Thai Police arrest Buddhist monk over alleged $3m fraud

Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk on suspicion of embezzling 100 million baht ($3m) from his monastery, along with a woman he was filmed having sex with, according to BBC News. Phra Wachirayan Wi, former abbot of the 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan temple in Ayutthaya, allegedly pocketed donations meant for the temple on more than 20 occasions over two years and has been defrocked.

Investigators said money from two donation streams, meant for renovations and sacred objects, never reached the temple’s account. Police seized cash and gold bars worth over 100 million baht from his residence, alongside CCTV footage of the alleged encounter. His accomplice, Punyavee Rungrueang, 47, was arrested on charges of abetting a state official.