Abbot of Bun Chuen Temple Files Lawsuit Over Stolen 50-Baht Gold Buddha Hair Relic
A temple abbot in Pathum Thani filed charges after discovering a 50-baht gold Buddha hair relic donated during a 2016 merit-making ceremony was mostly brass, containing only 2.39% gold. Police are investigating the gold casting shop and sub
Pathum Thani — The abbot of Bun Chuen Temple is pursuing both civil and criminal charges against unknown perpetrators for allegedly switching a 50-baht gold Buddha hair relic with brass. Police are investigating and preparing to interrogate those involved as they work to track down the actual culprits.
May 1, 2026 — According to reports, a man brought the gold Buddha hair relic, weighing nearly 50 baht, for inspection after a family had donated 45 baht of gold to be cast into the relic during a merit-making ceremony. The abbot and villagers contributed additional gold for the casting.
About eight years later, suspicions arose, and upon inspection with the abbot's knowledge, the shocking truth emerged: the nearly 50-baht Buddha hair relic was actually brass, containing only 2-3% gold by weight.
Most recently, Phra Kru Pathum Punyapas Phai Thuri, 67, abbot of Bun Chuen Temple in Bang Poon sub-district, Muang district, Pathum Thani, along with Nakhon Kanthaworalit of Chang Yai sub-district, Bang Thai district, Ayutthaya, and temple disciples, met with Deputy Lieutenant Colonel Wuttinan Somsunun, the investigation chief at Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station in Pathum Thani.
They reported that in mid-March 2016, Bun Chuen Temple organized a ceremony to cast a gold Buddha statue and bell, with Nakhon Kanthaworalit as the sponsor. The temple hired Tanyamit Sangkhapan gold casting shop to oversee the casting. However, the shop subcontracted unknown individuals or teams to handle the actual casting work.
During the ceremony, Nakhon Kanthaworalit donated 45 baht of gold specifically to cast the Buddha hair relic, which was done publicly before witnesses. Unknown casting staff then moved the relic to the abbot's quarters. After the relic cooled, unidentified staff members took both the Buddha statue and hair relic to an unknown polishing workshop.
Approximately two weeks later, the staff returned the polished items to the abbot at the temple for safekeeping.
On April 12, 2025, there was a discussion about having the relic inspected for potential sale, with proceeds to be used for expanding the temple's land by three rai.
On April 28, 2025, with the abbot's permission, the relic was taken for inspection at Namo Ban Chang Thong shop in Saraburi. The inspection revealed the gold relic contained only 2.39% gold, significantly less than the 45 baht of gold that Nakhon Kanthaworalit had donated.
Facing this loss, Nakhon Kanthaworalit and the abbot went to Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station to file a complaint and pursue both civil and criminal proceedings until the case is resolved. The investigation unit has received the report and recorded evidence for further investigation according to law.
Abbot Phra Kru Pathum Punyapas Phai Thuri stated that he is filing the complaint to allow police to investigate how the casting was conducted. He emphasized that he had kept the gold relic safely locked in his quarters with no one tampering with it. He indicated he would provide additional statements to investigators.
