{"id":29422,"date":"2026-09-12T14:25:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T11:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=29422"},"modified":"2026-09-12T14:25:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T11:25:12","slug":"monakh-u-tailandi-28-mln-seks-u-khrami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/monakh-u-tailandi-28-mln-seks-u-khrami\/","title":{"rendered":"A monk in Thailand embezzled $2.8 million: police found a video of sex in a temple"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In Thailand, the police have arrested the 66-year-old abbot of one of the country\u2019s oldest Buddhist temples on suspicion of embezzling over 92 million baht \u2014 approximately $2.8 million \u2014 from the temple\u2019s funds. A 47-year-old woman was also arrested alongside him; according to the investigation, she helped to conceal the money. During the investigation, law enforcement officers also obtained CCTV footage showing the monk having sex with her at his residence. Following his arrest, he was stripped of his monastic status.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\"><strong>Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A 66-year-old abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan has been detained in Thailand.<\/li>\n<li>He is suspected of embezzling more than $2.8 million in church funds.<\/li>\n<li>A 47-year-old woman was also arrested alongside him; she is alleged to have helped conceal the money.<\/li>\n<li>Cameras at the residence captured them having sex.<\/li>\n<li>The police seized assets worth approximately 215 million baht, including 16 kg of gold.<\/li>\n<li>Following his arrest, the monk was defrocked.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-section-id=\"kcnck1\" data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1189\">The rector of a well-known church has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1371\">On 10 September, the Thai police detained <strong data-start=\"1229\" data-end=\"1250\">Phra Wachirayana Vi<\/strong>, better known as <strong data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1290\">Luang Pho Atichot<\/strong>, \u2014 the abbot of the royal monastery <strong data-start=\"1329\" data-end=\"1350\">Wat Phutthayasawan<\/strong> in Ayutthaya Province.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1373\" data-end=\"1468\">The temple was founded in the 14th century and is one of the country\u2019s most famous historic Buddhist shrines.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1470\" data-end=\"1747\">The 66-year-old abbot has been charged with, amongst other things, misappropriation of property, abuse of office and money laundering. A 47-year-old woman was also arrested alongside him; investigators suspect her of assisting in the transfer and concealment of funds.<\/p>\n\r\n                <style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n                    \r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5.png) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2.png) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                <\/style>\r\n\r\n                <div id=\"tdi_1\" class=\"td-gallery td-slide-on-2-columns\">\r\n                    <div class=\"post_td_gallery\">\r\n                        <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-top\">\r\n                           <div class=\"td-gallery-title\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"td-gallery-controls-wrapper\">\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-count\"><span class=\"td-gallery-slide-item-focus\">1<\/span> \u0437 3<\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-prev-next-but\">\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-left doubleSliderPrevButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-right doubleSliderNextButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-1\">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item1\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18.jpg\" title=\"photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18\"  data-caption=\"\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18-630x420.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/photo_2026-09-11_22-22-18.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" alt=\"Thai police seize a table in connection with a case involving a temple abbot\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            \r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item2\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5.png\" title=\"Screenshot_2\"  data-caption=\"\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-667x420.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-667x420.png 667w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-1024x645.png 1024w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-768x484.png 768w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-696x438.png 696w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5-1068x672.png 1068w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_2-5.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px\" alt=\"A woman standing next to a police officer in the case concerning temple funds in Thailand\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            \r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item3\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2.png\" title=\"Screenshot_3\"  data-caption=\"\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-682x420.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-682x420.png 682w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-1024x631.png 1024w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-696x429.png 696w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2-1068x658.png 1068w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot_3-2.png 1073w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            \r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-2\">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item1\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item2\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item3\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                \n<h2 data-section-id=\"3e8sv0\" data-start=\"1749\" data-end=\"1800\">Over 92 million baht did not reach the temple\u2019s account<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1802\" data-end=\"1963\">According to the head of the crime-fighting unit <strong data-start=\"1858\" data-end=\"1886\">Pattanasa Ka Bupphasuwana<\/strong>, investigators identified two main streams of money coming in on behalf of the church.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1965\" data-end=\"2141\">About. <strong data-start=\"1973\" data-end=\"1989\">89 million baht<\/strong> were donations towards the repair and development of the monastery. Approximately another <strong data-start=\"2051\" data-end=\"2068\">2.8 million baht<\/strong> earned from the sale of Buddhist amulets and other religious items.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2143\" data-end=\"2340\">However, according to the police, these funds were never credited to the church\u2019s official account. The total amount of the potential loss exceeded <strong data-start=\"2266\" data-end=\"2301\">92 million baht \u2014 approximately $2.8 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2342\" data-end=\"2542\">The investigation believes that the abbot passed some of the money to a close associate, after which the funds may have been converted into other assets and registered in the names of third parties.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"1vjcmkp\" data-start=\"2544\" data-end=\"2598\">The police seized 16 kg of gold and land title deeds<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2600\" data-end=\"2701\">As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized assets with a total value of approximately <strong data-start=\"2683\" data-end=\"2700\">215 million baht<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2703\" data-end=\"2980\">Among the items seized were around <strong data-start=\"2730\" data-end=\"2775\">16 kg of gold bars and jewellery<\/strong>, as well as <strong data-start=\"2785\" data-end=\"2822\">28 land title deeds<\/strong>. Investigators are now determining which assets were the personal property of those involved and which may have been purchased using church funds.