Police Summon Famed Amulet Dealer Over Temple Foundation Scandal

Anti-corruption police have issued a summons for Somero Ngingam, known as Pong Supharn, a renowned amulet dealer, to clarify his involvement as a committee member of a foundation related to the Putthai Sawan Temple case after five other individuals have already been questioned.

The investigation stems from the arrest of Atikhot Tangprasert, the former abbot of Putthai Sawan Temple, and Punyavee, who are accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of baht from the temple. On 21 September 2025, Deputy Commander Patthanasakdi Bubphasuwarn disclosed that investigators had forwarded all financial documents from the temple to the Anti-Money Laundering Office for examination to identify connections and linked parties. The office has returned some of the financial investigation data, and the investigation team is currently reviewing it.

After Atikhot's arrest and investigation into his conduct, authorities discovered that he had established the Wan Choti Foundation, appointing himself as chairman with a total of six committee members. Five committee members have already been questioned and provided useful information to the case. The final committee member to be questioned is Somero Ngingam, also known as Pong Supharn, a well-known figure in the amulet trade, who was found to also be a committee member.

Investigators will issue a summons requiring him to provide details about the Wan Choti Foundation by 22 September. Pong Supharn has had a close relationship with the former abbot since the creation of the "Nueadung" amulet medal before being asked to join the committee. Financial investigations have not revealed any connection linking Pong Supharn to the embezzled funds.

The Wan Choti Foundation, established by Atikhot, is currently under detailed examination by authorities to determine its stated purpose and whether it was used for money laundering through merit-making donations.