Top monk caught in intimate act with lover as cops probe Rs 29 crore embezzlement

Thai monk Phra Wachirayan Wi has been arrested over an Rs 29 crore monastery embezzlement case, with CCTV footage also showing him in an intimate encounter with his lover, who is accused of helping conceal the money.The footage was discovered by police during their investigation into alleged financial misconduct. (Photo:X/@Thao3080)A top Buddhist monk in Thailand has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling millions of dollars meant for his monastery, along with a woman accused of helping him conceal the money, after CCTV footage emerged showing him in an intimate encounter with her.Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, the former abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya, was arrested on Thursday along with a 47-year-old woman identified as Punyavee Rungrueang. He is suspected of embezzling about 100 million baht (around Rs 29 crores) from the monastery, while Punyavee is accused of helping convert and conceal the allegedly stolen funds.CCTV footage from the monk's residence, widely broadcast by Thai media, showed Wachirayan kissing Punyavee before the pair were seen in an intimate encounter on a dining table. The footage was discovered by police during their investigation into alleged financial misconduct.Wachirayan was also defrocked shortly after his arrest. MILLIONS IN TEMPLE FUNDS UNDER SCRUTINYPolice began investigating the monk in mid-July after receiving a tip alleging misconduct and the misuse of temple funds.Investigators identified two streams of money linked to donation receipts issued in the temple's name. Around 89 million baht ($2.7 million) had reportedly been donated for temple renovations, while another 2.8 million baht was linked to payments for Buddhist amulets and other sacred objects. "But the money from both streams did not enter the temple's account -- not a single baht," lead investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan told reporters.A search of the monk's residence uncovered significant assets. Authorities said they seized around 215 million baht worth of property, including 16kg of gold bars and jewellery, as well as 28 land title deeds. Police are now investigating which of the seized assets belonged personally to the monk and which may have belonged to the temple."We will expand the investigation to identify other people involved and restore public confidence in Buddhism," said Nattasak Chaowanasai, commissioner of Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau.LATEST SCANDAL TO HIT THAI MONASTERIESWat Phutthaisawan is a prominent royal monastery with a large following that includes government officials, businesspeople, police officers and military personnel.The former abbot, also known as Luang Pho Atichot, was known for making Buddhist amulets, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reportedly among those who wore his creations.The case follows another major scandal that shook Thailand's Buddhist establishment last year. Police arrested a woman accused of having sexual relationships with at least 11 monks and blackmailing them using photographs and videos. Authorities said she extorted nearly $12 million in monastery funds, prompting widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of the country's monastic institutions.- EndsPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 20:54 IST