A major scandal has erupted in Thailand following the arrest of a 65-year-old Buddhist monk who was caught on camera having sex with his 47-year-old lover inside a Buddhist temple. Phra Wachirayan Wi, the abbot of a historic temple, now faces charges of embezzlement and money laundering after authorities discovered cash, jewelry, and gold worth a total of €5.8 million in his possession.
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Thai monk scandal: Abbot caught having sex with 47-year-old woman inside Buddhist temple
The scandal began when the 65-year-old, who served as abbot of the 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan temple and now faces charges of embezzlement and money laundering, was recorded by a security camera in an intimate encounter with the 47-year-old woman — a relationship he admitted had been ongoing for two years.
According to the lead investigator, the woman, who was also arrested last Thursday, is accused of helping to conceal funds that were intended for the temple.
Police began investigating Phra Wachirayan in mid-July, following an anonymous tip accusing him of misconduct and mismanagement of temple funds.
Embezzlement and money laundering charges
The commander of Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division stated that investigators identified two streams of money linked to receipts issued in the temple’s name. He explained that the amounts — totaling over €3 million — came from payments for Buddhist amulets and other sacred objects, but “the money from both of these sources never made it into the temple’s account.”
Kasus yang melibatkan mantan kepala biara di Thailand menjadi sorotan setelah aparat menangkap Phra Wachirayan Wi., yang juga dikenal sebagai Luang Pho Atichot atau Luang Pho Chot. Penyidik menduga dana kuil sebesar 92 juta baht atau sekitar Rp48,8 miliar dialihkan kepada Sika Ae pic.twitter.com/GLdXBj4ez7
— Vox Indonesia (@voxindonesia_id) September 11, 2026
Wat Phutthaisawan is a prominent monastery with a large and influential following, including government officials, business figures, police officers, and military personnel.
The former abbot, also known as Luang Pho Atichot, was particularly well-known for the amulets he crafted — and it has been reported that among those who wore them was Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul.
Saat melakukan pemeriksaan, penyidik menemukan cctv dari dalam ruangan sang kepala biara.
Rekaman tersebut memperlihatkan Phra Vajirayan bersama seorang perempuan dalam situasi yang dinilai tidak pantas bagi seorang biksu. Aktivitas di atas sebuah meja yang biasa untuk makan… pic.twitter.com/1bjASBhtEm— Jag Omero (@bumi252) September 11, 2026
