Further details have emerged about luxury cars purchased by suspected embezzler Apirat Jayankura Na Ayudhya, a close aide of the late abbot Somdej Phra Wannarat of Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara.

The Crime Suppression Division said that Mr Apirat purchased a Bentley from a showroom in Bangkok after he allegedly embezzled some 200 million baht from the temple and its up-country branches.

Showroom staff told police that Mr Apirat also wanted to purchase a 40-million-baht Lamborghini but they did not have the model in stock. The showroom was in the process of ordering the supercar when Mr Apirat was arrested on March 23 at his Bangkok condominium.

A Porsche and other luxury vehicles have also been found and linked to the case.

Police said that beside allegedly stealing a huge amount of money from the temple, Mr Apirat also used the name of the late abbot to get money from the abbot's devotees for his own benefit.

Mr Apirat also stole valuable amulets worth more than one million baht from Wat Bowon Niwet.