From BBC News · · 1m 40s
The abbot, the gold bars and the CCTV clip
Thai police say a celebrated monk funnelled $3m in temple donations into his own home, and his own security cameras helped catch him.
In brief
Thai police say a celebrated monk funnelled $3m in temple donations into his own home, and his own security cameras helped catch him. When donations flow through one trusted person with no separate temple account, theft can run for years before anyone notices. Originally reported by BBC News.
An abbot in handcuffs
Thai police arrested Phra Wachirayan Wi, former abbot of the 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya, on suspicion of embezzling 100 million baht, about $3m, from his own monastery.
Two vows, both broken
Monks in Thailand renounce money and take a vow of celibacy. He allegedly pocketed donations on more than 20 occasions over two years. He was defrocked after the arrest and has not commented.
Not a single baht
Police traced two money streams from receipts he issued in the temple's name, one for renovations, one for amulets and sacred objects. Neither reached the temple's account.
“But the money from both streams did not enter the temple's account. Not a single baht.”
Counting until midnight
A raid on his residence turned up cash and gold bars worth more than 100 million baht. Officers were still counting late into the night, The Nation reported.
Caught by his own cameras
Reviewing CCTV inside the residence, police found a clip of him having sex with a woman on his dining table. Punyavee Rungrueang, 47, was arrested for abetting a state official, as monks on government stipends count as officials.
A pattern, not an outlier
Thai monasteries have faced repeated cases of celibacy breaches, drug trafficking and financial crime. Last July a hotline opened after nine monks were blackmailed for nearly $12m over sex tapes.
The big picture
When donations flow through one trusted person with no separate temple account, theft can run for years before anyone notices.
