Arrest made in Pattaya: Local broker implicated in embezzlement of funds from Wat Rai Khing abbot.
In Pattaya, a shady broker with ties to an online gambling ring has been apprehended by cops, nabbing illicit funds from the abbot of Wat Rai Khing, who turned himself in to clear his name.
The abbot, Phra Dhammawachiranuwat, better known as Yaem Kittindharo or Yaem Inkrungkao, has been slapped with allegations of embezzling around 300 million baht from the temple's coffers for spending it on online gambling, especially baccarat. Yaem made his way to the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok with his attorney and supporters on a Thursday.
Examining the temple's financial records, investigators spotted transfers from the temple's accounts to the abbot's personal account. These funds were then routed to Aranyawan Wangthapan, a 28-year-old broker who finds herself back under the scrutiny of the law. She was earlier detained last year in connection with the Lagalaxy911 gambling website and released on bail.
Aranyawan now faces charges of financing criminal activities, including embezzlement and misconduct.
As the legal process for defrocking the 70-year-old abbot moves forward, questioning continues.
This revelation forms part of a major financial scandal at Wat Rai Khing, a temple famed for its spiritual and community contributions, and the case serves as a stark reminder of the struggle to maintain transparency and accountability in religious institutions in today's digital era.
To provide some historical context, investigations into the case began in October 2024 when locals raised suspicions. Upon examination, the audit uncovered unconventional transfers from the temple's accounts to the abbot's personal account, and subsequently to Aranyawan Wangthapan. The police seized digital devices, documents, and financial records from multiple locations to investigate the suspicious transactions linked to gambling.
The abbot was formally stripped of his religious title as part of the legal proceedings, and bail was denied to send a strong message against corruption within spiritual organizations.
In summary, the investigation revolves around an intricate embezzlement scheme in which temple funds were channeled to online gambling through a broker named Aranyawan Wangthapan, with ongoing legal actions including arrest, defrocking, and thorough financial forensics by Thai authorities.
The investigation into Wat Rai Khing's financial scandal has uncovered an intricate embezzlement scheme, with the abbot, Yaem Kittindharo, accused of using temple funds for online gambling, particularly casino-games like baccarat. The broker responsible for routing these funds, Aranyawan Wangthapan, faced charges of financing criminal activities and has ties to an online gambling ring, making this incident a significant general-news story related to crime-and-justice.
