Abbot Arrested for Embezzling 92 Million Baht From Temple
A 66-year-old abbot at a temple in Ayutthaya Province was arrested for embezzling over 92 million baht and transferring funds through associates to conceal the theft. Police also found video evidence of him using methamphetamine during the
Kim the Tiger, a student of Sathorp Thaew, expressed shock after learning that Luang Pho Choti Thammavaro, the 66-year-old abbot of Wat Dung in Ayutthaya Province and a third-class royal ordainee, has been arrested on charges of embezzlement, misconduct or dereliction of duty with dishonesty or corruption, improper government employee conduct, and conspiracy to launder money.
Allegations against the abbot indicate he misappropriated temple funds and transferred them to an associate to conceal damages totaling more than 92 million baht. Police arrested him at the temple's living quarters.
During the arrest, police reviewed CCTV footage from inside the abbot's quarters and discovered video of him using methamphetamine with his close associate.
Kim the Tiger posted a video displaying the tattoos he received from the abbot's blessing ritual, jokingly remarking: "I woke up shocked. I'll need to call a tattoo artist to cover this up. Got a tattoo and got rich!" He also posted: "I knew it from the start—since I got the blessing tattoo, I haven't stopped being lucky. Anyone want in on this?"
