Thai police have arrested a senior Buddhist monk on suspicion of embezzling approximately 100 million baht (around $2.8–3 million) from his own monastery, in the latest scandal to shake the country's Buddhist establishment. Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, served as abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan, a prominent 14th-century royal temple in Ayutthaya — the ancient capital of Thailand located about 80 kilometres north of Bangkok — before being defrocked following his arrest on Thursday. A 47-year-old woman, identified as Punyavee Rungrueang, was arrested alongside him on charges of abetting a state official in illegal activities. Neither has yet commented publicly.

Investigators say they began looking into the case in mid-July after receiving an anonymous tip alleging misconduct and misuse of temple funds. Police identified two streams of money linked to donation receipts issued in the temple's name: roughly 89 million baht collected for renovation works, and a further 2.8 million baht from sales of Buddhist amulets and sacred objects. "But the money from both streams did not enter the temple's account — not a single baht," lead investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan told a news conference on Friday. Authorities seized assets worth approximately 215 million baht, including 16 kilograms of gold bars, jewellery, watches, and 28 land title deeds. Police say Punyavee helped manage the embezzled proceeds, with tens of millions of baht flowing through her bank accounts each year.

The arrest was accompanied by the emergence of leaked CCTV footage, widely broadcast on Thai media, showing the monk and the woman having sex in his residence. In Thailand, Buddhist monks take vows of both celibacy and the renunciation of material possessions. Phra Wachirayan was well known for crafting highly sought-after coin amulets, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was reported to be among those who wore his creations. Wat Phutthaisawan counts government officials, military personnel, and business figures among its prominent followers.

The case arrives little more than a year after another high-profile scandal in which a woman was arrested for blackmailing at least nine monks she had had sex with, extorting nearly $12 million in monastery funds — a case that prompted public outrage and calls for greater oversight of temple finances. Thailand's Buddhist institution, which holds deep cultural and social authority in the country, has faced recurring allegations of monks breaking celibacy vows, trafficking drugs, and committing financial crimes. Investigators say two or three additional individuals may have been involved in the current case, and authorities have pledged to expand the inquiry. "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.