Ex-Monk Exposes Abbot's 10 Serious Misconduct Claims

A former monk at Putthaithaisawan Temple in Ayutthaya has publicly exposed abbot Somchai with ten serious allegations, declaring the temple's reputation has now improved. Police arrested abbot Luang Pho Choti and an associate on September 12, 2026, charging them with embezzling 92 million baht from temple funds. Authorities seized hundreds of millions of baht in assets, and explicit videos of both men circulated online. Facebook user Pro Prom, a former monk who spent ten months at the temple and worked closely with the late abbot, detailed the following violations:

1. Never performed alms-begging, a primary monastic duty. 2. Never participated in morning and evening chanting with the sangha, primary duties. 3. Never showed respect to the late abbot and refused to welcome his close disciples. 4. Positioned himself prominently and claimed sections of temple grounds as private space. 5. Openly incited his disciples to oppose the late abbot's followers. 6. After the abbot's death, pressured and expelled monks and disciples affiliated with the late abbot without compassion. 7. During funeral arrangements, showed no conduct befitting a devoted disciple and blocked the late abbot's close followers from participating in the rites. 8. According to the late abbot, provided materials for temple construction only once and never assisted afterward. 9. Demolished many structures the late abbot had built. 10. Taught followers to revere deities more than Buddha, which Buddhist doctrine identifies as delusion.

The former monk concluded that these misconduct violations, separate from the criminal charges, are reason enough never to respect this person as a member of the sangha. Signing as Thiddom, the former monk who cared for the late abbot's quarters and maintained the temple gardens, he states: "The land of Putthaithaisawan Temple has now risen higher."