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Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Police dig deeper into Nakhon Sawan temple funds scandal
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is intensifying its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of temple funds at Wat Nakhon Sawan and a long-delayed Buddhist park project involving the former abbot. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, CIB deputy commissioner, on Tuesday provided updates on the high-profile case involving the former abbott, Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, now known by the lay name 'Thid Sarit' (former monk Sarit). He was also the ecclesiastical chief of the central plains province of Nakhon Sawan until his abrupt retirement from the monkhood on July 19. Police investigators continued their search for evidence of misdoing on Tuesday, after earlier uncovering multiple irregularities, including the resignation of the acting director of the Nakhon Sawan campus of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) and the involvement of other people whose roles were under scrutiny, the CIB deputy chief said. He affirmed that legal action would be taken against any people found to be involved in corruption. 'Police are duty-bound to protect the nation, religion and monarchy. We must act to safeguard the integrity of Buddhist institutions,' he said. He declined to confirm whether the resignation of the acting director the MCU's Nakhon Sawan campus was linked to the temple fund irregularities. He did acknowledge that many people were under investigation. The in-depth probe follows the emergence of details of the scandals involving the former abbot. The former Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, 67, came under the media spotlight after photos showing him embracing a woman while wearing a wig went viral online. The former senior monk is also accused of secretive affairs with three women. It was reported that the acting director of the MCU's Nakhon Sawan campus, who recently resigned from the campus, had an alleged special relationship with the former abbot, The former abbot is under investigation over suspected financial irregularities in the Nakhon Sawan Buddhist Park project, which has been underway for 15-20 years and is still not complete despite receiving hundreds of millions of baht in donations. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) were all now working on the case, trace the flow of funds. All parties involved would be held to account, he reiterated. According to the CIB deputy chief, the former abbot had borrowed large sums from monks at temples in Bangkok. The transactions were now under investigation. Investigators were also examining temple bank accounts, which currently showed only a few million baht remaining. This raised questions about the disappearance of substantial donations. All contractors involved in the Buddhist Park project would be summoned for questioning, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said. Once the evidence was compiled, legal proceedings would follow, including the issuance of summonses and arrest warrants, he added. There were reports that Wat Nakhon Sawan may have received donations totaling several hundred million baht for the Buddhist Park project. One major donor, a now deceased businessman, reportedly contributed 50 million baht to the temple.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Ecclesiastical chief of Nakhon Sawan quits monkhood amid sex scandal
NAKHON SAWAN: The abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, who was also the ecclesiastical chief in this lower northern province, left the monkhood just before midnight on Saturday night. It was reported that Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun, 67, disrobed at Wat Nakhon Sawan in Muang district at 11.49pm on Saturday. A deputy abbot of the Buddhist temple chaired a ceremony for his departure from the monkhood. The development followed his resignation as the abbot and the provincial ecclesiastical chief on Friday. Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun wrote in his resignation letter dated Friday that he had health problems and was the subject of reports that had a seriously negative impact on Buddhist monks. The departure after 47 years as a monk came after Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, told reporters that he was investigating a scandal concerning a senior monk who was outside Bangkok. On July 15, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat arrested Wilawan "Sika Golf" Emsawat, 35, who allegedly had sexual relations with many senior monks from well-known Buddhist temples. Police found numerous video clips of sexual affairs with the monks as well as evidence of extortion and blackmail against some of them. Police said that the woman had received 385 million baht in her bank accounts over the past three years. After the Sika Golf case, the Central Investigation Bureau opened a special centre to handle complaints about monks' misconduct. His Majesty the King has issued a royal command to revoke the royal appointments and ecclesiastical titles previously conferred upon a total of 81 monks, in light of recent reports of monastic misconduct.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Thai police to probe senior monks involved in large-scale fraud, extorting funds for temple construction
Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thai police investigate senior monks in connection with extorting hundreds of millions for temple projects. The case is unrelated to the 'Femme Fatale Golf' scandal but raises concerns over corruption. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, on Friday discussed the ongoing investigation into senior monks allegedly involved in fraudulent activities, including extorting funds for the construction of religious sites. This case, he clarified, is separate from the "Femme Fatale Golf" case, which involves a 35-year-old woman named Golf, but also includes the involvement of certain monks. This case had been previously reported to the Department for Religious Affairs but had yet to be fully disclosed. It involves senior monks accused of misappropriating donations meant for building temples, with the funds totalling several hundred million baht. There are also allegations linking these monks to the 'Femme Fatale Golf' scandal, but the police are still gathering evidence to pursue criminal charges. Investigators have already found clear indications of serious misconduct, but they are ensuring they have sufficient proof before making formal charges. Jaroonkiat confirmed that the monks under investigation hold higher ranks than those involved in the 'Femme Fatale Golf' case. However, he did not specify the names of the monks or the temples involved, stating that further details would be disclosed as the investigation progresses. He assured the public that searches and actions would be taken against all those implicated shortly. The case follows an extortion scheme involving Phrathep Wachirapamok, also known as "Chaokhun Arj", the former abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep, with authorities identifying financial transactions exceeding 385 million baht over the past three years. The investigation continues, with additional links to several other monks being traced. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Senior monk linked to new scandal not from Bangkok, say police
