The Thai court has sentenced a highly respected former abbot to 50 years in prison for embezzling over 2 billion baht (approximately 246 million ringgit) from Wat Rai Khing, a century-old temple in Nakhon Pathom province.
According to Thailand’s ‘The Nation’ newspaper, this major scandal, which shocked Thailand, was exposed last year. The defendant, originally named Yaem Inkrungkao and known by his monastic name Phra Dhammavajiranuvat, was found guilty of illegally misappropriating temple funds, which were diverted to online gambling and the private accounts of close associates.
On Tuesday, Thailand’s Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases handed down a first-instance verdict to the approximately 70-year-old former abbot, together with four co-defendants.
The court found Phra Dhammavajiranuvat guilty of 19 charges, including misconduct and misappropriation of state assets for personal benefit. Under Thai law, his combined prison sentence is capped at 50 years. He was also ordered to repay 28 million baht (about 3.445 million ringgit).
Among the four co-defendants, Aranyawan (also known as Sika Kaen) was identified as an online gambling broker. Former monks Maha Ekaphot and Chatchai, who assisted in transferring funds, were each sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Another accomplice, Patcharaphorn (also known as Mor Toey), who was involved in managing the temple’s rental business and cafe, was found not guilty.
All the defendants except Patcharaphorn have filed appeals against the verdict.
The case emerged in mid-2025, when certain complaints triggered an investigation by authorities into Wat Rai Khing’s finances. Officers from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau went undercover as monks to investigate inside the temple.
Investigators found that from 2021 to 2024, Phra Dhammavajiranuvat misappropriated temple and foundation funds for personal use, with at least 300 million baht confirmed to have been abused.
Financial records showed that large sums of money were transferred to accounts of individuals closely associated with Phra Dhammavajiranuvat. A considerable portion of these funds was used for online gambling, especially baccarat, and also to maintain a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of luxury properties and expensive items.
The Anti-Money Laundering Office has already seized hundreds of assets related to the case, with a total value exceeding 400 million baht (about 49 million ringgit), including land, luxury cars, and jewelry.