Former Monk Gets 50-Year Term, Must Repay Over 300 Million Baht
A Thai court has sentenced former monk Phra Alongkot to 742 years and his associate Doctor Bee to 386 years and 1,480 months for embezzlement and money‑laundering, but the terms are capped at 50 years each under the law. Both are required to repay over 306 million baht to Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu. The verdict was delivered on October 7, 2026, at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct.
The court found the first defendant, former monk Alongkot, guilty of multiple counts of embezzlement by a public official, each punishable by six years, and of money laundering, each punishable by three years. Because his testimony was deemed helpful, the sentence for each count was reduced by one‑third, leading to a total of 742 years' imprisonment. The second defendant, known as Doctor Bee, was convicted of abetting the embezzlement and of money laundering, with initial penalties of four years and three years per count respectively; after the same one‑third reduction for his cooperation, the combined term amounted to 386 years and 1,480 months. Although the combined sentences exceed statutory limits, the court applied the maximum allowable term of fifty years for each defendant under Section 91(3) of the Penal Code and ordered them to jointly repay 306,026,143.5 baht to the victim, Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu.