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2982\" data-end=\"3170\">Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau of Thailand <strong data-start=\"3026\" data-end=\"3049\">Nattasak Chao-wanasai<\/strong> stated that the investigation would be expanded to identify other possible participants in the scheme.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"dkw57n\" data-start=\"3172\" data-end=\"3222\">CCTV cameras captured sexual activity at the abbot\u2019s residence<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3224\" data-end=\"3272\">The case was not limited to financial allegations.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3274\" data-end=\"3460\">In Thai <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khaosodenglish.com\/news\/2026\/09\/10\/ayutthaya-abbot-arrested-over-alleged-embezzlement-and-money-laundering\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> CCTV footage from the abbot\u2019s residence has been released. According to the police, the footage shows Phra Wachirayan Wi engaging in sexual activity with a 47-year-old woman.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3462\" data-end=\"3615\">One of the posts shows a couple <strong data-start=\"3491\" data-end=\"3531\">on a table inside the monk\u2019s residence<\/strong>. The video was widely broadcast on Thai television channels.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3617\" data-end=\"3787\">The local newspaper Thairath reported that the police subsequently <strong data-start=\"3672\" data-end=\"3714\">seized the round table as material evidence<\/strong> as part of criminal proceedings.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3789\" data-end=\"4017\">For Buddhist monks <a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/tailand-bezviz-30-dniv-2026\/\">in Thailand<\/a> The vow of celibacy is in force, so sexual relations constitute a gross breach of monastic rules. Shortly after Atichot\u2019s arrest <strong data-start=\"3947\" data-end=\"3978\">stripped of their monastic status<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"1f38ur3\" data-start=\"4019\" data-end=\"4053\">The church has influential supporters<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4055\" data-end=\"4199\">Wat Phutthayasawan is a well-known royal monastery with a large following amongst civil servants, businesspeople, military personnel and police officers.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4201\" data-end=\"4435\">Luang Phor Atichot was also known for crafting religious amulets. According to *The Straits Times*, the Thai Prime Minister was among those who wore the amulets he had created <strong data-start=\"4374\" data-end=\"4396\">Anutin Charnvirakul<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4437\" data-end=\"4544\">It was precisely the church\u2019s status and the scale of the property seized that made this case one of the most high-profile in the country in recent times.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"bnp0y9\" data-start=\"4546\" data-end=\"4582\">The court remanded the defendants in custody<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4584\" data-end=\"4683\">On 11 September, the court refused to grant bail to the former abbot and his 47-year-old accomplice.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4685\" data-end=\"4904\">They were remanded in custody for at least 12 days \u2014 from 11 to 23 September. The court highlighted the seriousness of the charges and the risk that the suspects might tamper with evidence or interfere with the investigation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4906\" data-end=\"5118\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The investigation into the financial transactions is ongoing. The police must establish the origin of the seized assets, identify all possible participants in the scheme, and determine what proportion of the property may have been purchased with funds intended for the monastery.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0423 \u0422\u0430\u0457\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0456 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0456\u0446\u0456\u044f \u0437\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0430 66-\u0440\u0456\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044f \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0437 \u043d\u0430\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0456\u0448\u0438\u0445 \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0434\u0456\u0439\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u0445\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0456\u0432 \u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0438 \u0437\u0430 \u043f\u0456\u0434\u043e\u0437\u0440\u043e\u044e \u0443 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u043b\u0430\u0441\u043d\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0456 \u043f\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0434 92 \u043c\u043b\u043d \u0431\u0430\u0442\u0456\u0432 \u2014 \u0431\u043b\u0438\u0437\u044c\u043a\u043e $2,8 \u043c\u043b\u043d \u2014 \u0445\u0440\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0445 \u043a\u043e\u0448\u0442\u0456\u0432. \u0420\u0430\u0437\u043e\u043c \u0456\u0437 \u043d\u0438\u043c \u0437\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0438 47-\u0440\u0456\u0447\u043d\u0443 \u0436\u0456\u043d\u043a\u0443, \u044f\u043a\u0430, \u0437\u0430 \u0432\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0456\u0454\u044e \u0441\u043b\u0456\u0434\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430, \u0434\u043e\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0430\u0433\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0445\u043e\u0432\u0443\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0438 \u0433\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0456. \u041f\u0456\u0434 \u0447\u0430\u0441 \u0440\u043e\u0437\u0441\u043b\u0456\u0434\u0443\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044f \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043e\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0446\u0456 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0436 \u043e\u0442\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0438 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0438 \u043a\u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440 \u0441\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f, \u043d\u0430 \u044f\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0445 \u0437\u0430\u0439\u043c\u0430\u0454\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0437 \u043d\u0435\u044e [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207433346,"featured_media":29423,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_description":"\u0423 \u0422\u0430\u0457\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0456 \u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044f \u0445\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0443 \u0437\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0438 \u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0437 \u0437\u043d\u0438\u043a\u043d\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f $2,8 \u043c\u043b\u043d \u043f\u043e\u0436\u0435\u0440\u0442\u0432. \u041f\u043e\u043b\u0456\u0446\u0456\u044f \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0436 \u0432\u0438\u044f\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0432\u0456\u0434\u0435\u043e \u0441\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0443 \u0432 \u0439\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0440\u0435\u0437\u0438\u0434\u0435\u043d\u0446\u0456\u0457.","rank_math_title":"\u0423 \u0422\u0430\u0457\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0456 \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0445\u0430 \u0437\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0438 \u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0437 $2,8 \u043c\u043b\u043d \u0456 \u0441\u0435\u043a\u0441 \u0443 \u0445\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0456","rank_math_focus_keyword":"\u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0445","td_subtitle":"","subtitle":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[805619],"tags":[805624],"class_list":["post-29422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world","tag-805624"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/207433346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29422"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29427,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29422\/revisions\/29427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}