Ex-monk believed to have swiped B300m
Police have found more money and gold bullion worth about 100 million baht buried behind Phra Ajarn Khom’s temple in Nakhon Ratchasima province, raising his alleged embezzlement to almost 300 million baht.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, the commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said yesterday that investigators and members of the new executive of Wat Pa Dhammakiri on Sunday found about 80 million baht in cash and bullion worth about 19 million baht buried on a hill behind the temple in Pak Chong district.
To date, officials had found about 300 million baht worth of cash and valuables allegedly embezzled by former monk Phra Ajarn Khom, now known as Khom Khongkaeo and alleged accomplices, the commissioner said.
“The offences might go back to 2020… The motive would be the huge amount of money that devotees donated… The suspects may have wrongly believed the money came from the people’s faith in them, but that is not the case at all,” Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said. Police had so far found only three suspects in the embezzlement case, but investigators were expanding their efforts. If more people were involved, they would face legal action, according to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop.
Khom: Defrocked last week
Yesterday officers petitioned the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to extend the detention of the three suspects for another 12 days while the probe continues.
They are Mr Khom, 39, his younger sister Juthathip Phubodiwarochuphan, 35, and Wuthima Thaomor, a 38-year-old former abbot of the temple.
They were arrested on charges of embezzling 180 million baht from the temple. Mr Khom is also said to have had a sexual relationship with some of his followers. He was defrocked on May 1. Mr Khom achieved fame for his meditation technique and had many high-profile followers. He denied the charges. Meanwhile, the temple has been closed to the public since May 1 following Mr Khom’s defrocking due to the ongoing probe.