A former senior Thai Buddhist monk has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for embezzling the equivalent of around US$92,000 in charitable donations intended for the development of a religious college.
Phra Thepwatcharasitthimethi, now known by his lay name, Wirach, was convicted by Thailand’s Central Criminal Court of siphoning 3 million baht intended for Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University into his own personal account.
The former chief monk of Phichit province and abbot of the of Wat Tha Luang Temple was caught up in a notorious sextortion scandal that gripped Thailand last year and saw at least nine abbots defrocked – figuratively as well as literally.
$11.9 Million Honeytrap Plot
Wirach was accused of conspiring with Wilawan Emsawat, 35, to divert the donation for personal use. Wilawan is alleged to have seduced at least nine monks whom she subsequently blackmailed for cash, spending the $11.9 million on online gambling.
Authorities claim Wilawan deliberately targeted senior Buddhist monks for financial gain, cultivating intimate relationships before secretly recording sexual encounters on her mobile phone and using the footage to extort money.
Wirach left the monkhood on July 15 last year amid scrutiny over his alleged relationship with Wilawan. According to The Bangkok Post, he was the ninth senior monk to resign in the wake of the scandal.
Police began investigating Wilawan after the disappearance in June 2025 of Phra Thep Wachirapamok, the abbot of Bangkok’s Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan, who abruptly left the monkhood and fled to Laos.
Investigators said they seized five mobile phones belonging to Wilawan containing videos and images allegedly showing her engaged in sexual acts with numerous monks.
Strict Celibacy
The scandal prompted a Thai Senate committee to propose new legislation that would criminalize sexual relations between women and monks.
Theravāda Buddhism, the predominant form practiced in Thailand, requires monks to observe strict celibacy and avoid thoughts or behavior that could lead to sexual activity.
The case has highlighted how, in some instances, monks can access temple funds with little oversight or accountability. Temples receive millions of baht in donations through merit-making ceremonies, in which worshippers give money in the belief it will bring good fortune or improve their karma in a future life.
Wiliwan has been charged with blackmail, money laundering, and receiving stolen property and is awaiting trial.
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