Thailand-
Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, the 70-year-old abbot of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom, has been disrobed following allegations of embezzling over 300 million baht (approximately $9 million USD) from temple funds.
Thai police from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) accuse the abbot of siphoning the money, donated by devotees, into his personal account to fuel an addiction to online baccarat gambling. The scandal, which has rocked Thailand’s religious community, led to his arrest after he surrendered to authorities on May 15, 2025.
Wat Rai Khing, a historic temple founded in 1851 and known for housing a replica of the Buddha’s footprint, is now at the center of a widening investigation into financial misconduct and gambling networks.
The case has uncovered a Pattaya connection, with police arresting Ms. Aranyawan Wangthaphan, a 28-year-old woman, at a condominium in Pattaya on May 15th, 2025. Authorities allege Aranyawan acted as an online gambling broker, receiving substantial transfers from the abbot, including a reported 100 million baht from the temple’s account, to fund gambling activities on platforms like LAGALAXY911, previously targeted in a 2024 cybercrime crackdown.
Aranyawan, who reportedly confessed to knowing the abbot since her school days at Wat Rai Khing, admitted to facilitating financial transactions for the gambling network, reportedly laundering over 800 million baht through three corporate entities.
Further deepening the Pattaya link, a close aide to the former abbot, Ekkapot Phukhang (also known as Phra Maha Ekkapot), was arrested on May 16th, 2025, for his alleged role in the embezzlement. Ekkapot confessed to depositing money from the abbot into various ATMs before transferring it to Aranyawan’s account. The Abbot, however, has denied all allegations.
The investigation continues to unravel the extent of the gambling ring, with police urging the public to provide information as they probe financial trails that may extend beyond the temple. The scandal has raised questions about trust in religious institutions and the oversight of temple finances in Thailand.
