Abbot Arrested Over 92 Million Baht Temple Fund Embezzlement
The abbot of a royal temple in Ayutthaya was arrested for allegedly embezzling 92 million baht over two years through fraudulent certificates and money laundering schemes.
At 6:00 AM on September 10, 2025, acting on a court arrest warrant issued on September 8, 2025, police led by Deputy Police General Nattasak Chaowasat and other senior officers executed an arrest of Phra Wachiryan, or Luang Pho Atichoti Thamavaro, the abbot of Wat Phutthai Sawan, a royal temple in Ayutthaya province. The charges include abuse of authority to extort temple property, misconduct in office, and money laundering conspiracies.
The investigation revealed that over a two-year period, the abbot had fraudulently issued more than 20 temple certificates of approval in the temple's name, causing damages totaling approximately 92 million baht. These funds were allegedly transferred to close associates and diverted for personal use. During the arrest, police reviewed closed-circuit television footage from the temple quarters that captured the abbot engaged in inappropriate conduct with associates and using drugs. Authorities are continuing their search for additional evidence and will conduct further questioning at the police station.
