suppression Bureau headquarters in Bangkok, as monks must do before they can formally face criminal charges.
He denied the allegations against him.
