National Buddhist Office Dismisses Officials Over Fund Embezzlement

On July 1, 2025, the National Buddhist Office's civil service committee voted to dismiss Buncheert Kittithrang, Deputy Director of the National Buddhist Office, and Pransuveert Awoaramrasmi, Director of the Rayong Provincial Buddhist Office, for gross misconduct. The committee also voted to terminate Ms. Patchaman Chai Khlong Kitr, a senior administrative official, effective June 29, 2025.

The dismissals stem from a temple allowance fund embezzlement case in Pathum Thani Province that occurred when Buncheert served as director of the provincial office before his transfer to the national office in July 2024. Pransuveert subsequently took over the Pathum Thani position in August 2024, while Patchaman worked under both directors during this period.

The Office of the Auditor General discovered irregularities in fund disbursements totaling approximately 800,000 baht, with funds being transferred directly to Patchaman's bank account. The investigation revealed that Buncheert and Pransuveert failed to verify whether the money reached eligible monks in the region. Furthermore, both officials signed off falsely claiming budget disbursement was complete, and they provided Patchaman with confidential authorization codes meant exclusively for the provincial director's use, enabling her to approve budgets independently.

The Auditor General's office reported the matter to the National Buddhist Office and the Central Investigation Police, leading to the civil service committee's decision. The committee determined that Buncheert and Pransuveert deliberately failed to perform their duties according to civil service procedures, undermining institutional credibility. Patchaman was dismissed for her direct involvement in the scheme. The National Buddhist Office has since removed Buncheert's name from its administrative leadership structure.