A prominent monk implicated in an alleged embezzlement case involving temple funds and affairs with a woman is based outside of Bangkok, a senior police officer said on Saturday. The case is also separate from the 'Sika Golf' sex scandal that has rocked the Buddhist clergy, said Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). Recent reports circulating in the media had misinterpreted information supplied to police investigators about the new embezzlement investigation. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat stressed that the details received from a newly established centre handling complaints about monks' misconduct involved a prominent provincial monk and had no connection to any monks based in Bangkok. 'We are aware of reports circulating in the media, but police have not yet taken any action (against the accused monk),' said the senior officer known as 'Big Tao'. He also dismissed as inaccurate speculation that the senior monk in question may hold the rank of Somdet, the highest ecclesiastical title. He said the monk held a high-ranking title but it remained unclear whether the rank was Phra Thep, Phra Phrom or Phra Somdet. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat insisted that the monk under scrutiny was not the one with the rank of Somdet who was widely discussed on social media. The suspect has been the subject of long-standing complaints involving the misuse of temple donations, said the CIB chief. Several hundred million baht, raised from people over many years, were intended for the construction of a major religious site. However, the project remains unfinished after more than a decade. 'There are clear signs of misconduct. Some of the money was allegedly diverted for personal purposes, including supporting a woman,' he said. 'At this stage, we are not disclosing whose account the funds were transferred to.' Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said that while police do not have the authority to defrock a monk, they will present the evidence to the relevant religious authorities for consideration. 'If a monk lacks proper conduct, he should not be revered,' he added. Asked whether an arrest warrant or search warrant will be issued, he said there is sufficient evidence to proceed but added that authorities would follow due process and not act hastily. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat emphasised that both police and other agencies responsible were working to root out improper behaviour within the monastic community to preserve public trust. He called on the media to refrain from sensationalism and stick to verified facts. The scandal involving Sika Golf and senior monks has gripped Thailand in recent weeks. Sika Golf, whose real name is Wilawan Emsawat, was accused of developing intimate relationships with high-ranking monks and using them for financial gain, sparking a wide-ranging police investigation and multiple arrests. Ms Wilawan, 35, was arrested in at her home in Nonthaburi province last Tuesday and has already been charged with enabling a monk's embezzlement of temple funds, laundering money and receiving stolen goods. She is being detained at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. Police searched her house and found a number of mobile phones storing about 80,000 sex photos and videos involving senior monks at many famous temples. So far, 13 monks linked to the case have been disrobed. All will be questioned, including the latest, Phra Maha Yodpet, the former abbot of Wat Tha Bua Thong in Phichit province.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Monks disrobed after sleeping with ‘blackmailing' seductress
At least nine Thai monks have been disrobed after sleeping with an alleged blackmailing seductress who extorted them for millions of pounds. Wilawan Emsawat, 35, was said to have enticed a string of monks to break their vows of celibacy before pressuring them into paying large sums of money to cover up the intimacy. The scandal, which has gripped Thailand and rocked its Buddhist institutions, has sparked calls to tighten monk-related laws in order to restore faith in the religion. Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a police commissioner, said the investigation began last month after an abbot of a famous temple in Bangkok abruptly left the monkhood. Ms Wilawan, known by the nickname Golf, was said to have seduced the abbot before telling him she was pregnant and asking for 7.2m baht (£165,000) in child support. She was arrested on Tuesday at her luxury home outside Bangkok on suspicion of crimes including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. Five phones owned by Ms Wilawan contained videos and photos of her having sex with numerous monks, some of whom were wearing their religious robes, according to the police's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). The material, along with chat logs indicating sexual acts with monks, could be used for blackmail, the bureau said. Officers claimed she had deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain, and that they had traced money transferred to her by a senior monk from a bank account belonging to a temple. 'This woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible,' Mr Jaroonkiat said at a press conference in the Thai capital. Ms Wilawan's bank accounts received around 385m baht (£8.8m) in the past three years, but most of the funds were spent on online gambling websites, police said. The Central Investigation Bureau said at least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been cast out of the monkhood, and that a Facebook page has been set up for people to report misbehaving monks. 'We will investigate monks across the country,' Mr Jaroonkiat said. 'I believe that the ripple effects of this investigation will lead to a lot of changes.' Some monks have confessed to relationships with Ms Wilawan, who appears to have contacted them on social media. Thai monks are largely members of the Theravada sect, which requires them to be celibate and refrain from even touching a woman. Phumtham Wechayachai, the acting prime minister, has ordered authorities to look into amending laws regarding monks and temples, especially the transparency of temple finances, a government spokesman said. Ms Wilawan has not made a statement since her arrest and it was unclear if she has legal representation. Speaking to local media before her arrest, she acknowledged one relationship and said she had given money to that monk. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
