PUBLISHED: 17 May 2025 at 03: 00
After police sifted through information related to the larceny allegations against the original priest of Wat Rai Khing temple, it was discovered that about 850 million ringgit had been transferred to the account of a feminine broker connected to an online gambling network.
The original Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, 70, turned himself in to the police on Thursday to experience the embezzlement command after a warrant was issued before that time based on evidence provided by the Crime Suppression Division.
He was accused of using his former affiliate Ekkapot Phukhang to help the cash transfer and of using more than 300 million ringgit in church funds to overspend on an online casino game.
According to a cause close to the investigation, it was believed that about 847 million ringgit had been transferred to the bank’s account, and that the temple foundation’s accounts were being examined by police.
Mr. Ekkapot, who was formerly Phra Maha Ekkapot Phukhang, was detained later yesterday morning at a business in Nakhon Pathom. He was wanted on a Jan. 29 arrest warrant from the criminal justice system for colluding with online gaming and obtaining wealth either directly or indirectly.
Aranyawan Wangthapan, a woman dealer connected to an online betting system and close to the original Wat Rai Khing priest, was also the subject of an arrest permit at the time. On Thursday, she was detained.
Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, the deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ), posed Mr. Ekkapot with a question. He claimed that the ex-abbot instructed him to deposit the money into the ex-monk’s private account before moving it to the bank’s accounts.
According to a policeman cause, the church abbot’s associate, Phra Khru Palat Suwattanawimolkhun, was interviewed yesterday about how the temple’s funds were managed.
After discovering that the majority of the church cars were registered under his name, a previous non-commissioned naval commander identified as CPO1 Chatmee Inmee and his wife were likewise interrogated. None of the three were brought to justice for anything.
Anisorn Rungrueang, the Aranyawan attorney, claimed monday that his customer had no idea the funds had been swindled.
He claimed that Ms. Aranyawan had known the original priest for a while and that money had previously been given to her as a surprise. A loan agreement was put in place to ensure payment as the sum increased, he continued.
The sexual broker was recently detained for allegedly having an affair with a gaming site called LaGalaxy911.
Authorities began looking into the embezzlement after learning that the priest had allegedly funneled money through a feminine associate connected to an online betting network and transferred it into his personal bank accounts.
Over the course of more than eight times, covert officers were stationed at the church, which eventually confirmed the allegations.
Yesterday, authorities and anti-corruption officials searched the original abbot’s home at the temple for five hours. For investigation, they found 10 boxes containing financial files as well as electronic devices.
The abbot apparently borrowed significant sums from another senior monks to continue gambling as the temple’s funds ran out.