Ex-Abbot Admits Guilt in 92 Million Baht Temple Fund Theft
Ex-abbot Luang Pho Choti has admitted to embezzling approximately 92 million baht from Wat Phutthaisawan Royal Temple in Ayutthaya, allegedly using associates to launder the stolen funds. He was defrocked and arrested on charges of embezzle
Ex-abbot Phra Vachiranyan (Atichoti Thammavaro), known as Luang Pho Choti, age 66 and abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan Royal Temple in Ayutthaya Province, has been arrested under arrest warrant No. 29/2569 issued by the Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Court on 8 September 2569. He faces charges of embezzlement, dereliction of duty, official misconduct, and conspiracy to launder money after allegedly misappropriating temple funds for personal use before distributing them through close associates to conceal the loss of approximately 92 million baht. He was apprehended at the temple.
Luang Pho Choti, born 21 November 1945, was ordained on 22 January 1997 at Wat Phutthaisawan. He became assistant abbot in 2016, acting abbot in 2021, and full abbot in 2022.
On 10 September 2569 at noon, police invited Phra Vachirabhasa (Pradist Thaniko), deputy provincial monk chief of Ayutthaya, provincial monk chief of Ayutthaya, abbot of Wat Khlong Takian, and other officials to the temple. After Luang Pho Choti requested time to prepare himself mentally, he proceeded into the ordination hall to formally relinquish his monastic vows. The defrocking ceremony lasted approximately 30 minutes, after which he was taken into police custody.
